Camouflaged Chappeau de Brousse

[toussant]

    Any ideas what type of paint was available and usable on the boonie hat? I've been contemplating toning down my hat as the khaki stands out so much in darker underbrush. I've noticed a the Guyader book several examples of this kind of self-styled modification (pp. 19, 53-4).

    Anyone else out there doing this? I'd like to know how prevalent the practice was in the Indo theatre...

Thanks for your input,

---Toussant

[slehman]

Although only a little relevant, when we deployed to Somalia at the end of 92', the navy died our Tilley Hats for us in some crappy dye. They looked like crap so we did our best to sun bleach them until it became too fashionable. Once the officers started bleaching theirs, we dyed ours in a tea soak.

Interesting question

Steven

[toussant]

Did they use spray paint? I know the MACVSOG CCN gear I have collected was broken up with flat black spray paint- I don't know how far back spray paint goes, but the photos almost look like some type of paint or stain was brushed on...
---Toussant

[lew]

I'm going to guess they did as the Rhodesians did and use what paint was available: automotive paint, likely taken straight from the can and put on nice and s****y.

[toussant]

Started out with an OD fabric paint that is following the American frogskin pattern- it LOOKS AWESOME! I will add some dark earth brown next after the green dries completely. I am still looking into the means to send photos. I know not everybody did this, but I haven't seen anyone in the reenacting photos do this, so I thought I'd take the initiative...
Regards!
---Toussant

P.S. I am using Guyader pp. 19,54 as my reference.

[lew]

Upload the image to a photo hosting site- Photo Bucket is what I use- copy the image ( [/img] ) tag and then use the "Post Reply" function here and the image option above the text box.