WORRYING TREND

in one respect i agree , nobodys kit is perfect and there will always be bits missing / in wrong place etc . but if like some people you are basing your kit on a unit , regiment then i think the little nit picks matter and in my experience all the of the comments are constructive and helpful , nobody will ever say your kit is crap , instead they will advise you on what you need to do in order to make your kit look right . also no 2 kits will ever be the same as everyone is different . so there is some point into what your saying .

chris

I think its a common problem that new guys can have to any hobby. In the end we're not trying to put people off getting their kit, just politely suggesting ways to improve it.

In the end we all want people to look right, whether we are a newbie or an experienced player. This is what the forum is about after all. If we didn't care then why bother?

There's a big difference between a simple suggestion to wear your pack a little higher; and calling someone a FARB and flaming them! There's little point in just saying that everything looks "superb" and leaving it at that! Where there's easy room for improvement, why not suggest it?

Basically you may see it is as nit-picking, but its actually supposed to be polite constructive criticism.

Hi, chaps and chapesses,
I have noticed a worrying trend in the `kit pic` threads...` Nit Picking`.
As a total newbie to airsofting and in particular WW2 theme, I find the `kit pic ` thread very informative. However, when someone posts a pic of their uniform/loadout, some one else has to criticise, saying things like ``that item was not worn by that regiment`` or ``this was not issued at that period of the war``. This kind of stitch picking puts me off , as now I am too scared to buy any uniform/kit in case I get it wrong. I thought the idea was to give an overall IMPRESSION of the period whilst shooting each other up for fun. This is NOT a historical re-enactment society,is it.???
In any conflict supply and re-supply of kit was very patchy and often troops had to make do with older/substandard or stolen items, even using the kit off fallen enemy troops. So unless you were there I don`t think the anoraks amongst us should be so critical.Even today in Iraq, for instance, our troops are woefully under equiped and have to buy their own ( non issued) items or blag items from the Yanks. After all what would you do in that situation..????
Am I `out of my tree` on this ???. What do you think ???>
flatrajectory.

it's a tricky one, and depends where you want to go in ww2 airsoft, Some of us want to take it (only slightly) more towards the historical accuracy side of things, while others are happy with a general impression, and both are perfectly acceptable within ww2 airsoft and won't lose you any friends!

I think the main reason most people put their kit pics up is to see how to improve it, what to buy next etc, and if they're going 'wrong' within the constraints of their uniform of choice. Also, all of the advice is given in a pleasant and friendly manner, and it's not like being 'wrong' in any way will stop you playing, being accepted into the hobby, or being part of CiA in general.

Personally i (and PBI too i suppose) are always striving to increase the accuracy of our kit in a historical context, and friendly discussion helps that. Certainly obscure bits of kit and bits that were obviously 'wrong' were used in the field (i've got a photo somewhere of a Tommy with a german canteen and messkit on his belt!), but the general idea is to portray the 'average' soldier, not the exception to the rules, certainly within PBI, at least.

in short, don't be put off, it's advice, not an order to change it!

Flattrajectory, you are absolutely correct that this is not reenactment, and as such, nobody is going to say "you can't play because your kit is wrong". CiA are very keen to get new people to join WW2 airsoft, so "entry level" kit requirements are quite loose (and hopefully not too expensive). That said, the more you get into WW2 airsoft, some people (myself included) find themselves wanting to become ever more realistic in their kit standard - that's no bad thing, but hopefully any advice given on the forums is given in a positive spirit, rather than a critical one. This has often been discussed, and some people prefer to offer their advice privately, because a public comment can sometimes be taken the wrong way.

Two somewhat different aspects here.

I'll just reiterate that for CiA games as long as you abide by the guidelines then that's fine. No one will criticise or other wise chastise you - everyone starts somewhere and in the fullness of time, wallet allowing, your kit may be added to or 'improved'.

The other aspect is this forum in which people seek advice from the knowledgeable - either by silent lurking or overt posting. We do have reenactors here that like to get stuff 'right', that's true, and are a fountain of information.

However, if opinion isn't sought then there shouldn't be criticism. Making people feel bad, inadequate or otherwise insecure is very bad form and will not be tolerated on this forum.

I hope the distinction is clear!

If you're referring to my posts, they aren't intended as nit picking, like I said in the thread, they are polite pointers. If people want to take them on board they can, no worries if not.

CiA games are as open as ever, our 'looks like' rules still apply and people can take it as far as they want to, or only use a boiler suit if they want.

Sgt Chris looks like he's in the former group there. I could go much further in my critique of his kit, but it's completely uneccessary, he looks like a Yank and that's what counts. I thought he might like a few pointers for the kit he has.

HS

EXAMPLE.

this was said to me about 30mins ago after posting some pics of me .

from headshot.
Cool.

Some polite pointers:

Put some stripes on your arm or loose the one on the back of your helmet.
Adjust your suspenders up a bit, they look a little loose and twisted. You'll find it much more comfortable.
This will also adjust your mussette pack up a bit, it should be on your upper back. (Also fill that pack with kit!)

All in all, looking good.

NB: Where's your helmet chinstrap!?

i am trying to base my kit on Band Of Brothers , and i know full well its not perfect but the comments from headshot made me see things i may have missed on my kit such as the bag being to low and the lack of strips on my arm , so in return i now know what to do my kit to make it look better . he never said it was rubbish and i should ditch it , he simply gave me advise on how to make it look more like my unit im portraying.

chris

Thank you chaps for your rapid reponses. I was not citing any one in particular, just seemed to be a general tend.
As long as I am not lambasted the first time I turn up I will be happy. As I said though, there is nothing more offputting to a newcomer than to be put down. All groups require new blood to survive, so as long as it is only encouragement then that is fine.
Some of us do not have surplus funds to buy the exact/ best kit available.

An excellent forum, with genuinely sensible people. Brill```.

flatrajectory

I'd consider Headshots comments above as constructive and well meaning coz i know him and know where he's coming from . Pointing out that those suspenders, pack etc were post war , or not worn by the 3rd Regiment 29th Inf Divison on October 5th 1944 would be stichnazing and not tolerated here
It's a thin line we've walked before , peoples enthusiasm sometimes feels overpowering esp if you're new to the forum . Equally sometimes people get more advice than they asked for .

There is however an offical response to people you feel are being stitch nazis which is the use of the raspberry

I kid you not ....we use it as a gentle way of saying "back off" and even have a rogue raspberry moderator from the reenactment world to help dispense then .

So FT if you're feeling stitchnazi'd post a or two rather than get frustrated or raise it via PM with a Mod /Admin .

Thanks old`un, I will bear that in mind. Maybe it was just me being paranoid.
Do you have any raspberries with cream ????.

flatrajectory.

Just noticed Old 'Un - in your avatar you seem to be lighting up an king-size filter tipped fag.
The filter tip was a 1950's trend and so is clearly not associated with 1940 Germany (where smoking was frowned on generally any way).
It just spoils an otherwise spot-on look, I mean really, you ought to make the effort.

A suitable alternative would of course be the cigarette holder, although it may give the erroneous illusion that you are somewhat, er, effete.

I reckon he should just get a better tailor... have you seen those cuffs!

now now ladies

Just noticed Old 'Un - in your avatar you seem to be lighting up an king-size filter tipped fag.
The filter tip was a 1950's trend and so is clearly not associated with 1940 Germany (where smoking was frowned on generally any way).
It just spoils an otherwise spot-on look, I mean really, you ought to make the effort.

A suitable alternative would of course be the cigarette holder, although it may give the erroneous illusion that you are somewhat, er, effete.

At least my "officers" tunic has proper turn back cuffs.

Rich -I'd take it up with my tailor if he wasn't in Hong Kong !

There you are FT - a demonstration of the raspberry system!

excuses... excuses.. all I hear are excuses... lol!

the system works

now lets stop the bikering and lets have tea and crumpets.

chris

excuses... excuses.. all I hear are excuses... lol!

I'm told they are the correct length for the ones worn on Tuesdays . Fridays cuffs were a little longer .
Since most of our events are on Saturdays I'm confused as to whether it's 160mm in lenght or 162mm.

As to the ciggies , I've got a silver case , what more do I need.

As I have said in previous posts..... ``you all all barking, british bloody barking``..........

or as Dick Emery used to say.. ``ooh you are awful .. but I like you``

flatrajectory