74Squadrongirl

Erm well my little project has arrived and despite appearances is actually not as bad as anticipated(hopeless optimist) I was thinking from the sellers pictures that it would need dyeing but actually the discolouration isn't as bad as it seemed and although noticeable I'm inclined to leave it alone. Next step is getting a liner made. And I also need to make sure I have the bearskin the right way round on the frame . The skin has been cut so some repairs will need to be made as well. But it's all good. It's fine, I can do this Nothing like a fixer upper is there? Alli

I beg your pardon Jerry, would you care to rephrase that! A few caps is possibly an understatement.

Good idea that, would make sense that cadets might have more interest. You did get lucky! I love it when that happens, have found a few hackles and badges that way. Also with RRF/NF because of St George people often get confused, sometimes to my advantage sometimes not. Some you win, some you lose

Yes, I'm intrigued by the book, would like to know more please. She(the pup) is a flaming nuisance, she likes stealing Guards ST's and a Coldstream Guards badge the other week. Looked me dead in the eye as she slowly and gently retreated to her bed with it It worries me the lack of young blood in the hobby, but it's not surprising. It's an expensive, difficult game to get into. On a separate note it does amuse me in antiques shops when I say I'm after militaria I'm always ushered to the vintage clothes, I bought that ugly Zuckerman on Friday and the chap couldn't believe it, he actually took a step back and said "really?" when I said I collected military headgear. At militaria fairs I stick out like a sore thumb, it makes me laugh, I've had people from BBF asking how they'll recognise me at a fair, well erm you'll spot me easily enough! I go read your PM

Hi! Your writing a book? well I'm going to need further details, you know that don't you? As my main interest is RRF timewise thats been simple, also fairly cheap and abundant, So that's all sensible. As is your plan. I am much better and less scattergunned than I used to be but sometimes the heart wants what the heart wants. And sometimes alcohol is involved but overall I am a bit better. Completely broke but better. And I do have dogs and they don't help buy things, I actually lost a very nice Scots Guards cap on ebay because the pup stood on my keyboard at the crucial moment Its not hard to find me in the other place, gender is the big giveaway-not an abundance of females, and the tiger connection of course. As disguises go it's not a great one. Unlike you, Zorro, I have yet to unmask you Lurking does sound very seedy, need a new word......

PS I won't tell your lurking on BBF! I don't think my identity on here has been sussed yet by anyone else that's a member on both forums, only a matter of time not that I have a reason to not be identified, I'm not on the run or anything!......Or am I?

Morning! I collect particularly to the Fusiliers and Guards, but also pick up whatever takes my fancy. I need to stop buying RRF TRF and bog standard badges, whenever I see one I just buy it on autopilot. I don't even know how many I have now. It's stupid!

Your a lurker! No dad was in during the 50's, Suez, Cyprus etc Cloth insignia is terrible, I'm mainly collecting modern at the moment as I'm interested in a lot of modern badges, but its a nightmare. I'd be lost without the lads on the forum

Thanks Andy. Sorry to hear about your dad. My dad passed away a couple of years ago he was a Para, No, love my headdress, have a fairly large collection but actually badges are my thing particularly Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, Northumberland Fusiliers, Grenadier Guards, blackened badges and just getting into cloth badges, the British Badge Forum is where you normally find me Alli

Brilliant thank you! I lurk on war relics but not a member. Good suggestions I will look into that, I've got my eye on a chinstrap on ebay, but the saddler is a great idea. Cool, why Glider Pilot Regiment? any particular reason?

Hmmm I don't want to say anything mean about it because its valuable, historical and belongs to you so that would be rude but erm yeah its not aesthetically pleasing is it? So helmets only? or do you collect caps, other items too?

*goes off to google mega rare and expensive wartime glider pilot helmets* Oh and if you know anything about restoring bearskins, I just bought the mother of messes http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/British-Army-Bearskin-Busby-Coldstream-Grenadier-/322034094500?_trksid=p2047675.l2557&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&nma=true&si=%252BIUErsua%252FjF5TlkyMF3HqGiMYp4%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc Erm yeah I thought it might be one of those, thats an ugly object

Hi Yes I can't really poke about with it too much, hessian dust is a nightmare, as I say knew it was a long shot but you don't know unless you ask! It was sold as Northern Ireland issue but that covers a wide date range. I like it though. Not as smart as an M1 but a whole lot smarter than the ugly Zuckerman I bought today! Alli

Long shot but wondering if it's possible to put a rough date to my MK V? It's in pretty good nick, with the liner intact, some deterioration to the hessian but no more than you'd expect. Any ideas? Thanks Alli

Erm and what about a bearskin that's gone pinkish and is in need of a bit of a dye job, how are we managing that one do we think? I've bought a bit of a fixer upper Alli

I told you it would be easy, one evening when I have had more whisky than is necessary I will tell you about the tiger thing. Maybe

Phew, I'm off the hook then!

Well I last visited in about 2011 but I was climbing on the guns about 10 years before that. Probably a good job to preserve them instead of allowing fools like me to ruin them! Alli

It's beautiful and unique in having such a very, long history. My granddad was stationed there for a while in WW2. I notice the AA guns have a barrier round them now, hopefully not just because I sat on one! Alli

Fantastic! Dover Castle is one of my favourite places, have a photo of me somewhere sitting on one of those AA guns Alli

Yep looks like you enjoyed a few pints, had a good time? Alli

I used to live in the home town of that brewery, Spitfire is a very nice pint

Thank you! and again it's stunning, loving your WW1 flasks as well! Alli

Could have been a lot worse, but I still could have cried when I saw the pictures! I love spitty's(obviously given avatar etc) lucky here in the east of England get to see them flying fairly regularly, never fails to get the heart pounding a bit faster! Alli

Ouch! http://www.kentonline.co.uk/tenterden/sport/spitfire-crash-lands-in-field-42807/