If you (or anyone else) are interested in the Zulu's - Rorke's Drift battle in particular then the Regimental Museum in Brecon is worth a visit. (£5 entry). Various memorabilia displays regarding this plus others to do with The Royal Welsh regiment - https://royalwelshmuseum.wales/Been doing some more rasping, preparing for next zulu-war. Length of shaft 70cm.
WHAT DID YOU MAKE TODAY?
- Thread starter demented dale
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BushMoot: Come along to the amazing Summer Moot 31st July - 5th August (extended Moot : 27th July - 8th August), a festival of bushcrafting and camping in a beautiful woodland PLEASE CLICK HERE for more information.
Been there several times. Absolutely loved it. I know the film is based on a Welsh regiment but that wasn't actually true. {even though I'm Welsh myself}. Apparently, the Zulu warriors didnt get into 100m of Rorkes Drift after the massacre at Islandua. After that, that's why so many Victoria Crosses were given out {13 I believe in total}. The museum is fantastic though.
Thanks. Yes very pleased. This was an 18th birthday present class from his dad. They've been in several times over the last few years.
Should have said, it's laying on the parent bar. Mild steel body with a forge welded high carbon bit.
Cheers
Andy
Good work.
I don't envy that job. I laid a handful of slabs last year and never again.
Another belt pouch finished up. Trying out some new water based dyes.
My father came over to the UK to visit me (near Brecon) last year and wrote an article for the SA Military History Journal on the museums displays.... http://samilitaryhistory.org/jnllinkvol20nok5.html
today i painted the ditty bags mentioned in my previous post with silicone (dissolved in mineral spirit) in an attempt to waterproof them. currently they're out in the sun for drying-- can't wait to test if it worked...
last night i made a new buckle from heavy-duty copper wire and started stitching up a new baldric/ shoulder holster for my knife...
last night i made a new buckle from heavy-duty copper wire and started stitching up a new baldric/ shoulder holster for my knife...
Hi there,
Hope this is the right place for this thread?
I've been busy doing mods to my Polish bread bag and thought I'd post up some pics of it on here.
The bag was issued in 1986 (as per the label that was inside when I received it in the post)
I decided to make some changes to the bag i.e.
Addition of a carry handle using some spare webbing.
Put on D ring attachments to take a carry strap.
Inserted a velcro backed organiser into the bag leaving plenty of space inside for larger items.
(Kept the original internal pockets but opened up the outer pocket)
Made a cordura pocket which fastens with velcro on the front flap of the bag. A bit small to be a map pocket as such but I wanted to test out my sewing machine.
I've also made a pocket on the rear from a piece of canvas that was a divider inside the bag.
Added a small molle pouch to the side of the bag secured with my attempt at sewing molle.
Replaced various metal buckles with quick release ones.
Took me a while to do these over the past couple of months but this bag is a good size and can take a fair bit of stuff.
finally, waxed it with Greenland wax.
Be interested to know what you think?
Hope this is the right place for this thread?
I've been busy doing mods to my Polish bread bag and thought I'd post up some pics of it on here.
The bag was issued in 1986 (as per the label that was inside when I received it in the post)
I decided to make some changes to the bag i.e.
Addition of a carry handle using some spare webbing.
Put on D ring attachments to take a carry strap.
Inserted a velcro backed organiser into the bag leaving plenty of space inside for larger items.
(Kept the original internal pockets but opened up the outer pocket)
Made a cordura pocket which fastens with velcro on the front flap of the bag. A bit small to be a map pocket as such but I wanted to test out my sewing machine.
I've also made a pocket on the rear from a piece of canvas that was a divider inside the bag.
Added a small molle pouch to the side of the bag secured with my attempt at sewing molle.
Replaced various metal buckles with quick release ones.
Took me a while to do these over the past couple of months but this bag is a good size and can take a fair bit of stuff.
finally, waxed it with Greenland wax.
Be interested to know what you think?
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I didn't get much made, today, but installed limit switches on my laser cutting and engraving machine.
I played around with Lightburn, the software I use to drive the machine, doing the layout for a passport cover. I bought some kits, stitched together one of them at the weekend and was quite pleased with the result. I bought some red goat leather at the same time; I plan on using that to make maple leaves for Canadian passport covers.
And I made a mozzarella and basil infused olive oil foam for tonight's supper; yet more tomatoes and avocado, livened up by a bit of pickled red cabbage.
I played around with Lightburn, the software I use to drive the machine, doing the layout for a passport cover. I bought some kits, stitched together one of them at the weekend and was quite pleased with the result. I bought some red goat leather at the same time; I plan on using that to make maple leaves for Canadian passport covers.
And I made a mozzarella and basil infused olive oil foam for tonight's supper; yet more tomatoes and avocado, livened up by a bit of pickled red cabbage.
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Just finished. A very accurate copy of the 'Smock, Windproof' 1940 pattern, aka the original 'SAS smock'.
I've changed a few things since the pic was taken yesterday, to match details of pics of originals, but those were small details like replacing the cords with cotton tape, some bar-tack on the pockets, and a missing stitch.
Other than that, it is very accurate but with a twist; this is made in Ventile L24. Being Ventile and having found Ventile doesn't actually breath so much, I opted for one single layer. The original had a double layer on the shoulders/chest and upper back, and on the lower front torso.
I wanted an accurate copy. If I wanted a modern, very functional smock, I would change a couple of things. Deep zip, 1/3 down the chest (this one has no zip at all, like the original version). Side vent zips at the armpits. And the lower pockets a little further down or further up so they would not clash with the lumbar belt of a modern rucksack. Possibly a touch longer too.
Other than that, it is a pretty good functional smock, and no wonder the modern versions are basically very similar but with a full zip.
I've changed a few things since the pic was taken yesterday, to match details of pics of originals, but those were small details like replacing the cords with cotton tape, some bar-tack on the pockets, and a missing stitch.
Other than that, it is very accurate but with a twist; this is made in Ventile L24. Being Ventile and having found Ventile doesn't actually breath so much, I opted for one single layer. The original had a double layer on the shoulders/chest and upper back, and on the lower front torso.
I wanted an accurate copy. If I wanted a modern, very functional smock, I would change a couple of things. Deep zip, 1/3 down the chest (this one has no zip at all, like the original version). Side vent zips at the armpits. And the lower pockets a little further down or further up so they would not clash with the lumbar belt of a modern rucksack. Possibly a touch longer too.
Other than that, it is a pretty good functional smock, and no wonder the modern versions are basically very similar but with a full zip.
Looks great!
I would also make a few changes, agree with the neck zip inclusion, arm pit zips (I always run hot), i would make length the same as finger tips when hanging down, lower two bottom pockets to sit 4 inch above the new hem line, swap two chest pockets for two deep 'hand warmer' pockets (high chest pockets get in way of gun mounting, never understood why infantry clothing has chest pockets) if it does not have an action back (rear expanding pleats), add them to allow for a wider range of motion.
That looks and sounds to be excellent. Great stuff. It probably needs a separate forum thread.
I know that you wanted a period correct smock, but would you not have preferred a modified version with adjustable ventilation (if you are going to use it whilst being very active?)?
i have been rourkes drift and studied the battle of isandwana after visiying the scene and watching the film zulu dawn. very interesting. yhanks for making and posting. dd x
Aristotle? Greek? The Sacred Band used those smocks in the Western Desert and probably the Aegean later in ww2.
I wanted accuracy, so I went as far as eventually swapping the cords & locks for just ecru cotton tape, so now it looks identical to the original!
I've actually moved the pockets a touch further up from the original (although other originals seem to have them higher too), to ride on top of a modern rucksack hip belt.
Ventile is very windproof and pretty breathable but provides no insulation, and the breathability goes away once it gets thoroughly wet. So, I would wear it only when needed, and layer up with merino / wool under it. I sweat like a pig, so I otherwise prefer being on the cold side without a windproof/waterproof layer unless it's getting bad, which means the smock only goes on if it gets bad and at which point I don't need the vents anyway.
Maybe I could add a 1/3 to 1/2 zipper (these were pretty common mods), and some concealed side vents, but not on this one!
Good call about the separate thread!
A simple spool to tidy up a hank of paracord, made from a nice piece of yew.
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