Latest Acquisitions

you forgot a manly grrrrrrrrr at the end of that

My dad still swears by shaving BD's of which thats just reminded me he's got the kids next weekend for detling and I forgot to ask about a shirt for Ranj

"Get in it - Sweat in it"

Works every-time for new battledress. The job's not complete until the cuff lining turns a good browney gray

I was thinking more of washing it with a heavy dose of Lenor and then using spray-in hair conditioner - like the real WWII soldiers did.

Careful when washing genuine BD, the old-school pure wool is more prone to shrinkage. I send all my serge items to dry cleaners when they need freshening-up. My BD has just come back from it's first dry cleaning after 3 years of continued use (I 'skirmish' in it too every month).

I dont wash my stuff full stop, (with the exception of my EM shirt) you're supposed to smell like an armpit at ww2 games, it brings the authenticity out! hehe

Not a bad haul for a Friday:

Hudson Ppsh-41 x 2 Drum mags

AK47 gearbox
AK47 Barrel & Hop unit
AK 2500rnd Electric Drum mag

I think you all know, what i have in mind

Not WW2 but, just arrived, a Kalash full metal and wood AK74 - for £50!

bargin

Nice price, is it the full stocked AK74?

Nice price, is it the full stocked AK74?

It is. I've had it apart and redone the gearbox, as single shot didn't work, so, while I was in there I've done a reshim and regrease and also changed the spring because it was a bit "warm", I've also rear wired it to the stock,as for some strange reason it was wired for a stick battery. The mag doesn't fit very well but I plan on getting midcaps for it anyway. It's a nice bit of kit and very heavy as it's all metal and wood. I'm going to an open day at the end of the month and I should be kicking some ass with it.

They are rather nice. Chris (dog green) has a brand new full steel AKS version sat waiting to be posted my way. Was a bit more than £50 though. I assume yours is the older 'metal' one though and not the steel version?
I also plan to order a bunch of midcaps, probably MAG ones as they seem pretty good. I'll get 2 boxes which will give me 10. The most I can carry with me in my cold war gear is 7 in my Lifchik ('bra'); 6+ 1 in the gun, if I use pouches I can only carry 5! I'll use 3 for converting MP44 hicaps to mid caps- perfect for the 300 round limit.

MAG Midcaps are superb. Used their MP5, M4 and AK ones. Worth every penny!

Back in WWII land, had an M36 greatcoat delivered from Chris today. Very, very happy with it. Far better cut to it than Sturm ones i've looked at.

MAG Midcaps are superb. Used their MP5, M4 and AK ones. Worth every penny!

Back in WWII land, had an M36 greatcoat delivered from Chris today. Very, very happy with it. Far better cut to it than Sturm ones i've looked at.

Chris? i'll be after one soon, when i've got a few spare pennies.

Chris Hobbs AKA Northern Militaria.

Chris Hobbs AKA Northern Militaria.

Ah right, cheers!

WE Colt .45 and a few bits and pieces.
2 more correct fastening british ammo pouches
Brit commando and joint ops tombstone patches
Silver dagger for Commando Beret
37 Pattern BD Blouse

1930s Weston mk1 Lightmeter. No idea how it works.

Had a good weekend at Ramsey (all original unless mentioned):

Tin, complete with all tubes of anti-gas ointment No2.
Anti-dimming kit with the cotton waste and goo intact. 1938 dated.
US wartime sleeping bag.
civvie canvas travel bag
indian made ration bag
K-ration box (repro)
Late war short sleeved jg bush jacket
Pattern 14 webbing bits. Original belt (1916 dated), repro pouches. I'll be making the rest myself!
A '42 dated approx (I forget exactly) booklet with guidelines about using just about every infantry weapon used in WW2 for all the nationalities! (Well a lot of them anyway) Includes stripping instructions for the more common ones.

1941 dated Soviet waterbottle
1945 dated Soviet triple F1 grenade pouch
M40 side cap sold to me as an M34. Will be up for sale shortly.

Non ww2- Soviet M69 tunic and belt- both look brand new. Repro PAVN pith helmet.

1930s Weston mk1 Lightmeter. No idea how it works.

Set the value In the little red window (toilet-door-lock looking thing) on the dial to point to the film sensitivity of the film you're using, if it says ASA it is the same as the film's ISO value (i.e. 100 ISO = 100 ASA). If the sensitivity is in 'Weston speed' units You must divide by 5 and multiply by 8 to get the true figure, so 100 ISO = 160 Weston.
If it is in DIN values you'll have to check the internet yourself, can't recall the conversion step.

Now hold the meter up to the light and read the the number the needle is pointing too. (if it hardly moves, open the cover)

Turn the big arrow so that it points towards the same number indicated by the needle. You'll see a number of shutter speed settings on the outer ring paired up the f/stop numbers on the inner ring.
Set your camera to the correspond to any of these paired settings an you'll get a properly exposed picture.

You might want to check if it is calibrated properly on a bright sunny day. Set the film to ISO 100, the needle should point to an exposure value that will tell you that at a shutter speed of 1/100th of a second to use f-stop f/11 or f/16 (on really bright days). If so, the Selenium Cell hasn't degraded too badly.

My recent buys
New pair of roughout boots,
reproduction M1938 Resistal goggles,
Still waiting on some WW1 ponchos and barrack bags

If the sensitivity is in 'Weston speed' units You must divide by 5 and multiply by 8 to get the true figure, so 100 ISO = 160 Weston.

Oh, well spotted. I'd found a manual online but I didn't notice the Weston Unit thing.

Absolutely mint condition 1937 Tornister - no rips, tears, holes. Leatherwork perfect - 72 years old it is!