I'm an amateur historian in America, who having retired, decided to get back into my study of the Great War. Just discovered the channel, and enjoyed the video so much, I subscribed. Here in the West of the US, there's not a lot of Re-Enactors going on in this region. My Great Uncle fell near the end of the War, and I do have his Compass that was sent by his mates to my Great-Grandparents. He was a gunner on an artillary crew, so I assume he used it as part of sighting the gun. It still works. Amazing, as it's over a hundred years old. Enjoyed the presentation, and I'm looking forward to watching more.
Mike's enjoyment and knowledge of early 20th-century British military subjects make his videos a pleasure to watch. He's an excellent presenter; who just made musty old web gear so intriguing; I was captivated for 20 minutes and actually learned a couple interesting points too!
I do not why I watched 21 minutes of blanco of WWI gear, but it was strangely fascinating and I enjoyed the enthusiasm and knowledge of the presenter. I am a former squaddie but definitely not from that era.
@@TwoMikesProductions Hi Mike, can Blanco be washed out of webbing ? I have pattern 37 webbing for reenacting and in summer I would prefer it without Blanco for "Africa and Mediteranian theatre". Or can I just use green fabric paint in autumn and khaki fabric paint in summer ?
@@MultiWatcher1000 I’ve never tried it but since it’s basically paint if you get some isopropyl alcohol and a tooth brush and work it into it I reckon that will work!
Cheers for this Mike, i normally do Yeomanry but really fancy doing period wild camping( camping in kit using period equipment etc) but know very little about the webbing ... This helped a lot
We were still using Blanco for our belts and gaiters in junior leaders in the early 1970s. We used a Blanco brush ( nail brush) and water with the Blanco ( made it spread more evenly) always done in the Blanco room.
How do you clean uniforms if they get absolutely SOAKED in mud (just in case it happens to me) I'd really like to know what you think on cleaning your uniforms?
Hang it up on the line once the mud dries then beat the cloth with a wooden broom or cloth beater a lot. This should get rid of the worst of the dirt, then if you want it super clean , remove all insignia and wool wash it.
No Way! I'd love to see that! I'm currently building a massive 1/24th scale dolls house for my daughter based on Brambley Hedge. Not sculpting though, that sounds incredible!
@@TwoMikesProductions Thanks much. The kilt is FIMO with the pleats scribed with the tip of a small pen knife so, yeah, individual. There was some cursing involved ;-).
They put a lot of thought into the 1908 Pattern webbing and I agree that it's probably the best kit design of the past 150 years. Specifically, they wanted to make sure the weight distribution was evenly balanced and that it could be snugged up so that it didn't bounce all over the place when you were on the march. Also, they made the large pack attach to the webbing itself, rather than having a separate backpack, which allows you to adjust your webbing to a comfortable fit in one shot, rather than trying to adjust a ruck and webbing separately. You put it on like a coat, adjust it according to your clothing layers and away you go. It's a very well engineered system.
Superb system, particularly in comparison to other armies as well. My Italian army stuff is so complicated and needs a team of stout men to hang off me! :D
Hey Mike Everest, nice to see another video! I’ve been putting my Hertfordshire regiment uniform together for a while now ( trying to go mostly original), would all soldiers have blanco on their webbing or was it up to them?
Specifically if you were an OR (Other Rank) in the British Army, the absolute overwhelming majority would have been blancoed. Officers were different, and there are some pics of some Highland regiments that appear to not be blancoed. Australians didn't as well for reasons that I cannot begin to fathom! :D But yes, by and large, Blanco for everyone. Herts Rgt by the way was my Great Grandfathers regiment. He was killed on the first day of Passchendale and is remembered as the third name down on Panel 36 of the Menin Gate.
Discontinued a long time ago and it seems the finite reserves have either run out or become otherwise unobtainable. I recommend, if you have the warewithall to use the 'shoe cream' method. Which will provide you with a much long lasting solution. www.blancoandbull.com/
I had a question, can the braces that attach to the web belt be also attached to the ends of the small pack so you can shoulder carry it? I plan on turning a spare p08 small pack I have into a cartridge box for carrying ammo for my flintlock muskets and the small pack will serve perfectly i just need a cross belt to carry it
Hi Mike, I had a gander over on SOF for some blanco but I've run into a bit of a pickle. Apparently, there are two Blanco types named "Sunburn" and one confusingly named "WW1 colour". One sunburn is called "Malta" the other is called "No. 61 buff" and the WW1 colour seems to look more green than both? Can you help me out getting the correct colour?
Avoid the buff one mate, I have a sneaking suspicion that will be better for desert clobber in ww2. Avoid pea green and do a taste test as it were on their ww1 colour... Which sounds ominously generic!
Blue three stripes are overseas chevrons, issued in 1918 for soldiers who had spent in the conflict overseas. Three blue means 15,16 and 17. If you have a red one it means you were deployed in 1914. These would be rather rare for regular infantry as the vast majority of the british army were deployed later than 14. :)
Mike, do you know of a good place to get 2nd Pattern Cartridge carriers? I have a What Price Glory set, which is obviously 1st pattern. I'm going for 1917 Battle of Passendale, so I need 2nd pattern, and I'm not sure the best place to get them. I know of a few makers, just not sure which to get. Thank you so much for any info you have!
@@TwoMikesProductions Okay, thank you! I was looking at those, they're out of stock though, and I wasn't sure about the cheaper ones. I'll just wait for the good ones then! Thank you!
@@TwoMikesProductions It doesn't look like WPG makes them, but Lawrence ordnance does, and they're in stock. That'll probably be the best bet! Thank you! If you know of anyone that wants 1st pattern WPG pouches, I've got some I'll sell.
@Christopher Migut Glad to be able to help old mate. This website is the absolute bible on home brew blanco if you need. www.blancoandbull.com/repro-blanco/
Hi Mike, do you know where to find some good brodie helmets? I bought one from s.o.f but the liner is messed up and doesn't sit right on my head. It also just looks really weird with the dome being too low and one side of the helmet being bent. Got any recommendations?
Rip the liner out and get one from Military History Workshop. The SOF Shells are okay, but if you can find an original and stick an MHW liner in it, you absolutely will have a great helmet. Its what I wear. I'vve got a crinkly raw edged Broadie (one of those super early ones) wth an MHW liner and its pretty close to perfect for me. I used to use an SOF one and it was 'okay in a pinch' if that makes sense. They have a tendency to sit too high on the head.
Mike, hello from Canada. Stumbled onto your videos last night and have to ask who made your SD cap? I have two and neither is the correct shape, like yours is. Mine are too small on the top and too puffy. I want to put together a uniform for 1914 and if I can't get a decent cap there isn't much point. Keep up the good work. Enjoyed your stuff immensely.
You might not have an answer for me, but I'll ask anyway. I made myself a frog for my Nepalese made, top quality khukuri that I carry on hikes through dystopian, nature reclaimed industrial ruins. Used a bit of undyed cotton webbing that I had laying about to make a primitive, but hopefully sturdy frog. How should I maintain my creation? Is there a preservative compound that will keep it from rotting without leeching pigment onto my clothing? It would be nice to change its colour but it's not a priority, preservation is my goal.
Any sort of blanco should work to preserve the cotton nature of it! I would go for a regular shop bought one in an umber colour. I would advise though soaking and then drying under hot sun to pre shrink and stretch it.
@@TwoMikesProductions What about pigment transfer? I don't want anything coming off on to my clothing. Can you suggest a particular brand? I'll probably have to order in whatever I end up using.
@@PrenticeBoy1688 No it shouldnt transfer at all, its basically a stick fast paint if you buy blanco from Soldier of Fortune. If its not for a particular impression then you could use any of the colours they have available.
@@TwoMikesProductions I'd say that the particular impression would be of a competent, well adjusted adult. I'd be about as convincing as one of those chaps that wears his Ray-Ban spectacles with his Napoleonic shako and coatee.
I got a grey back shirt from what price glory and can’t button the top button on the collar is that a common problem and is there anything I can do about it?
Cort Ott I’ve seen it only once before with someone who works out quite a bit. See if going for the larger size works better, or if that fails don’t worry too much about it. The shirt is hidden by the tunic collar as it is so shouldn’t be an issue. And when in shirt sleeve order you fold the collar in and it’s hidden basically.
Should be just a pair of crossed rifles. The Crossed rifles with a crown above it is the instructors badge for the Officer Training Corps, School of Musketry.
For world war 2 infantry head over to the Suffolk regiment living history group. They have chaps active in Hampshire and not far from you. They are also the best British WW2 infantry group out there in the UK.
I really wouldn’t, they are absolute toilet. The pouches curl at the edges and the popper fly open. Wait till you get a job otherwise it’s a false economy as you are buying it twice
Its getting really hard to find Quippy online at the moment. However, this excellent website is an absolute bible for making your own blanco. www.blancoandbull.com/repro-blanco/no-103-the-shoe-cream-method/
WW1 UK I’m afraid I won’t be there due to shielding concerns with Covid. Given the recent announcement, keep your ear to the ground as to weather it’s still on matey. :)
Hi Gerry, in WW1, the Marksmans badge goes on the left hand sleeve. Above the cuff. The only thing that goes on your Great Coat is your rank and shoulder titles. No Battalion patches or anything like that.
Hi there, at the time of release of this video, Quippy Blanco was easier to come by. Its now much rarer and much more expensive. Your options now are pretty much buying it in liquid form in bottles or making your own repro stuff www.blancoandbull.com/repro-blanco/
It appears to be a regimental thing. There are some that do and some that dont. A wishy washy answer i'm afraid but the British Army is full of oddity!
The SoF stuff is based off of 103 as well as quippy. Either isn't exact to the actual shade, but quickly is the closest you can come too it. There are a good 10 shades I've got clear tangible evidence proving it's use. The colours range from 103, too 64 (khaki shade that matched the colour of the sets of webbing originally), right up to a shade resembling KG3. Also regarding you statement about webbing being well fitting on blokes I disagree with. Yes webbing wasn't completely flopping off chaps, but in most photos of the great war infantry during the mid too late part of the war the webbing appears too sag and sit in a very unsightly manner. Often when living groups attempt to portray Infantrymen on active service too much of an emphasis is put on uniformity or the flawed statement of "portraying the majority". All infantry units that where photographed on the first day of the somme for exampme all appear to wear everything crumpled up, creased or carry things in ways not usually prescribed. But yet if you where to do this as a portrayal within living history it'd be deemed as farby.
Ebay sells them. If you specify tailors dummys you can get male and female ones. www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Male-Tailors-Dummy-Tailor-Bust-Cream-Fashion-Students-Mannequin-Window-Display/180756319767?_trkparms=aid%3D555017%26algo%3DPL.CASSINI%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20151005190705%26meid%3D18e7806f13fb44469736bf66df6dec59%26pid%3D100506%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D1%26%26itm%3D180756319767&_trksid=p2045573.c100506.m3226 30 quid and they work perfectly.
I picked up mine for cheap as chips off eBay. The first aid nursing yeomanry uniform I have is on a female tailors dunmy but male ones are just as cheap around 30 quid
It's not bad. Not absolutely terrible, there are parts of their kit that are shocking though. Their puttees and stiff caps are terrible, and generally the fixing of the buttons on their tunics needs addressing. However , there will be plenty of second hand stuff on the market with the end of the centenary so if you were looking to get into it in a more affordable manner, they would be a good bet. Caveat emptor as always
I just bought a P08 large pack from What Price Glory and I'm trying to figure out how to attach it to my webbing. I have run in to the issue that it appears that the large pack does not have anything for the belt straps to attach to. Any suggestions on how to attach it to the belt?
Panic not my friend! The Valise attaches to the same clips at that the Haversack does roughly where your shoudlers are. At the bottom of the Valise are two small clips, these connect to two straps which are mounted on your ammunition pouches. The Ammo pouches will have thise little weird looking tabs which you will think 'what are they for!' and thats what attaches to the small buckles at the base of the Valise. Hope that helps!
Nice video. You can also use water based paint of the appropriate colour mixed with water 50/50. That worked well for our group and was cheaper than blanco. www.townofelliston.ca/wwi/17.jpg
@@TwoMikesProductions its one of thoese when you notice it you cant unsee it but I'm an American civil war reenactor and I play a major so maybe that my inner officer coming out
