Not sure how many of you fellows provide rental kit for players that want to test the waters with WW2 milsim, but it is something we do quite often down here in South Africa. Give the guys the basic kit - helmet, tunic, weapon, some webbing - and let them experience the game without needing to invest in a ton of kit. Many of our current crop of committed players started out that way, in fact.
I always have half an eye open for bargains here, and I found the following from Hikishop in HK:
http://airsoft.tiger111hk.com/p29840/Ne ... _info.html
Contrary to the *very* misleading title on the product page, this is actually a modern BDU tunic made from what appears to be Heer-style Splinter A (or a very close approximation thereof). Now look at the price tag:
- $22 for a Splinter BDU
- $36 for an HBT tunic from http://www.hikishop.com
- $45+ for an SS camo smock
In terms of building up a rental wardrobe, a $22 BDU - which can be modified in 10 minutes to remove all that ghastly velcro - seems a damn sight cheaper than any of the next-best options (even if those options are technically more correct), and approximates a Heer tunic pretty well - AND caters for the modern interest in camo'ing everything. It gets a player in the field, with a minimum of fuss.
And if all else fails, an XL-sized BDU for $22 should provide at least 3-4 helmet covers, if you have a sewing machine and an afternoon to kill...
EDIT: Forgot to add - I know Heer Splinter tunics were rather uncommon in practice, but that is the type of thing you teach the new player AFTER you have him hooked on WW2 airsoft 