Enigma

I was informed Peter passed away last Sunday, aged 97. We knew him personally, a nice man and have his memoires which he published 12 years ago. Its called "WW2 and me". He was in action at of the Battle of Den Bosch in support of the 53rd Welsh division. On youtube is a short video of him. Rest in peace Peter and thanks for your part in our freedom.

I have both plain and camo. My camo is a small one. Tall ones I have a few (ww2 and post war). I am 6 foot.

Cool. Nice camo tanksuit. Don't see these often. What size is the suit?

That looks nice. Will you wear this one? If so, does the liner fit you?

I like the dynamics with the soldiers doing various jobs.

I think they might have been a lighter shade of green. But I'd advise just to use as is. If you'd want to get rid of the size marking you could add a camonet with a first aid packet onder it to cover the size.

Hah! Just checked; mine has been stamped in the metal too, in roughly the same area!. Can't make out what it says though.

Interesting. Last week I bought a similar one, with the 7 3/4 on the side!! I'll check for a date stamp in the metal. That is the 1st time I'v seen a RAC shell with markings, cool!!! Probably 1953. I have seen several postwar para shells with makers mark and dates. It looks like post war RAC shells were marked too. Learned something new. Can you reveal where you bought it? Mine was from here, the Netherlands.

Hi John The black ring is from another liner that was placed on top? Do you have a few pics, including date of the shell?

Yes, a lot have been. But not just by reenactors , a lot of them are converted by the Belgian army with their own make of paraliner and straps. Again with the Belgian flag on them. I have a couple of those. Most I do find RAC helmets with Belgian decals or painted Belgian flags on them, on bare metal leaving the rough finish on the rest of the shell. I prefer these to convert and the nicer ones without that flag I keep in my collection. Some of these Belgian used ones I removed their flag and painted a reconnaissance flash on it when wearing a Recce BD or tanksuit. This is the one I use most.

WW2 RAC and Dispatch shells aren't dated at all. Para shells sometimes. AFAIK all RAC shells without "lift the dot" are WW2. Still I can't find proof. I am looking for empty Dispatch shells (preferably with liner ring) but no luck so far. The one I found had markings so will be in the collection when it arrives.

So...what do you do when you find allmost all british Dispatch rider helmets are sized smaal to medium??? Well then you make your own. And, DAMN, that's difficult...😟 But still....here it is. Made from a RAC shell. Everything else is newly made by hand, including buckle, strap, liner ring and even hand stitched sweatband!!! Size is about 61-62 so 7 5/8-7 3/4. I used 2 WW2 ones for comparison, mine (obviously) is the middle one. Let me know what you think.

Don't go putting ideas in his head Tony.

Shameless self invitation...if ever I am in Manchester I may pop in.😁

Cool diorama. What is that shield near the end of the tank?

Nice photo's. Would have been cool if someone stuck those vehicles in a barn to be found 70 years later. And so I phantasise..

Welcome to the forum. Yes, it can get a bit costly to get a old vehicle.

Yep, I've seen one when a Apache severed high tension lines near me. It was in rough shape, all gauges broken etc. Still it did the job as a off road winch truck.

Yes thats it. Thanks for the pic and link.

It turns out to be a German holder for 3 MG15, double magazines.

A guy asked me if I knew wahet this can be? Allegidedly it fell out of the sky during Market Garden. Its aluminium (aluminum for our US members😉) with a steel handle? Measuremnts in Centimeters. Help...what is it???

I'll thrice that...

Its a different looking tank. The Dutch army used to have them as well IIRC. Well done on the resto's.

I told him NOT to wear the mankini in the clubhouse but noooo.....he didn't listen.

Are your snaps suitable for all ages? 😵