yeah, get it slightly damp (don't do as suggested and soak it, as per normal beret, as otherwise the serge'll shrink and then it will look silly), and slap in down over your ear as extremely as possible, wear it around the house and it'll dry out, and start to sit how it wants to with your movement. Run around a bit in it and get it sweaty to really help it mould right 
A Proud Member Of 'Team Spleen!' who play mainly at Gunman Airsoft, Tuddenham, Suffolk.
Moulding berets is all a bit post war brasso and bull. Just look at the pictures, most didn't esp. not GS caps.
aka Stigroadie
AFRA
better by design
"Truth is a shining goddess, always veiled, always distant, never wholly approachable, but worthy of all the devotion of which the human spirit is capable. "
Yeah, but those SoF caps have to be seen to be believed!
I know, I have one.
To be honest, I didn't think it was that bad. Side by side with an original, of the same size, the shape is very close. Very stiff, even after 5 years or so, never worn it though, stick to my 7 3/4 original.
aka Stigroadie
AFRA
better by design
"Truth is a shining goddess, always veiled, always distant, never wholly approachable, but worthy of all the devotion of which the human spirit is capable. "
Ah... there's the thing. I think the small ones are more ludicrous than the large ones. They have the same diameter crown on both, but SoF for some reason put the headband off centre in a very strange way in the small ones so they come out especially odd looking. Now it may be that this is correct...
Anyway I'm happy with my 7 3/4 Warhorse one. 
Moulding berets is all a bit post war brasso and bull. Just look at the pictures, most didn't esp. not GS caps.
But plenty of guys did, its not in any way unusual or uncommon, i spoke to veteran a short while back who insisted all of the guys in his unit shaped their berets.
"I think we are in rats' alley - Where the dead men lost their bones."
It did happen with berets but was in no way universal or even the norm,{we have been here before Gadge] but to GS caps?
Plonk it on your head and thats it bar a quick tug to seat it.
aka Stigroadie
AFRA
better by design
"Truth is a shining goddess, always veiled, always distant, never wholly approachable, but worthy of all the devotion of which the human spirit is capable. "
Plonk it on your head and thats it bar a quick tug to seat it.
...plus drill/action in the rain, plus the hours and hours worth of sweat that soaks into it, plus the constant "taking-it-off-yer-head" and "putting-it-back-on", etc...
Not purposefully done, but definitely still shaping it.
We're just synthesising all this wearing-in with a bit of water and our hands. Looks more accurate for troops in battle and less "weekend best"/a mushroom character from the Sega Mario series of games.
A Proud Member Of 'Team Spleen!' who play mainly at Gunman Airsoft, Tuddenham, Suffolk.
Right, before this descends into another fecking fact-finding mission can we keep this thread for the use of showing of you latest acquisitions?
If someone has a problem with anything 'factual' please take it to PM or discuss it in the relevant forum for the 'nationality' of that specific piece of equipment.
Right, anyone bought any blanco they want to show off?
I got a big reel of 10mm sisal rope...
Is that exciting enough?
It might be if it made sense... 
Lots and lots and lots of pyro for Operation Jedburgh.
More soviet stuff- 2 postwar M43 gymnastiorkas, a watch and some long johns. 
From a car-boot sale this morning:
An original size 1 Brit' leather jerkin, dated 1943, in really good condition for it's age (serge still flawless inside, leather a little scuffed in places), for £15! Fits me lovely; my 1970s size 2 PVC fauz-leather one is a little on the big size for me.
The same seller also had a full set of Dutch BD (50s dated blouse and 60s dated trousers) for £15 too! But they were a bit on the small size for me (would have suited 28" waist, etc...)
A Proud Member Of 'Team Spleen!' who play mainly at Gunman Airsoft, Tuddenham, Suffolk.
Just back from Glastonbury, articles picked up
Woolen old style waistcoat. Will suit resistance.
59 pattern denison, a couple of paint splotches and a missing tooth from its zip, (£15, the bargain item, someone offered me £50 for it between me buying it and getting it back to my tent!)
Belgium leather jerkin in good condition.
A couple of jackets for conversion work.
US army blanket, not WW2 but certainly an older style.
To the tune of "Mademoiselle from Armentières"
Napoleons army ran away, As you do
The guard stood firm for Frances Pride, As you do
They said the guard will stand and die
But we heard what their Colonel cried
It wasn't pretty I tell you.
Resistance is fertile
Original US army wool trousers 1952 dated. Mint condition
M1924 Carlisle pouch (free gift with the trousers)
Dark Green/Brown wool tie (free gift with the trousers)
WWI dated .303 drill rounds (wooden tips) in WWI style charger
Old leather briefcase
Sians Nan (RIP) left us...
A stack of 1940s ration cards and clothing coupons
Some national identity cards from the 40s
and best of all....
An RASC Clerks personal notebook used during his training with *meticulous* notes on his duties as a clerk and full notation on the labelling, storage, transportation and all that lark of ammuniton of all types.
Seeing as we've just made up a stack of ammo crates (thanks nige) that will be useful.
"I think we are in rats' alley - Where the dead men lost their bones."
ace.
Sians Nan (RIP) left us...
A stack of 1940s ration cards and clothing coupons
Some national identity cards from the 40s
and best of all....
An RASC Clerks personal notebook used during his training with *meticulous* notes on his duties as a clerk and full notation on the labelling, storage, transportation and all that lark of ammuniton of all types.
Seeing as we've just made up a stack of ammo crates (thanks nige) that will be useful.
I apprently missed on first persual, and have since found, a brilliant 1939 dated pocket bible with message from the King in it and a 1938 sporting note book with 'cigarette card' type illustrations of cricketers and the like in it.
"I think we are in rats' alley - Where the dead men lost their bones."
A 1914 dated Eisernes Kreuz as a belated birthday present. In doubt whether to leave it rusty or carefully restore it...
