Mercenaries in Africa, an impression construction

[Panzerfaust]

Cool!
Keep us updated as to the progress
What are you planning for insignia or patches?

[Ace of Spades©]

Originally Posted by Panzerfaust

Cool!
Keep us updated as to the progress
What are you planning for insignia or patches?

Why yes I am =)
I'm making a couple pairs of epaulets out of green felt, which is surprisingly accurate, as the actual ones used by 5 Commando (Congo 60-61) where made of the green felt from the Belgian Embassy's pool table.

I got a pair of WW2 British pips on the way, and will make myself a 2Lt (which is a promotion lol). Gonna order some more since I have a smock as well.

I'm trying to find a Zaire cap badge for my beret. If that fails, just gonna throw on ether an RAF capbadge that I have from WW2 or find a repo Gurkha one (since my teammate looks like one haha). Behind the capbadge will be a red felt flash (accurate again).

[Porkchop]

Originally Posted by Ace of Spades

A few weeks ago, I started studying colonial history of Africa after touching on the subject during a lecture in one of my class'. Being of Rhodesian decent, it instantly spurred interest and I spend half a day at RMC's library looking through history books.

I decided that I would build myself a kit based on ether the civil wars of Congo or Angola. The thread on african mers over on Arnies has a great plethora of information that I used to base myself.

If people would like me to post up some more information of these wars, I will be more then happy to do so.

I hope this thread sparks the interest of others. African history is not very well know and is not really taught in our Western Centric schools.

Anyway, on to pictures!

Here are some pictures that I will be using to build my impression:

[SNIPPAGE]
Not the easiest impression to build, compared to my last SEALs one.

I will post more pictures as I update my kit list:

Oct 24, 2009:



Portuguese Lizard Pattern top, 1954 vintage
British GS (General Service) Combat pants, 1963 issued

Soon to arrive:
Full British Pattern 58 webbing
Chicom Chest right
Belgian Moon and Balls pattern Denison smock (or could be a Brushstroke one, have to verify with my Belgian contact)
Portuguese Lizard tops, smock, bush cap and pants

Very nice, I could almost swear that those are Canadian taped buttons on the trousers.

[Ace of Spades©]

^^ I honestly would have to agree with you, but for some reason its only those two pockets, every other one is the standard Brit/Yank ones. Field mods? No idea.

[Panzerfaust]

More footage guys.
These are Schrammes boys in abortive attempt on taking Bukavu in the later part of the Congo conflict. Too bad it's in French but you get to see uniforms and weapons including a solitary Uzi.

http://www.ina.fr/histoire-et-confli...naires.fr.html

[Porkchop]

Many thanks for providing the link. Absolutely fascinating.

For those who don't speak French, the journalists had snuck across the border from Rwanda into the Congo to be with Major Jean Schramme's ( a Belgian Plantation owner) European and African Mercenaries who had revolted against National President Mobutu who failed to live up to the Katanga Accords. Each day they would smuggle the day's film into Rwanda.
This documentary essentially covers the last five days of the Siege of Bukavu by the Congolese National Army. Essentially, the mercenaries started to run out of ammo, which is why they had to withdraw and escape into Rwanda.

It is actually the first time, that I have seen a documentary that spoke favourably about the courage and the behaviour of the Belgian Mercenaries.

( apologies on gettting my history mixed up)

[Panzerfaust]

Glad you liked it...my French is too poor to understand much except orders being given etc.

[Ace of Spades©]

Ah, the video does not work for me =/ Tried on a few other computers, but to no avail.

If anybody needs some Lizard pat stuff, feel free to contact me, I have a couple shirts coming in a few weeks.

[Panzerfaust]

You probably don't have the right codec installed
I have a same shirt as your's, but would not mind a pair of lizard pants if you get any spares. Right now I use French OD from the sixties.

PS. Make sure you have Adobe Flash player installed, it should work then.

[oniwagamaru]

I was reading SOF today and I found something that caught my eye. It was a manufacturer in the states that sells Rhodesian Uniforms. I quickly got up and went to Phil's (ace of spades) room and showed him the find. He was napping so yeah... but here it goes. the company doesnt really have an internet site but the contact info is there. Its one of those adds in SOF. I think the company is called Kamabee Keep and the address is KAMABEE KEEP PO Box 403 New Milford, PA 18834 USA Phone Order #570.434.8000 Kbee1@nep.net. They sell the pants for $49 and the tunic for $49 as well. The shorts are $30. I think the prices are fair especially for Rhodesian Camo. This is just my 2 cents in the topic.

[Panzerfaust]

Originally Posted by oniwagamaru

I was reading SOF today and I found something that caught my eye. It was a manufacturer in the states that sells Rhodesian Uniforms. I quickly got up and went to Phil's (ace of spades) room and showed him the find. He was napping so yeah... but here it goes. the company doesnt really have an internet site but the contact info is there. Its one of those adds in SOF. I think the company is called Kamabee Keep and the address is KAMABEE KEEP PO Box 403 New Milford, PA 18834 USA Phone Order #570.434.8000 Kbee1@nep.net. They sell the pants for $49 and the tunic for $49 as well. The shorts are $30. I think the prices are fair especially for Rhodesian Camo. This is just my 2 cents in the topic.

Great find!
Thanks a lot,...too bad there is no website

[Ace of Spades©]

I wasn't napping dammit, I was inspecting the standard of my hospital corners with my nose...

*Grinding teeth* One of my orders cleared customs today, but no info on the other ones, its driving me nuts. Oh well, can't expect Rome to be built in one day, even if I would want it to.

[Ace of Spades©]

=) All the parts are slowly coming together! Only a few more parts waiting to show up.

Mine:



Brand spanking new Portuguese Shirt
Portuguese *I think* Lizard bush cap
Pattern 58 webbing with mag pouches and butt pack

Oniwagamaru's stuff:



Less then new Portuguese Shirt (To be replaced by a newer one)
Chicom Chest Rig
AK-47