Post by btswanfury on Nov 28, 2008 18:26:03 GMT -5
Going off of what Abshire has already posted, here are a few new equipment lists and sources for the CPV forces in Korea. I have bought items from all these places and have never had any trouble (as of November 2008, anyway).
Uniforms:
Hong Kong Keith disappeared from E-Bay, but we think he may have returned. In any case, there is a place which is selling both Blue and Khaki style Chinese Nationalist uniforms for WWII. Khaki is the preferred uniform color, although for the early part of the war, blue is acceptable as well (Nationalist units were incorporated into the CPV wholesale and its estimated that in 1950 approximately 30% of the Chinese army was made up of former Nationalist units).
Be advised, these tend to run small. I bough the small size uniform set and I can assure you that it is NOT a chest size 40. More like a 36 or 38 with 30x32 trousers.
Bandoleers and field gear are fine too, but I'd try to stay away from the hats and puttees unless you wanna go really old school.
You may or may not want to remove the lower pockets via a seam ripper. Ironing over the stitch holes with a hot iron on "Steam" mode helps camouflage them so that they will only be visible when put against a light source.
stores.ebay.com/HIKISHOP_WWII-CHINA_W0QQcolZ4QQdirZ1QQfsubZ260348010QQftidZ2QQtZkm
For shirts, most any old-timey civilian shirt will do, usually collarless. I bought a WWI British officer's shirt, removed the collar and voila! A suitable civilian shirt for your Chinese impression. For the winter months, I may do the same thing to US wool shirts and go from there. Check out Sportsman's Guide for some good options.
onlinemilitaria.net/shopexd.asp?id=3517&bc=no
Your best bet for a hat is Chairman Mao's hat from Asian Ideas. They only have small and Xlarge in white, and I'm not sure how readily they will take dye. I bought a gray one and tried bleaching it with little luck (it's a cotton-poly blend). Most other "Mao" hats are copies of the 1960's Red Guards hats and as such are farb.
Asian Ideas is also good for things like chopsticks, rice bowls, etc.
www.asianideas.com/chmahat.html
Footwear
For Chinese footwear you basically have 3 choices. The first and preferred choice is the Chinese combat sneaker, either in a hi- or lo-top configuration. PLA shoes and PAVN shoes are ideal. You may also wear the cotton Luohan sandals. Soviet leather low boots may also be acceptable. Kung fu slippers are acceptable, but highly discouraged (and c'mon. You can get PLA shoes for $14 plus shipping)
Luohan Sandals
www.chinesekungfuhustle.com/product_info.php?pID=91&model=SFXZ-BL-2&name=Shaolin+Luohan+Cloth+Sandals
PLA Soes
www.chinesekungfuhustle.com/product_info.php?pID=1213&model=XZ-JX-1&name=Red+Army+Sneakers
PAVN Hi-Tops
www.goestores.com/catalog.aspx?storename=sampanimportcompanyn2&DeptID=210547&ItemID=9307649&detail=1
Cold Weather Gear
The best choice for CPV members for cold weather gear is to buy a padded Russian-style jacket and trousers, also known as a telogreika. In my experience, Trident Militaria makes the best, although to be truly authentic you may want to do a few things. This includes lightening the color via bleach, swapping out the black metal buttons for wood buttons or toggles, and removing the thigh pocket on the trousers and the collar insignia with a seam ripper.
You may also want to purchase an Ushanka from them and ditch the insignia to help keep your noggin warm.
stores.ebay.com/trident-military_Soviet-Militaria-1917-1945_W0QQcolZ4QQdirZ1QQfsubZ13541275QQftidZ2QQtZkm
Odds and Ends
Grenade bags are the standard Chinese-style 2 or 4 cell pouches for holding stick grenades. Moore Militaria carries them, but they are a little too high-speed for Korea. If you get one of these, consider taking a seam ripper to remove the flap covering the grenades for a start. 2-cell looks more appropriate for Korea "out of the box."
www.mooremilitaria.com/new_page_6.htm
Japanese breadbags and medic bags are available from Stewart's Military Antiques at reasonable prices. Both are acceptable if you cannot get your hands on a PLA bag (which I couldn't. Omaha's was being sucky).
www.stewartsmilitaryantiques.com/display.php?getcategory=Japanese+Reproduction
For the perpetually overequipped, Sampan Inc also carries PAVN "rice rolls" which are basically just tubes of cloth with drawstrings at each end, kind of like a civil war blanket roll. Worth looking into.
www.goestores.com/catalog.aspx?storename=sampanimportcompanyn2&DeptID=210542&ItemID=9186411&detail=1
Good luck all, and feel free to add anything you find!
Uniforms:
Hong Kong Keith disappeared from E-Bay, but we think he may have returned. In any case, there is a place which is selling both Blue and Khaki style Chinese Nationalist uniforms for WWII. Khaki is the preferred uniform color, although for the early part of the war, blue is acceptable as well (Nationalist units were incorporated into the CPV wholesale and its estimated that in 1950 approximately 30% of the Chinese army was made up of former Nationalist units).
Be advised, these tend to run small. I bough the small size uniform set and I can assure you that it is NOT a chest size 40. More like a 36 or 38 with 30x32 trousers.
Bandoleers and field gear are fine too, but I'd try to stay away from the hats and puttees unless you wanna go really old school.
You may or may not want to remove the lower pockets via a seam ripper. Ironing over the stitch holes with a hot iron on "Steam" mode helps camouflage them so that they will only be visible when put against a light source.
stores.ebay.com/HIKISHOP_WWII-CHINA_W0QQcolZ4QQdirZ1QQfsubZ260348010QQftidZ2QQtZkm
For shirts, most any old-timey civilian shirt will do, usually collarless. I bought a WWI British officer's shirt, removed the collar and voila! A suitable civilian shirt for your Chinese impression. For the winter months, I may do the same thing to US wool shirts and go from there. Check out Sportsman's Guide for some good options.
onlinemilitaria.net/shopexd.asp?id=3517&bc=no
Your best bet for a hat is Chairman Mao's hat from Asian Ideas. They only have small and Xlarge in white, and I'm not sure how readily they will take dye. I bought a gray one and tried bleaching it with little luck (it's a cotton-poly blend). Most other "Mao" hats are copies of the 1960's Red Guards hats and as such are farb.
Asian Ideas is also good for things like chopsticks, rice bowls, etc.
www.asianideas.com/chmahat.html
Footwear
For Chinese footwear you basically have 3 choices. The first and preferred choice is the Chinese combat sneaker, either in a hi- or lo-top configuration. PLA shoes and PAVN shoes are ideal. You may also wear the cotton Luohan sandals. Soviet leather low boots may also be acceptable. Kung fu slippers are acceptable, but highly discouraged (and c'mon. You can get PLA shoes for $14 plus shipping)
Luohan Sandals
www.chinesekungfuhustle.com/product_info.php?pID=91&model=SFXZ-BL-2&name=Shaolin+Luohan+Cloth+Sandals
PLA Soes
www.chinesekungfuhustle.com/product_info.php?pID=1213&model=XZ-JX-1&name=Red+Army+Sneakers
PAVN Hi-Tops
www.goestores.com/catalog.aspx?storename=sampanimportcompanyn2&DeptID=210547&ItemID=9307649&detail=1
Cold Weather Gear
The best choice for CPV members for cold weather gear is to buy a padded Russian-style jacket and trousers, also known as a telogreika. In my experience, Trident Militaria makes the best, although to be truly authentic you may want to do a few things. This includes lightening the color via bleach, swapping out the black metal buttons for wood buttons or toggles, and removing the thigh pocket on the trousers and the collar insignia with a seam ripper.
You may also want to purchase an Ushanka from them and ditch the insignia to help keep your noggin warm.
stores.ebay.com/trident-military_Soviet-Militaria-1917-1945_W0QQcolZ4QQdirZ1QQfsubZ13541275QQftidZ2QQtZkm
Odds and Ends
Grenade bags are the standard Chinese-style 2 or 4 cell pouches for holding stick grenades. Moore Militaria carries them, but they are a little too high-speed for Korea. If you get one of these, consider taking a seam ripper to remove the flap covering the grenades for a start. 2-cell looks more appropriate for Korea "out of the box."
www.mooremilitaria.com/new_page_6.htm
Japanese breadbags and medic bags are available from Stewart's Military Antiques at reasonable prices. Both are acceptable if you cannot get your hands on a PLA bag (which I couldn't. Omaha's was being sucky).
www.stewartsmilitaryantiques.com/display.php?getcategory=Japanese+Reproduction
For the perpetually overequipped, Sampan Inc also carries PAVN "rice rolls" which are basically just tubes of cloth with drawstrings at each end, kind of like a civil war blanket roll. Worth looking into.
www.goestores.com/catalog.aspx?storename=sampanimportcompanyn2&DeptID=210542&ItemID=9186411&detail=1
Good luck all, and feel free to add anything you find!
