|
|
Post by Niklas Øverland on Mar 1, 2009 17:45:07 GMT -5
Okay, I am fairly curious to what other people use for their winter uniforms. I've converted Swiss and German uniforms. I know Swedish is probably yet another half way decent choice. The two other guys interested in doing Finnish here in Wisconsin and Illinois want to go the Swedish wool route.
|
|
|
|
Post by Tuuka Gustafson on Mar 1, 2009 18:47:23 GMT -5
Swedish is a bitch to convert...trust me on this. The Swedish tunic was designed with an open collar and it takes a fair amount of work to rejig them into having a closed front...plus they lack the pleats and scallops of a Finn tunic. It's a headache. The one I started converting ended up being used as scrap wool and to line the inside of my Australian gaitors. I suggest a German M42 Tunic...M42... I see them on Hessian Antiques and on ebay for decent prices. The reason I would go for the M42 over the M40 and M43 is that the M42 requires the least amount of work. It's got the pocket scallops, but no pleats, of an M40, but with the 6 button front of the M43. Hessian sells them as an "SS Model", even though that didn't exist. Anyways, M42... let me know when you are ready to convert and I'll send over instructions on how. Okay, I am fairly curious to what other people use for their winter uniforms. I've converted Swiss and German uniforms. I know Swedish is probably yet another half way decent choice. The two other guys interested in doing Finnish here in Wisconsin and Illinois want to go the Swedish wool route. |
|
|
|
Post by matiaspaavolainen on Mar 1, 2009 23:16:16 GMT -5
You would want M41, thor, as that has the 6 button front and scalloped pocket flaps AND the pleats  You can grab a M41 off of Spearhead militaria for cheap, on ebay. Its chinese, but it'll due just the trick, even the wool would be the right vaguely bluish tint  |
|
|
|
Post by Tuuka Gustafson on Mar 2, 2009 1:27:54 GMT -5
Matt, you're over complicating things. It really doesn't matter in any event. Be it an M41 or M42, both are convertible and both are closer in pattern than the M40 or 43 tunics, although, IMHO it would probably be easier to sew pleats on the breast pockets of an M42 than redo the entire wool facing of a lower pocket (as on an M41). But don't take my word for it, I've only converted TWO different types of German tunics (an M40 and 43). I forgot to mention one thing in my last post. The only negative when it comes to using a German tunic is the shape of the collar. The collar flaps are slightly smaller and squarer than the Finnish models and thus the rank tabs don't fit all too well. It's likely unnoticable to the layman, but being the Stitch Jääkari I am, I HAVE to point it out! ;D You would want M41, thor, as that has the 6 button front and scalloped pocket flaps AND the pleats You can grab a M41 off of Spearhead militaria for cheap, on ebay. Its chinese, but it'll due just the trick, even the wool would be the right vaguely bluish tint |
|
|
|
Post by Niklas Øverland on Mar 5, 2009 22:46:37 GMT -5
Sounds like a plan to me. It's really a shame that their isn't more of a want for Finnish uniforms, especially here in the Midwest. Although, hopefully with more presence we can get decent stuff. Some day.
|
|
|
|
Post by Tuuka Gustafson on Mar 10, 2009 16:40:20 GMT -5
Okay, there's been some debate about the color of the tunic. I found some pics that confirm my suspicions on the color being "steingrau" and at the same time explain the "blue" color myth of the tunic. Front:  Back: And the smoking gun:  Okay, the key here is the close up. It shows the same salt and pepper weave in the fabric as the Summer tunics have. This is significant because the Summer tunics have been proven to have a blue hue to them when in certain lighting conditions. Now, with this reasoning, it would be a logical assumption, after seeing the same wool weave and coloration as on the Summer Tunic, that the Winter Tunic also had a blue hue in certain lighting conditions. The Finns never made wartime BLUE tunics, those were postwar Air Force, they did make light grey "Steingrau" tunics which had a blue hue to them under the right conditions. |
|
|
|
Post by Tuuka Gustafson on Mar 23, 2009 13:23:36 GMT -5
Sounds like a plan to me. It's really a shame that their isn't more of a want for Finnish uniforms, especially here in the Midwest. Although, hopefully with more presence we can get decent stuff. Some day. Haha, yes. You and I are pretty much the market at the moment. I've found that most people don't even know where Finland is, let alone that their army did so much during the war. Hell, I wore my Finnish uniform during our reenacting group's walking out dressup time/party and only a handful of reenactors, German or American could ID the uniform. On the plus side, I talked the the CHG's new president and he seemed really open to 2nd Impressions (completely different from the last time I applied) so we're going to go back to the CHG board and reapply to get into the group officially. Hell, they let in the Flying Tigers they can sure as hell let in a bunch of Finns! |
|
|
|
Post by Niklas Øverland on Apr 7, 2009 23:21:06 GMT -5
Lol, I hear ya.
I went to the Reenactorfest in Chicago dressed in my Swedish gear and since I went with the M/1926 helmet. A great many people asked me why a German is wearing a Japanese helmet. The recent plus for me is that we have a bunch of Jerries that want more Ostfront "allies," so they are inviting me to play with them as the solo Finn. Plus, shooting at Soviets is always fun in my books.
|
|
|
|
Post by Tuuka Gustafson on Mar 17, 2011 17:53:31 GMT -5
All, Finnish Winter tunics are available on Ebay from a Chinese seller named "Hikishop". They are decent quality and I highly suggest picking one up if you're looking to start an impression. Avoid his Breeches, as they were very uncommon for lower ranked enlisted men. Hiki will be producing trousers in the future, so until then just use German M37-40s or even M43s.
|
|
