Hauptmann

Again as stated in post #28 I do not display it with the belt... it is too small and need a smaller belt and again intend to use a proper belt once I'm able to obtain one. The rest of it is as stated and IS correct. My source is impeccable, has written reference books on same and has an excellent reputation. I am quite happy with the set as it is. As also stated, these were used not only during WW2 but through the 40's, 50's and in some instances into the 60's. There are plenty of photographs showing a mix of insignia and such over time. The original wearers of these uniforms often used what was available to them or made do with what they had. It's the same with Orders and medals, etc. They were not always worn according to regulations... I've seen them worn in all sorts of positions and orders of precedence. Again I have no problem with the set. If down the road someone wanted to make me an offer on it for more than I have in it then once they have it they can do as they please. But for my purposes it's fine just the way it is, although I am open to changing the medal bar for one that makes a bit more sense. I appreciate your concerns and advice but again I'm very happy with it as it is. Dan

Okay, the answers: -Stars on boards are postwar as it's a postwar tunic, used in late 1940's through 1950's and even up through early 1960's. Fine for the tunic. -Cap is black band, red piping; not oruiginal to the tunic, it is a good match. No problem. -Breeches are not a perfect match (should be piped) but are a good display set. This is as I thought and I'm totally comfortable with this set. Of course if I'm able to eventually get the piped breeches down the road I will add them to the set and as noted I am on the look out for one of the belts for the open star brass buckles to use with this. But for now, until I find one I like and can work out I'm actually displaying it without a belt. The DDR belt was only used for the photo I posted and as a stop gap I see no harm in using it... but again the tunic needs a smaller belt. Re: the boards/stars... our thoughts are that he was a Lt. Colonel when he originally got the tunic and when promoted to full Colonel later he replaced the boards with those of his new rank and most likely at the same time upgraded the collar bars. Again I have no problem with the set, it's great for display which is what I wanted and it's a good, period uniform set. Dan

Note: See my post #2: Sadly, the belt is a DDR Officers belt. I didn't want to remove the belt on my other WWII tunic display and that's all I could come up with for it for the pics. And as the tunic is so small as is the waist on the torso I can't even display it with the belt as to take the photos I had to stuff a towel in the back to make it stay up. My goal is to put on one of the belts with the brass open star buckle. I have the buckle but not the belt so hoping to get one down the road or even the complete set. I'll reply on the rest a bit later. But for now, the cap and pants were not original to the tunic. They were added to the set. My understanding is that they are proper for this uniform however I've written to Doug and hope to hear back on these questions soon. It's also my understanding that these were used into the 1950's. Oh, and by "bridges not respond to this tunic"... I take it you mean the collar bars? I've enquired about this as well. As this is my first foray into these types of uniforms (my only experience being with much later types and even then it's been fairly limited) so I don't pretend to know everything. But I know that the seller is extremely knowledgeable and an impeccable source. Dan

Bring back memories? http://wikimapia.org...rdan-Mamikonian Dan

Rick, is this the one? Dan

Many thanks Dan! It's taken me a while but it's been fun. I'm now looking forward to (God willing) the next 5,000. Dan

We aims to please. Stumbled on it totally by accident. It's amazing what one can find out there on the web. Dan

http://www.scribd.com/doc/32341206/BB-B-Bailey-Banks-Biddle-Co-Catalog-1928

http://en.wikipedia....antiago_de_Cuba http://books.google.com/books?id=u7UnAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=society+of+the+army+of+santiago+de+cuba&source=bl&ots=93mVL_gSkM&sig=J7tT9NBdY4cevcd7goQWF8UcuTQ&hl=en&ei=2ShjTcLwF8aSgQfTk-2MAg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=3&sqi=2&ved=0CCsQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q&f=false

A nice display: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cAIkosWKzP4&NR=1 Dan

Absolutely outstanding display! My favorite one though, believe it or not is the last one of the old truck... the rust looks totally real! I only wish I could do work nearly as good as this on the models I build. I've never learned to use an airbrush which I'm sure would help. But my hat is off to whoever did that one in particular... that's one diorama I'd love to have on my shelf here at home. Fantastic! Thanks so much for sharing these! Dan

Hi Stewy. Many thanks for the additional info. A real shame the vet did that but I'm sure it wasn't the first or the last time such was done over the years to display something like this. Dan

Actually this was a gift so have no idea where it originally came from. Sorry. Dan

The bar that is on there actually looks like this: Again the Lenin is simply placed in the first position by using a strip of hard card stock cut in a rectangle and slipped through behind the ribbons. Re: the two bars I've shown... when I originally posted these years ago the members who commented on them felt that due to the way the ribbons were mounted that they looked to be put together bars... although all the awards are authentic. I've not yet been able to research the numbered Orders/medals on the bars to confirm this. If it were confirmed then I'd not have a problem with changing them. Actually to correct that... I'd not want to create yet another made up bar although my intention is that all my goodies will be passed down in the family, but there is always a chance of something getting back out in the market. I do happen to have both a six award and an nine award kolodka that I could put together a bar for this uniform. But I'd need to know what awards would make the most sense before I'd jump in to do it. I'd also want to do it in a way that at the very least it's a mix of original and replica awards so no mistaking that it's a put together bar. By originals I mean either unnumbered Valor medal/MMM's, Victory Over Germany medal and then replicas of the rest... as to be honest I've never seen a replica of the Valor or MMM's. Here's what I currently have in my replica boxes that I could use: I have several 20th Anniversary of the Red Army medals but they have damage on the enamel on the stars. I've got epoxy/nail polish and want to experiment with redoing them but haven't had time to fool with them yet. One Order of the Red Banner. I have a couple of sets of the Partisan medals. One Rescuing a Drowning Person medal. One Border Guard medal. One Order of the Badge of Honor. Two Odessa, one each: Sevastopol, Soviet Arctic, Caucasus, Kiev, Stalingrad, two Budapest and a Belgrade. Original Victory Over Germany and two 30th Anniversary of the Soviet Armed Forces medals as well as some unnumbered Valors and MMM's. Any suggestions would be most welcome... if it's possible to put together a bar(s) that would be logical/make sense for this uniform out of what I have available. Dan

First off, thanks for the great comments! Re: the metal bar... I too felt this way but for now, with the bars available to me I felt this was the best choice My only other WWII bar is this one: I don't believe this one would make sense for a full Colonel/HSU. First off... as he's not AF he'd have had to have risen through the ranks to have been awarded the Order of Glory... not that this was not possible, but I feel he should have at least one Order of the Red Banner as well as the Lenin/HSU.

Actually I do believe they were also done in one piece of metal. I'll ask for confirmation on that and let you know. Dan

Congrats on these great additions to your collection... absolutely stunning! Old world craftsmanship you just don't tend to see nowadays... or at least very rarely. They sure knew their art back in the day! Dan

Many thanks for the great comments. The tabs appear to be in an heavy metal wire embroidery. The work on both those and the sleeve spools is stunning! Very heavy and extremely well done... top quality work. Dan

Hi Tim, All I can say is... here's the original thread where I posted it and it was declared by several members to be fake. http://gmic.co.uk/index.php/topic/37822-uboat-good-or-bad-anything-special/page__p__351657__hl__uboat__fromsearch__1#entry351657 I go by the old addage... if ten people tell you you're drunk you'd better lie down. But seriously... I would LOVE to find out it's original. But for now I'm lying down. Dan

S'okay... I've had many of those moments myself my friend. Dan

I know... that's why I put them in the fake database. Plus they were gifts. I've actually got some other Uboats to add... just have to take some time and scan them but don't know if I'll be able to do it tonight. Soon though... hopefully by the weekend at the latest. Dan

Sadly, the vet who brought it home removed the hinge/pin/clasp in order to glue it in an album! But it's all part of it's history now. Dan

A gift from a friend.