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Post by toussant on Nov 5, 2015 22:42:16 GMT -5
Hello! Thanks to Craig, I think I can finally get an intro out of the way! I am a reenactor from two other time periods of interest; WWII German/ 1 Can Para, and a constant involvement in early American colonial history during the Seven Years War. I have been collecting MAC V SOG equipment now for approximately 5 years and have now fallen into the fascinating earlier stages of conflict in Indochina. I live up in Minnesota and enjoy camping, canoeing, and period style camping. Pleased to make your acquaintance, my friends! Adieu! ---Toussant |
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Post by lew on Nov 7, 2015 10:22:02 GMT -5
You must be new around here.  Officially, welcome aboard. I've been learning about the Vietnam War since I was ten, and MAC-V SOG is my favorite topic to read about (I won't dare start another collecting field. Indo/Algérie already rapes my wallet.). At least you can keep the mosquitoes company up there. |
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Post by toussant on Nov 8, 2015 18:08:37 GMT -5
At least the mosquitoes keep the weak hearted away! More room for me to walk around without some resort-living wuss from bothering me when I'm trying to get away from it all...
Hah, Hah!
---Toussant
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Post by craigtx on Nov 24, 2015 8:28:27 GMT -5
Glad to help out! Welcome!
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Post by toussant on Nov 24, 2015 23:26:52 GMT -5
Thanks! I know you are also a fellow Legion aficionado and I have taken your advice about picking up the Guyader book. Wow! What a goldmine! I've been using that quite heavily as reference for purchasing the items to make a rather credible 2nd BEP impression. I am trying to shoot for the most common items and staying away from the one-off or exotic items that are harder to document. My recent walking out uniform was as a sergeant- I have purchased the proper rank epaulets, sleeve lozenge and lanyards (red and the green C d G), the para brevit, and pocket unit insignia. I applied them to my Brit airtex shirt. I wore a pair of U.S. hbt trousers and web belt, Brit anklets and ammo boots (Spit shined, of course) and topped off the ensemble with the period correct nco Legion kepi. I also wore my 1930's vintage glasses. Pretty cool early impression, but I need to make the Kepi Blanc cover and I would like a pair of khaki trousers to finish up properly. Oh, I'm also getting a Ike jacket for a more formal look 'for a night on the town' look. Any thoughts or pointers? I really appreciate the advice!
Regards,
---Toussant
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Post by toussant on Nov 24, 2015 23:35:35 GMT -5
P.S. ordered the book "The Paras Indochine" a couple of days ago- can hardly wait to get my paws on it to pull out other nuggets to round out my impression/collection...
Cheers!
---Toussant
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Post by craigtx on Nov 24, 2015 23:41:32 GMT -5
Quite the start...
You definitely need to find a Mle49 chapeaux de brousse. It's de rigueur for Indo... You'll also want to pick up a helmet. A US M1 and liner is most common. Have you thought about firearms yet?
Try to get some pictures of your kit. It'll help, I do better with visuals.
Sounds like you've got a decent early war impression going.
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Post by toussant on Nov 25, 2015 0:50:35 GMT -5
Yep! I am trying to model the earlier impression! I already have a Brit No4 from my 1 Can Para days, however I'm saving up for the M1 folding stock carbine that is so frequently pictured in Guyader's book. Such a cool little rifle with a compact design that made it so appealing to para troopers in general- also easier to get ammo than the MAS 36 and therefore cheaper to shoot! I did pick up the Brousse hat this summer from some vendor out of Virginia that looks just like the original khaki models, minus the ventilation islets I've seen common to most. It has become my summer go-to hat and is already picking up a rather nice weathered salty look to it.
One question about the American helmet- were they all the M1 infantry model, or did they come up with sources for the para model as well? I'd really like going with the para model, if possible- more secure on the head even without being strapped on!
Also, have nice transitional U.S. web gear built with a mixture of OD#3 and OD#7 peppered throughout. The belt and M43 suspenders are excellent ATF repros and the pouches, canteen, and M# knife in the fiberglass scabbard are original. I know some of the khaki hounds state that all early American field gear was the OD#3 (khaki), but the dates of my originals does NOT agree with that line of thought. I also figure I will use my repro ATF musette in the field. It has a rigger added pack tab on the side opposite of the pocket to mount yet a second canteen.
---Toussant |
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Post by toussant on Nov 25, 2015 0:57:54 GMT -5
Oh, I forgot to mention I do have 2 french packs- the Mle. 50 TTA musette and the big beast TAP mle 50/53 I currently use to keep my period camping stuff together. I've come to understand that the TTA musette does not have picture evidence to support use by para units- I did bid on a minty Mle. 50/51 TAP musette, but dropped out after the price exceeded my $165 limit (too rich for my blood anyways...) I figure if I can ever get across country to other places doing Indo reenactments I could fall in with a mixed unit and not do too poor a showing equipment wise.
Cheers!
---Toussant |
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Post by lew on Nov 26, 2015 12:16:18 GMT -5
Look for a Mle. 50 Bergam pack as those were used by everyone and can be had for a reasonable cost. Be sure to steer clear of the ones with yellow or green leather trim as those appeared far too late for any of our purposes.
The paras used M1 helmets exclusively. The liners varied considerably- basic M1 liner, M1C, Sous casque de M1 modifiée TAP CEFEO ("diamond"-shaped adjustment tabs and D-rings), Sous casque Mle. 50/53 (canvas "A-frame" with eyelets), and a few others. Those listed are the most common. Les Paras details them. There is a seller on ebay.fr that makes repros of the Sous casque Mle. 50/53 and CEFEO. I have both, and got the steel M1 helmet from Murray's Militaria. I'm going to add an M1C to the mix, too. The TTA forces used M1 helmets but, with the introduction of the Mle. 51 helmet, the M1's were pushed to the paras. You will also need a neoprene helmet band and OD No. 7 helmet net. US M1942 Carlisle bandage tin or Mle. 49 bandage stuffed under the band or under the net is optional.
As for the Mle. 49 chapeau de brousse, make sure it is the sand/sable/khaki version. The OD hat appeared in late 1954/early 1955.
Post-War, anything goes with the OD shades, so feel free to use both. I added a P44 water bottle carrier for the hell of it.
With the price of original M1 Carbines climbing ever higher, check out Inland Manufacturing's reproduction Carbines. They have been getting very good reviews, and, with the prices of the surplus guns being where they are, you may as well spend a little more and get a new-production Carbine.
For late in the war, 2e BEP's uniform was the Windproof trousers and a frogskin P42/42/44 jacket (also shared by 6e BPC).
All right, I'm off to start preppin' for Thanksgivin' shenanigans. I'll let you digest the info and come back with more questions if you have them. Cheers!
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Post by toussant on Nov 26, 2015 17:30:45 GMT -5
Lew-
I will still continue to hunt for other treasures, heck, that's one of the most enjoyable parts of collecting!
The Chappeau de Brousse hat I have is the early sandy tan color by an ebay vendor out of Virginia that goes by the moniker "nchs". the hat goes under the title "French Indo China Bush Hat. I paid $77 dollars sans shipping and am quite pleased with it. It looks like one of the hats in Guyder's book complete with heavy stitching, single side snap and self cloth chin cord. The only problem I have with it is that it does not have the pair of small ventilation eyelets on each side that is universal to the pictures that I have seen. Is this still a possible model that may have been in use? I could also take it in to a competent cobbler and have small shoe eyelets installed as such, and that could remedy the problem quickly enough...
I am currently saving up for the paratrooper M1 carbine from Inland- Cheaper Than Dirt has them now going for just under $1100, which is about the lowest price I've found yet. The same company also has some other model M1 carbines from Auto Ordinance that are cheaper, but not getting very favorable reviews. I like to collect firearms that are shooters, not just cap busters, and I do believe that you get what you pay for... I also just purchased a used ATF army frogskin jacket a few weeks back, that I promptly removed the gas flap from, and have rolled up to fit in my musette. I noticed in Guyader's book several early war pictures of 2nd BEP wearing this jacket with hbt or Indo para trousers which I also have. I do still intend to get the windproofs though, because of the universal distribution (they also look awesome, let's face it...) I will continue the hunt for the appropriate helmet, probably early war in style, so it could be used throughout the whole campaign of reenacting. Wish I could afford the lizards from Panzerfaust, They do look fantastic... Highest Regards, ---Toussant |
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Post by lew on Nov 27, 2015 18:59:25 GMT -5
George at NCHS is extremely knowledgeable and his wares are top notch. You've done well on the bush hat. If you want the holes, poke some in with a leather punch and sew the edges, or go the eyelet route.
You are on the right track. Happy hunting.
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Post by craigtx on Nov 28, 2015 22:05:33 GMT -5
Good job Toussant! Comin' right along! Are you gonna be able to make DBP in June?
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