Glider Sketch No1.

Just a couple of quick sketches for an upcoming larger project. Thought some of you might be interested? These are only roughs meant for composition. More to follow, when I get a minute! Matt

Glider Pilot Regiment 70th Anniversary 2012

Click on the image (to increase its size).

Glider Pilot Helmet (Reproduction)

Its done! Yes Christmas week television was so bad that I decided to knuckle down and work on this helmet project. Once I'd managed to procure a suitable helmet shell - thanks to Vaughan for the fibreglass FJ helmet repro. Once its flared rim removed with the Dremel then I had the perfect shape for the GP helmet, it just needed a little cosmetic surgery to make it look right. As the 'C' Type leather helmet I'd found was too small to fit me, I had to take it apart up the rear seam and use some of the damaged top part to create a fillet at the back so this would then fit me and at least be halfway useable. Then it was just a case of assembling all the elements; the leather helmet, the airborne helmet liner and outer shell followed by a bit of wear and tear for effect. Here's the finished article which we'll be able to use on display for this year's coming events. Cheers! Matt

Thanks are due to: Vaughan Tolley for supplying me with a decent basis for the shell, Luc Nijsten for photos of his original helmet, Frank Brown for photos of his original helmet and Geoff Pringle from Oldnautibits for sourcing and supplying the 'C' type, mask and earphones.

Polite note: I've based this helmet on the familiar images found in the Jean Bouchery DDay books. The helmet is for display purposes only and I'm very well aware (after extensive but obviously limited research) that other patterns of helmets were used by the Glider Pilot Regiment and also that, sometimes, helmets were not worn at all. I'm also aware that the mask is a post war example as the price of wartime pattern masks was prohibitive. The 'C' type helmet used in this project was damaged before I took a scalpel to it. The leather crown pad inside the helmet is stamped M WD 43; This a made up stamp (the 'M' stands for Matt) I've done this purely for personal identification purposes and for effect as I believe the helmet would've been stamped with an Air Ministry crown and serial number but my access to, or manufacture of, such a stamp was not possible.

'Weathered' British Airborne Helmet

Ok, so some of you may know about my liking of all things 'weathered', that's 'weathered' NOT 'aged' (and its a personal preference, not a group preference). After being inspired to weather my Airborne helmet after seeing the work of Greg from Texas who makes and weathers his own range of helmets (If anyone has a link or contact details for Greg, please let us know). Although his work is outstanding, unfortunately his prices (for me) are a little prohibitive so as I had my own Pegasus Militaria reproduction helmet I guessed it'd be simple enough to do the weathering work myself. Here's my efforts, minus any stampings which I need to make for the inside. The Glider Pilot helmet is on course and I'll have some updated photos asap so watch this space. Cheers Matt.

Battlefield History TV Release Another Market Garden DVD Cover

The chaps over at BHTV were kind enough to send me another DVD cover design for the second (or third) part of their soon to be released Market Garden trilogy. The first part should be available by the end of January 2012 with parts 2 and 3 following (see previous posting for Part 1 DVD cover). If previous BHTV publications have been anything to go by (The Glider Pilot Regiment and Pegasus Bridge) then this MG trilogy should be worth adding to the collection, along with the fact that a certain GPR living history group, with friends, took part in the battlefield reenactments! I'll keep you all updated as to release dates etc. Cheers!

Glider Pilot Helmet

Yes, I've actually started the project!! Its my intention to make a replica of the helmet worn by Glider Pilots in flight (this was removed and replaced by the standard airborne helmet once the aircraft was on the ground). I've managed to source an original 'C' Type RAF flying helmet, mask and earphones which will form the basis of my replica. 'All' I need to do now is fabricate the helmet shell and inner! Easy! :) Watch this space for more....

At Last Pics of Chalk at the Victory Show!

As some of you might know, I foolishly forgot to take photos of our own group at this year's Victory Show duh. However, Chalk member Ethan managed to remember and has supplied me with his photo's which I've now aged and posted for your enjoyment. There are also a number of photos of Chalk that I found on Facebook, I'm afraid I don't know the photographer so if its you or you know who it is please let me know. As usual, clicking on the images will open in a new, larger window. Matt