Hello all,
Over the last year or so I've been collecting bits and bobs and I've kind of lost my way, I'm now due a Christmas bonus and i want to use it finishing off my loadout.
Below is is my current collection (and a M43 Oak Leaf cap which i cant currently find)
I'll have about £120 to finish it off and i was thinking of a pair of trousers and a helmet ( I'll stick with my UK army surplus boots).
The one slight hiccup is that the trousers I'll need have to be at least 46" waist (which rules out the cheaper spearhead gear)and a fairly loose cut, so if anyone can advise what the best options are for which loadout to try and aim for and which of the suppliers that do "chunky" sized uniform supply the better quality gear. (I'd prefer quality, long life and hard wearing over stitch-counting)
ta
Do you like my little tank?
contact ...pikestaff2....his name Roger
tell him Phil gave u details, hes got everythin u will want !
Pirchen/Ant-z do good quality kit made to measure for a good price. Sizing lists up to 46" but they may do larger since its made to order anyway.
http://stores.ebay.co.uk/ANT-Z-MILITARY_W0QQssPageNameZstrkQ3amefsxQ3asstQQtZkm
ta, hes got a good range, with the existing kit i already have which which load out should i be aiming for here?
just so i know which trousers and lid to order, i was thinking m35 helmet from epic and Pirchen para pants (looser fit)
Do you like my little tank?
If you already have an M43 cap you might be better off going for a tunic rather than a helmet, although obviously you need to remember the extra cost of insignia. You might be a little chilly in the cooler months with just a smock. If you can afford all three then an M35 is fine and usually the cheapest. Epic is probably a fair bet to get that.
For trousers I would probably go for M43 wools and the same for the tunic if you decide to get one. Its more suitable for the SS look you have going there rather than para trousers and are belt fastened rather than needing braces like M37s. They're also reasonably loose fitting and are designed to be used with gaitors which I guess you will probably use as you've not mentioned/shown any jackboots.
I hope that helps and I haven't confused you. 
thing is i have the unused helmet cover and the cap i have is a bit on the tight side.
I'll stick with the smock for the moment as I'd prefer cammo and the helmet for me is pretty iconic, also with our weather i'm gonna get a zelt which would cover the tunic anyway!
just before i put in my orders, aint those Pirchen pants a bit "green"?, i have to admit I've never seen any German field green kit in the flesh so I'm not voicing an expert opinion its just when compared to pictures on other suppliers sites they are a bit garish
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/WWII-GERMAN-M43-H ... m153.l1262
vs
(sof M43 Wool trousers)
also is there any difference in quality as I'd only be paying about £10 more for the sof m43's and I'd get them sooner
thanks for the advice btw, i know most of this info is somewhere on these forums but it gets a bit tiring reading page after page looking for things!
Do you like my little tank?
probably SS as i prefer the look of the helmet, the reason for the big mag pouches is that the supplier i used didn't have the 3 mag pouches in stock so i got the bigger ones for no extra cost!(can never have too much ammo)
whats sturdier HBT or wool?
Do you like my little tank?
Smocks are designed to be worn over tunics (hence the lack of collar) so you won't be replacing it, just suplimenting it. There is no immediate need for a zelt as SS since the smock can also be water proofed just like a zelt.
Uniform wise you're better off opting for wool. HBT is primarily designed for use in summer, wool can be worn pretty much all year round. As for the colours- they tend to vary as did the really thing, different wools & dyes from different factories at different periods of the war led to a huge variety. Pirchens stuff may not always be the classic colours you imagine but it doesn't mean they're wrong. The quality of the material & manufacture will be better than the SOF ones you posted but its up to you where you get them from.
These are the Pirchen wool M43s.
So I'd still recommend a tunic & trousers, plus helmet if you really want one and maybe some gaiters if you don't have any. It will probably put you over your budget a fair bit though so the choice is yours.
ta, I've ordered the Pirchen wool M43 trousers and I'll sort out the lid and other bits in the new year (after the mail strike and x-mas rush).
what do you recommend for waterproofing the smock?
Do you like my little tank?
Thompson's waterseal is half the price of Fabsil, but a little smelly.
You've got nothing to ein, zwei, drei, vier
well i got my m35 helmet the other day , now it fits front to back well eneough but its overly wide on the sides, are there any tricks to getting a good fit or should i just start packing with neoprene?
Do you like my little tank?
Have you adjusted the liner using the drawstring?
You've got nothing to ein, zwei, drei, vier
yeah that lasted about 10 seconds so i replaced it with a shoe lace, Ive got it so my head isn't quite touching the top inside of the lid but i can still get a finger up both sides of my head (said the actress to the bishop) and its quite wobbily
Do you like my little tank?
Thats the problem with most(if not all)repro M35s and Para helmets is that the liners are a large 59 sometimes 60.
Try adding some foam or felt under the leather-there should be a thin strip of felt already there.
the Pirchen wool M43 trousers have arrived today, it these buggers dont keep me warm nothing will!
does anyone have any instructions for the strappy braces things hanging off the bottom of the legs? i assume they have something to do with the split hemline
Do you like my little tank?
They are foot stirrups to stop troos riding up. Loop under your foot then pass ends through the eyelets and tie off.
ta, very much
Do you like my little tank?
all done,
Please note the nokia phone isn't authentic (only the silver one was issued to soldiers 
)
Do you like my little tank?
