Hi All, anyone know off-hand if a late 80's era shoulder holster/strapping would be leather color, or green webbing? Google doesn't help much it seems. I'm using the guy in the middle with Woodland BDU's, and I think(?) it should be black leather like the box art...but doesn't hurt to check for sure.



Cheers,
Jim

Having been acty duty back when we still used the M1911A1 (into the later 80's) I can specifically remember thos old holsters. Brown leather. Usually darkened with age and gun oil.
There was a green nylon version with two wire loops to fasten it to a pistol belt, but I never saw it worn in the fashion those figures depict.

Hi Jim,

Also having been a TC in the 80's, those M1911A1 holsters were black leather. We'd wear them under our web gear, since we wanted to take the web gear off while operating, but not have to also take off the holster. BTW, you might also want to put the gun itself inside something that looks like a ziplock baggie. Since we were never in combat, we didn't have to worry about using them, and the baggie kept the gun from getting really dirty...

Jon

They were black. I have never seen a brown one. I was on active duty as a tanker beginning in 1985 the .45 was our primary carried weapon.

If you wore a brown .45 shoulder holster, you are definitely "old Army." Black was the color of the 80's.....I seem to recall we gradually replaced them with the green holsters once we received the 9mm. I would also question guys about the various CVC helmets that were around back then....

Jim,
Black is the color of that style of shoulder holster - it was designed for the .45 but worked equally as well with the M9 Beretta pistol. There was a conversion to convert the nylon hip holster for the M9 into a shoulder holster but the holster and pistol hung down to the wearer's waist and was always in the way.

John

Jim,

FYI on the figures. Unless you were moving, the goggles were never worn while reading a map. They were always pushed up on the forehead or around your neck while not moving since they were only slightly less uncomfortable than wearing a diving mask...

Jon

During DS we had the black leather chest holster for the 1911s. Standard issue in Europe.

Awesome, thanks for the quick answers. Just putting the finishing touches on my M60A3, here he is (with a Hornet head). With this type of headset would the cord to the intercom be connected to the left side?
Yes, his arm could use a sanding, but it could be arm hair...



Cheers,
Jim

Jim,
Yes, the intercom/radio cord, commonly referred as the "spaghetti cord" attached to the left side of the CVC helmet and would run across the front of the TC, to his right side to connect with the tank's commo box (J box) mounted on the inner wall of the turret. Great work on the figure.

John

wonderful painting on your fig. May I suggest taking some of the shine off the gloves? Looks a bit like patent leather. My gloves were usually pretty matt and kind of dirty.
J

Jim-- the TC figure is outstanding!
Well done, the goggels are very convincing....how did you do it?
thanks
DJ

Thanks for the tip Jerry, will dull the gloves down. DJ, I just base coated them the same color as the shell (OD), then coated them with Tamiya Smoke.

Jim

Small issue I noticed we wore brown t-shirts with BDUs. I made TC in 86. I always preferred the leather shoulder holster it kept my pistol handy and I didn't have to wear my LBE all the time. I never put mine in a baggy in humid conditions they rust.

Tom

Jim-- fine job on the goggles.
thanks
DJ

I agree. I use Field Drab to replicate the brown/green color.