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Cheap gas mask bags

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(@lardassmonkey)
Posts: 2682
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If any Soviet player is in need of their most important piece of field gear they may wish to look here:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VINTAGE-ARMY-CANVAS-MESSANGER-BAG-RUSSIAN-MILITARY-GAS-MASK-SHOULDER-BAG-/260866298127?pt=UK_Collectables_Militaria_LE&var=&hash=item8265e08834

They're post war warsaw pact bags but of the same design as the Soviet SchM41 bags and at that price too cheap to be ignored. Obviously you want one of the canvas ones not the waterproofed one. The button one is the best match judging by the strap material as the buckle ones straps look too modern/plastised. If you remove the outer the pocket, fade them a bit (to make them look more like khaki/faded green than grey) and replace/paint the button they should look pretty close to wartime Soviet bags. Any straps/buckles on the rear of the bag should also be removed but it's not clear if they're present on all types.

So there you go a very cheap alternative to a repro and closer to the real thing than most other bags. :good:

 
Posted : 29/10/2011 9:41 am
Steinlager
(@steinlager)
Posts: 335
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:good: Well spotted, just ordered one. What should I replace the button with, a wooden toggle? or just paint it green?

Cheers, Paul.

 
Posted : 29/10/2011 1:07 pm
(@lardassmonkey)
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If its just a plain metal dish button painting it black or green would probably be ok. Or you could replace it with a uniform type star button.

 
Posted : 29/10/2011 1:44 pm
MartinR
(@martinr)
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Just ordered one as it look sbeter than my current gas mask bag.

fade them a bit

What do you think is the best way to do that? Wash it a couple of times??

Cheers
Martin

"Mistakes in the initial deployment cannot be rectified" Helmuth von Moltke
Toys: AGM MP40, Cyma M1A1, TM M14/G43/SVT40, TM VSR/K98, SnS No. 4, ASG Sten, Ppsh.
Arnhem3,Gumrak,Campoleone

 
Posted : 29/10/2011 5:02 pm
Steinlager
(@steinlager)
Posts: 335
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To fade canvas I've found hanging them up in a sunny window for a few weeks works. Might be more of a problem this time of year though.

 
Posted : 29/10/2011 5:48 pm
MartinR
(@martinr)
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Thanks.

Mine turned up today, nice bag, looks to be unissued. The metal button bags don't have all the belt straps and things on the back, but they do have a little plastic window on the front for a name tag, like an old fashioned school satchel :)

I'm going to leave the little external pocket on it for now as it is a handly place to store the chest strap.

Cheers
Martin

"Mistakes in the initial deployment cannot be rectified" Helmuth von Moltke
Toys: AGM MP40, Cyma M1A1, TM M14/G43/SVT40, TM VSR/K98, SnS No. 4, ASG Sten, Ppsh.
Arnhem3,Gumrak,Campoleone

 
Posted : 02/11/2011 11:37 am
Zero Bravo
(@zero-bravo)
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Mine arrived today as well, very happy with it for the price. I've had the pocket removed but don't think there's much chance of it fading so I'll just drag it round the garden and get it dirty and let that dry out. Thanks for the recommendation :good:




 
Posted : 02/11/2011 4:01 pm
(@lardassmonkey)
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Glad to be of help. A couple of washes and leaving it somewhere in the sun may help in fading it but this time of year it could well take a while. The name tag pocket is a postwar feature seen on lots of warsaw pact kit. Ideally that should be removed too.

 
Posted : 02/11/2011 5:32 pm
Barrie and Anne
(@barrie-and-anne)
Posts: 1124
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Just ordered a couple too. Thanks for the link.

 
Posted : 24/11/2011 11:31 am
(@crowley)
Posts: 106
Estimable Member
 

Thank you for the link, ordered one today.



 
Posted : 29/11/2011 9:06 am
MartinR
(@martinr)
Posts: 2866
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I've just left mine hanging out at the end of the garden to be soaked/blown around/sun bleached.

Not much sign of it happening yet!

Cheers
Martin

"Mistakes in the initial deployment cannot be rectified" Helmuth von Moltke
Toys: AGM MP40, Cyma M1A1, TM M14/G43/SVT40, TM VSR/K98, SnS No. 4, ASG Sten, Ppsh.
Arnhem3,Gumrak,Campoleone

 
Posted : 29/11/2011 9:20 am
Steiner
(@steiner_1609088194)
Posts: 10414
Illustrious Member
 

Hello all - I am Raw Recruit on this Forum!
Wanted to join the Sevastopol battle but it looks like all the Russian places are fully booked now.

Yes, at this stage the Russian side is full. There may be some cancellations nearer the time, so I suggest keep a watch out.


You've got nothing to ein, zwei, drei, vier

 
Posted : 05/12/2011 12:23 pm
(@lardassmonkey)
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I never said they were perfect but for those on a budget they're a far better option than the likes of Czech or Finnish bags people have been using. Once modified the only thing that is really wrong is the colour and it may even be possible to redye them to overcome that. Its not like the 2nd Guards even have everything perfect for wartime kit either...

Also technically they'd be wrong for Soviet army too and have button closure when Soviet SchM41M bags all used buckles.

 
Posted : 05/12/2011 12:29 pm
MartinR
(@martinr)
Posts: 2866
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Well, as at least five of us will be bringing the 'wrong' bags, at least we'll look fairly uniform. Perhaps Gosplan made a mistake (unthinkable I know).

Mine has been hanging out in the rain/wind/snow/hail for two weeks now with no visible signs of fading, they are obviously made of tough stuff.

Cheers
Martin

"Mistakes in the initial deployment cannot be rectified" Helmuth von Moltke
Toys: AGM MP40, Cyma M1A1, TM M14/G43/SVT40, TM VSR/K98, SnS No. 4, ASG Sten, Ppsh.
Arnhem3,Gumrak,Campoleone

 
Posted : 07/12/2011 9:00 am
(@lardassmonkey)
Posts: 2682
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3 things: colour (as mentioned above), design (one of the pockets is completelly missing and not just that), material (cloth and metall buckles are miles away)

That is just one model of bag, designed for the BN-Tch mask I believe. There are a number other other designs that have no pockets and use button closure more common to the SCh-1 & SchM41 masks. Granted the material isn't perfect but its still cotton. If it wasn't for the colour it would pass anything short of holding it.
I'm glad you under stand my reasoning for recommending it though. Red Army airsoft is still pretty new compared to other nationalities so it doesn't pay to be too demanding on peoples wallets.

Mine has been hanging out in the rain/wind/snow/hail for two weeks now with no visible signs of fading, they are obviously made of tough stuff.

Unfortunately its only the sun that is likely to have any effect so I doubt you'll see much happen with this weather. Maybe dyeing it would be a better option this time of year.

 
Posted : 07/12/2011 12:44 pm
 Yith
(@yith)
Posts: 11230
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How about putting it at high temp in the washing machine? If it's that tough it may survive it!

 
Posted : 07/12/2011 1:13 pm
MartinR
(@martinr)
Posts: 2866
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Well, until this week it has been alternating rain and bright sunshine at the top of garden, which I thought might do the trick. Now it is just wet and horrible!

Cheers
Martin

"Mistakes in the initial deployment cannot be rectified" Helmuth von Moltke
Toys: AGM MP40, Cyma M1A1, TM M14/G43/SVT40, TM VSR/K98, SnS No. 4, ASG Sten, Ppsh.
Arnhem3,Gumrak,Campoleone

 
Posted : 08/12/2011 9:19 am
Steinlager
(@steinlager)
Posts: 335
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I tried leaving mine outside for a month, and it didnt make any difference to the colour at all. Think I'll just live with it as is.

 
Posted : 08/12/2011 12:40 pm
MartinR
(@martinr)
Posts: 2866
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Hmm, looking at the picture on the previous page has given me an idea. If anyone has removed the 'spare' pocket off the gas mask bag, I don't suppose they kept it and might be willing to send it to me? I'll pay the postage.

I left the pocket on as it is handy for keeping the chest strap in, but with an extra pocket I could do the dual pocket configuration, which looks rather natty.

Now it has dried out a bit I think a fortnight of sun, rain, snow and wind does seem to have changed its colour a bit.

Cheers
Martin

"Mistakes in the initial deployment cannot be rectified" Helmuth von Moltke
Toys: AGM MP40, Cyma M1A1, TM M14/G43/SVT40, TM VSR/K98, SnS No. 4, ASG Sten, Ppsh.
Arnhem3,Gumrak,Campoleone

 
Posted : 13/12/2011 9:05 am
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