American Kit Pics

maybe you should go into business. i'll be your first order lol

Finally got all the pieces to complete my 101 kit today. well chufted. Pics will be up soon.

Niceone, get them up asap mate.

Just gonna adjust my webbing tonite...need to arrange the stuff on my belt a bit better, maybe get a rigger pouch. But pics will be up by the end of the week most probs

Biguk and Jon Steele, y'all got pictures of your load out yet?

No, still to do:

1. Finish boots - see the Jump Boot thread
2. Finish helmet - awaiting some rivets from Top Pots to secure the A straps, fix the snap fastners to the liner and then respray the liner. Then it just needs putting together with the net and hessian.
3. Sew on arm pocket and 101st patch and make the jump suit look a little less new than it does at the moment!

Unfortunately things like work and mates weddings keep getting in the way! Hoping to have it complete and pics up during the first week of Aug. Although I'm off to Normandy that week too, so no doubt I'll come back with a few more things to add to it!

I like that second picture very BOB very normandy lol

Well, here's one of my 82nd Airborne impression. In the picture, it pretty much is the basic's, but since the pic was taken, some more items were added. E-tool, pistolholster and some some dummy grenades, just for the looks.
Still need a First Aid pack, trenchknife etc etc etc. Dont really know what to get next, but so far so good.

And this is very artistic, huh?

Any suggestions are more than welcome

Michael

"Basic" can also be good-dont overload yourself with too much bling

Don't know if I should take that as a compliment or not... But, thanks anyways, Trooper

Taff, there no such thing as too much bling! I refuse to believe that....

Definately a compliment-looks great as it is-just add an E tool.

To be honest ive seen some pople that have so much extras im surprised they can even move

Dagwood, good pics but like Taff said, don't overload yourself...2 Grenades is probably plenty...they only fall off anyway. But seriously from experience, after an hour you'll wish you'd just left it all in your car lol Belt, Suspenders, Basics & Musette bag...theres a pic somewhere on the forum of an 82nd trooper in Normandy with NO webbing on, just with his Garand and a helmet.
Once they landed they didn't keep all that s**t on...they took some of it off...when they were fighting it was only weapons and ammo anyway.

naa that isnt it. can see he has several extra ammo pouch slings on plus suspenders and can just see what looks like a water bottle which means he prob has his belt on

Once they landed they didn't keep all that s**t on...they took some of it off...when they were fighting it was only weapons and ammo anyway.

I wouldn't say that fella, Paratroopers carried most of all their gear with them anyway,... if you're thinking about the engagement on Band of Brothers where they ditched all of the gear to take out the guns at brecorp manner, they still had their rig on. I guess you never really know when you might have to dust if you came under attack.

There's a really good photo of 2 82nd Paratroopers standing on a road by St. Mere Eglise, theyre stood next to a bunch of infantry guys, 1 of them looks like he still has his full rig on, the other looks like he's taken his musette pack off.

For the purposes of airsoft, it's entirely up to you, I wear all my gear.... if I get shot I get shot, I have seen people play in a jump suit and a pistol belt.

There is a monument showing Lieutenant Colonel Cole's bayonet charge in D-day+5, made from photos and the guys who are actually part of the charge,.. they still all have their rigs on.

Looking good! Great uniform. I'd go for Ranger You can't see from the pic but have you got ammo pouch for your Thompson mags? Or a Thompson magazine bag? They're quite popular. First Aid pouch that goes on your belt? .45 Holster? Entrenching tool? Just a few ideas.

Oh and stick something in your Doughboy pack, make it look full. If your short of gear to put in it people normally recommend plastic bags, or bubble wrap...I'm experimenting with a foam insert for mine Musette bag.

looks good mate. thompson mag pouches or a mag bag would be the one key thing I'd say is missing. other than that looks good. rather than filling the pack with foam etc why not just stick some stuff in it you need on game day(which is what i do) ie grenades, bb's, some snacks, extra drink, etc.

other thing you may find useful is a helmet net. helps break up the shape and enable you to put some local foliage into it. oh and that belt does look uncomfortably high heh. as for the trousers... you may find its just because they are a shade new. go roll in the grass/dirt a bit in your gear as it makes it look not so fresh and may help dull the trousers down.

Rigger pouches are for airborne, all you need is a mag bag and a first aird pouch, if you want quicker access to ammo n such then an ammo bag would be good otherwise you can just put it in your pack, apart from that thats all you need for a basic infantryman rangers may carry more but its not so important for basic infantry.

Id suggest the big red 1 a good unit that fought in almost every campaign also not anything to do with SPR lol also US infantry are a bit under represented when compared with US elite forces and id like to see more standard grunts in WW2 Airsoft both British and US.

personally I wouldnt bother with the E-Tool. while it looks great it weighs a bit and gets in the way alot

I know it weighs a lot BUT at the last 2 events I've been to I've actually used my E-tool. First time, at D Day + 2 and 2nd time at Tudders to create a rather cool looking bunker position.
It may weigh a bit but when you get the chance to create a prepared position then you are REALLY going to miss it.

cant remember one CiA game i've needed a E-Tool. even at TEHL when we were supposed to be entrenched in our base we ended up fighting out instead lol.

get one if you like but consider it a situational item. ie look at the game before hand and decide whether you think you're likely to need it

people get too hung up on gear being too clean, sure it does get dirty but unlike airsofters who have to buy there gear, soldiers dont, so if it gets too dirty you go to the stores and get a new one, ( YOU DONT GO ON PARADE AFTER OPERATIONS IN SLACK ORDER) the used, in combat look is good, but it would be a mix of just about worn out and brand new. also, most GIs had brand new issued for d-day so it was just out of its bag in normady. add the fact that exquipment was made by literaly hundreds of manufactures all using slightly different shades of khaki/green, its no surprise most stuff was different to the guy's who was standing next to you.( as a former reg soldier i can vouch that even a simple set of webbing would be a mix of new, used, and almost knackered.)

I didn't specify CiA events, two Gunman airsoft events, first time dug in along Carentan Rd awaiting german advance; used it to dig small foxhole and chop branches and Recruitment event at Tuddenham in July where I created a rather splendid looking bunker (photos to follow)with sandbags, machinegun slits and all...using only an entrenching tool.
I say if they used it then carry it, it does come in useful and it actually doesn't weigh that much. Its only an entrenching tool suck it up and get it stuck on your webbing. You've even got a Doughboy pack which makes it EVEN easier to carry.

I never said you specified cia events I simply said from my experience at cia events so calm down.

bottom line is carry what you're comfy with st matt. I started off at my first ww2 game in the full gear with e-tool, musette pack, and the whole schebang but found it harder to move quickly, and steathily with it all on. So I stripped to a minimal loadout of a pistol belt and mag bag and have added bits from there as required. now depending on the game I add in rigger pouches, suspenders, holster, etool, etc etc as I feel I need them. And after reading lots of accounts from the chaps who did the real fighting this was a fairly common occurance. Like most armies over the years each man had a habit of ditching kit he doesnt like/want/need once in "comabt". packs/musette bags are a good example of this. i havent seen to many wearing them at events but some swear by them. I tend to load mine up with stuff then leave it at the CP or take it with depending on the current mission etc