Thanks guys,for the information and interesting stuff all 'round. I was lost for a while in those websites!! MUST FOCUS!
I finally did the obvious and googled Piats and found some great refs for the ammo cases. I will just make my own. Too impatient for the mail man.
Got the basic web belt on after some dremeling of the Denisen smock. Have to make the clasp yet.

Took the plastic scrim off the brain bucket as I will add my own.



Started to settle in the e-tool. I will now blend it on with some good 'ol putty.
Commonwealth guys will have to school me if it's wonky?



I do realize that the belt and buckles are attached to the main belt and I will fix that later.
J

Hi Jerry,

you want to be careful...is the back showing a flap at the bottom?? Hope not, as the front doesn't have one!

E-tool is fine as far as I can see!

Cheers m8!

Romain

Cool. About the flap. It was made to pass under the crotch. Here,it is the stowed position. If you check the pic further up in my thread,you can see the back of the flap attached with two studs in its' stowed position. I have,so far,removed a portion of the top of the flap in order to snug down the e-tool so the flap is still in its' stowed position on the back.
I checked my friend Google yesterday and got up to speed on this smock thanks to the link you provided.
J

You're right about the flaps Jerry. During the escape to the river, the airborne troops held on to the man in fronts flap to make a human chain to avoiding getting lost in the dark.

essential reference for British/Canadian/Free French airborne figures -

http://livres.histoireetcollections.com/en/publication/1378/d-day-paratroopers-the-british-the-canadian-the-french.html

Don't forget the light pattern respirator haversack (which can attach to the belt or be hung from it's own sling) and the toggle rope by the way - as well as the spike bayonet and it's webbing frog.

http://www.blitzandpeaces.co.uk/museum/WWII%20militaria/WWII%20BRITISH%20ARMY%20EQUIPMENT%20PHOTOS/main7.asp

The entrenching tool hangs from the ends of the webbing shoulder cross straps once they have passed through the angled buckles on the belt. Once that is fitted, the water bottle is hung on the end of the RHS cross straps - front and rear.

sk

Hi Jerry,

The ammo pouches from the old Tamiya Infantry set are pretty good.

There are a number of Airborne walkabouts here on site if you want to get up close and personal with the equipment. D Day Paratroopers by Jean Bouchery is also a good reference.

Good progress.

Cheers

Al

Thanks gents. All very useful intel. I am shamefully ignorant about most Commonwealth gear.
"J

Have you had a look at this site:
http://www.paradata.org.uk/

Thanks Paul,
Good site for sure. It brought to my attention yet another aspect of the Ardennes battles and bolsters my opinion about the gigantic scope of the battle.
J

After checking some of the excellent links that were provided by you guys I made the chin strap with buckle. I hollowed out the area for the front suspenders to prepare for his kit. I also picked another rucksack from the newer Tamiya offering as well as a respirator. I believe this respirator may be a bit large? The pics I've seen show it too be not as wide as the rucksack when worn sideways on the back of the belt?



If I decide to use the respirator I have to move the e-tool to his left side as the ref pics seem to support this?
Questions questions. Kind of hard as this forum seems to have died over the past 3 days.
J

What stage of the battle are you trying to show? I'd probably leave the respirator case off unless it's just after landing. I know that they were carried right through to the end by some but there's plenty of photo evidence showing some members of the airborne without them.
Looking good.

This bloke is meant to be one of Frosts' stalwarts on the way to the road bridge the first day.
I wanted to show a loaded up guy the way we were always loaded up when on foot.
J

I'd go for the respirator case then. Do you have a plan for the dio yet or is it just evolving? I start with straight forward plans and then keep changing my mind with every new figure/vehicle I make. Looking at your Normandy dio I'd guess you plan things out quite carefully.

Simple scene. Fresh confident paras on the way with full loads to their destiny at the road bridge.
Some more progress. Got the front straps and buckles on along with the ammo pouches.




Added the side straps for the rucksack,along with said rucksack and the respirator pouch.




Cut down the respirator pouch to an accurate size and so had to move the e-tool to the alternate hook-up point. I still have to make those straps and also blend/fill in the old and new gaps.
Also have to add the water flask and fabricate the special para bayonet frog and togle rope but I have good pics now.


Glad I went with the new Tamiya rucksack and ammo pouches.
I am also changing the weapon to the rifle as I figure they were more prevalent.
J
J

Hi Jerry,

the respirator bag looks big indeed! Moreover, from the countless photos I've seen, it is not too prominent either, while e-tools are!!
Still, it is possible, so why not! IMHO I would refrain from adding another one though!

The fig looks great from the front!! Straps and buckles all over....just superb, and typical Jerry!!

You are a master m8!!

Cheers

Romain

Thanks for the kind words of encouragement buddy,
J

You do realise that I've now got to improve the webbing on my figures. It's really helpful having someone to raise the bar on your own work.

Hi Jerry,

looking good and coming along nicely. You realise Paratroopers are like Sherman's very addictive

Cheers

Al

Hey Jerry. I'm a little late looking at your progress shots but you know the old adage I'm sure...so here are a few pics of my Dad's helmet from the early 50's. Found it again in time to wear it at Halloween with my old combat shirt while walking the neighbourhood with our 4 year old.

I'm not 100% sure it's identical to the ones worn by the paras of the Second World War era commonwealth troops, but I bet it's close.












Just in case you haven't had enough Intel...

Dave

Paul,Al and Dave,
Thanks all for looking in as always I enjoy it a lot when you do.
Paras,,,yes...I suppose we have that effect on people. LOL
That sure does look exactly like the helmets used in Arnhem during the "Big One". Looks like somebody put tape on the webbing around the chin area so that it appears to be one piece?
J

From what I can glean from the few photos I have of Dad from this period, I think it was a very common thing to do. I think it made it more comfortable to wear. It reminds me of the modern hockey helmet chin strap, or the American chin straps from old football films.

Hope it helps.

Yes,thanks,that helmet depiction does help. I will ditch the one I have and replace it but with what?
I also have decided to move the e-tool back to the middle of his back as there are more pics that show it that way than not.
One step forward,two steps back?
J

There'll be nothing left of the original figure's back by the time you're done. It is a pain when you get so far only to have to turn around and start all over.

True true but.... I am working for the first time on a Brit Para and there is a learning curve involved. I wouldn't have this problem with a GI Para or a German dude.
When I get by this it will be mucho easier when I do the second guy.
J

I did make a bit of forward progress yesterday. Well on the way to having the arms attached. the left one is more advanced than the right.