Sunday 21 February 2010

Admin Panel

This is a recent purchase that I've made.
It's a copy of the Allied Industries Admin panel by Pantac.

The panel itself is in a really decent shade of Coyote Brown and is a spot on match for issued gear, It's well made and does exactly what it's meant to do.





However the flap for the pouch is what lets it down and shows it to be a replica, and not a particularily accurate one at that.
The flap on my admin pouch has a small rectangular strip on the flap, however the genuine issue AI version the entire flap is covered in velcro, this is a big give away that it's not genuine, and as the admin pouch is so prominant on the vest this is an issue.

I'm going to have to get some CB coloured Velcro to mod the panel so that it looks more authentic.

I've loaded a photo that shows the AI admin pouch so that you can see the difference.






I've just found out that the Flyye Industries version does look like a close replica for the geniune issue Admin Panel.
Damn.

I really need to pick up my game with this impression. I've made a couple of purchases over the last year that are really piss poor. I'm glad that most of them have been replica's and therefore not the kinds of money that real gear goes for.

I think I'm going to have to ditch the panel that I've got and replace it with a Flyye one.

My next purchase is for an MBITR pouch, but the Flyye one is based on the civi version, there is a Pantac copy I've seen that has the velcro flap on the side of the pouch, Then I'll be getting an MBITR copy to fill it.

But that's for another post.

Flyye Industries Modular Assault Pack

This was purchased the same time as I got my MBSS Vest.
It too is by Flyye Industries and is a replica of the one made by Eagle Industries.
the only main difference that I can tell between the two is the the tags on the zips, on this MAP the tags are paracord but on the original EI version the tags are flat strips of cordura with press studs.
I'm looking to see if I can find something that is similar so that I can make the MAP that bit more authentic looking.



The MAP is Molle mounted onto vests, but does have shoulder straps that can be unclipped and stowed inside the vest.
There are Molle straps on the each side of the MAP so that further pouches can be mounted onto the pack.






Flyye Industries MBSS Vest

I bought this about a year ago and it's now started to look nice and worn.

This is a replica by Flyye Industries of the Allied Industries MBSS that is part of the FSBE II, As far as I can tell this is a direct copy of the AI version.





This is my favourite vest that I have.

The idea of this vest is that it is primarily a plate carrier, SAPI plates can be worn front and back and normally a PACA soft armour vest is worn underneath.

There is an internal velcro pouch that I believe is for holding smaller plates. I have put in Kipmat that I've cut into the shape of a SAPI plate, I do need to get a set of the copy plastic ones that will make the vest alot more rigid.

If there is one downside of the vest it's that it has very little Molle real estate as there are no sides the the vest, the reason behind this is that the MBSS vest is designed for Boarding Direct Action type missions where mobility is paramount, However most Force Recon Marines use a Molle War Belt and Drop leg platform to mount any other mission required pouches.






The Flyye logo is even a rip off of the Eagle Industries logo, which I thought was quite funny.

Saturday 20 February 2010

SDS Interceptor DCU

While hunting for Kevlar inserts for my Woodland IBA, I came across this vest for sale and thought that it was just too good a bargain to pass up.





While I've seen reference pictures of US troops wearing these prior to the transition from wearing Tri Colour desert camouflage, I've no real idea about what specific units actually were issued with these vests, or if it was just a case of if you got issued one rather than the Woodland version then you were lucky.

This turned up in the post and the first thing that struck me was just how much heavier the IBA is with the Kevlar inserts.
The vest came with a Groin protector in Woodland pattern, so now I've got two Woodland Cock Knockers, one with the Kevlar insert and the other with kipmat cut to shape.

In the last week I've also had a Collar Yoke arrive, this is in Woodland pattern and I've added it onto my DCU IBA, with the Woodland Throat Protector.

I had previously bought an SDS Fighting Load in Tri colour, So I have taken the pouches from that and added them onto them onto the IBA and added a Tri Colour Camelbak.

Kit List:

Double 40MM pouch x2 SDS
Single 40MM pouch by SDS
Frag Grenade Pouch x2 Michael Bianco
Triple Shingle Pouch by Resource Centre
Double CQB M4 mag pouch x3 by SDS
Canteen Pouch by SDS
Saw 100rnd pouch by SDS
Butt pack by SDS
Thermoback Camelbak
Sharpie Marker
Cyalume light
DMM Carabiner

I am looking to get a pair of the fake airsoft SAPI plates by Toy Soldier to fill out the IBA and make it that bit sturdier.





Monday 15 February 2010

Warbelt Flyye Industries

I've got myself a War belt by Flyye Industries in Coyote Brown.





























This is a replica of the FSBE II issued belt by Eagle Industries.
I've never been able to see the original belt myself so I have had to use the numerous photos of the belt that i've got to compare it to the one i've just bought.

As far as I can tell it's spot on. The colour is a perfect match for CB and the quality of the build is brilliant, I don't expect that this will fall apart in a hurry.

I've been on the look for one of these belts for quite a while now, I had been bidding on ebay for a genuine issue version but it went far out of my price range.

I'm very happy with the belt and as it's such a big part of the loadout it made me feel like I'm that bit closer to completing the loadout.

Next up will be some pictures of the belt loaded up with pouches and drop leg.

I am planning on uploading some photos of my entire Force Recon kit as it stands in the next week.

Wednesday 3 February 2010

Latest purchases

I've got two new little additions to my collection in the last week.

I've got myself a US Respirator bag, it's pretty old and fucked looking, but I'm quite happy about this.


I will be using this for my early Iraq 2003 USMC impression. I was bidding on the respirator to go with it but was in work when it finished so got outbid. Damn, it was a really cheap price as well.




I've also got myself a frag grenade pouch by Eagle Industries in CB, I do believe that it's a genuine FSBE II issued item, but I'm not 100% certain. I need to find a list of the FSBE II NSN no's so that I can check it out.



I had been bidding on an EI Warbelt that was on Ebay from LGTKIT, but got totally outbid and outfinanced on it. So I've had to go with a Flyye Industries replica.

I've ordered this and will post once it's turned up.