Gear inspirations

[ECABoss]

ACU all the way for me... My kit is inspired by the US Army 2nd infantry division.

[Hippie]

My last pictures suck, and are historically inaccurate, so here's my mostly complete C 1/8 CAV, 1st Air Cavalry Division 1970-71 impression. Having money was awesome - then I spent it all on this.















For the life of me, I couldn't figure out why there was this big ol' fence in Cambodia, that's why I look so perplexed.

Vietnam-airsoft.com

[weasle8877]

The fence in there to keep Nixon out
Also, I dig that SKS ammo rig seems like it'd work well with a ruck. Your idea, or was that fairly common in Nam?

[Hippie]

Captured enemy equipment, such as AK & SKS rigs were very popular with the special forces for most of the war, and line units picked up on it late during the war. There are some very cool pictures of 1st CAV Troopers rocking SKS chest rigs from about '69 onward. It's kind of a been-there-done-that sorta thing. NVA trouser belts, and SKS rifles were very popular bring-back souvenirs.

[Baronvonsmooch]

Digging the period impression. Gotta get rid of the Bird Cage on the M16A1 though

[Hippie]

The three prong "duckbill" flash hider saw service with early test rifles and XM16E1s which were adopted by the Army in 1965. In 1967 the XM16E1 was updated to the M16A1, and featured a new "bird cage" flash hider. By the middle of 1968 all but a few duckbill flash hiders were retracted from service, most were in the hands of Marines. The reasons for the change are simple - the duckbill flash hider snags on just about everything, and even though it is superior at hiding muzzle flash, the snagging problem was greater. Also, troops were abusing the duckbill, opening cans with it and other safety hazards. So the birdcage on my rifle is proper for 1970 - I even made sure that the birdcage on my A1 is the proper A1 birdcage, with 6 holes all the way around, not just half way around like the A2.

[Baronvonsmooch]

I stand corrected, I just always have seen the Duckbill as an iconic part of M16s used in Vietnam.

[Hippie]

No biggie - the media at the time, and even today, has butchered the Vietnam Conflict. People didn't understand it then, and they still don't understand it now. Unfortunately, Vietnam is remembered more by Hollywood myth and legend than actual facts and truths. That's why I do what I do - so people can see what it was really like, and understand the war, and those who fought in it more clearly.