Hi Guys,

Working on another MACV-SOG dio but with NVA in it this time. I need some help on colors though. Can anyone help me out with the color of the webbing (ammo pouches, straps, etc), rucksacks and pith helmets (both the soft and hard version).

I know they have black jammies with the occassional white/beige shirts but the colors for the webbing and helmets aren't too defined in the color scheme by DML. I know Osprey recently reprinted their NVA/VC book but I haven't been able to lay my hands on one yet and I'm itching to get them painted up.

I'm using mainly Tamiya colors. Thanks in advance for any help.

G'day mate
Colour of webbing and helmet material was either a tanish khaki, or green.
The uniform for the NVA regular was NOT the black pyjamas that the VC wore, it was a proper uniform, ranking and insignia, all of that, this was either a green or tan, but different weather conditions would often leave the uniform in a totally different colour, due to fading etc... just like the allied uniforms...this would also happen with the webbing.
Here are some pics of NVA.
I will post more as i find them, Hope they help.
Cheers









This is actually a French M-47 Shirt. The NVA uniform shirts were designed to be almost identical to these.

Excellent David! Just what I needed and more. Your photos confirms what I've seen elsewhere which show the webbing should be towards greenish khaki. I expected the pith helmets to be more towards a brownish khaki but as you say fading in the field changes the color. Great pic of the water bottle. Aluminium with dark green paint right?

There seems to be a fair bit of variation as to field battledress. The video footages I saw in Vietnam: The Unseen War showed the NVA regulars having a wide range in wardrobe.

Are those AK-47 pouches? If they are seems like a lot bigger than the 3-pak they strap on their chest.

Thanks a whole bunch. Did you get the photos from the museum where your'e helping out?

Glad they helped mate.
I also have that film, dont trust what it says about some of the footage, its not all 100% accurate, some of the people they call NVA are VC, but to the average person, they both look the same, so i guess they think they can get away with using that footage.
Not too much of a huge range on uniforms, they were usually just dressed in that regular standard issue uniform, but variying colors.
Didnt get them from the museum, just off the net, random sources.
Im also working on an MACV-SOG diorama.
Cheers