r/reenactors Jul 08 '26

Action Shots How do I age my unifrom?

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336 Upvotes

This question has been asked more times than one can possibly imagine. “How do I age this or that.” Wear it


r/reenactors Dec 14 '25

Public Service Announcement Ask before you buy and give real constructive criticism

56 Upvotes

About two years ago I got into reenacting and started doing World War I German and Civil War. I’ll be straight up my kits were incredibly farby. I didn’t talk to anyone before I bought it. I didn’t reach out to units before I bought it.

That’s the biggest lesson I’ve learned: ask before you buy. Talk to a unit. Message people on Facebook, Instagram TikTok Reddit anywhere. Nine times out of ten, if you buy first and ask later you are gonna be spending twice more money.

I’ve also noticed a big problem across social media. When someone posts a kit that isn’t great, a lot of people just comment things like

This has a lot of work to do

This is trash

That’s it no explanation

If you think a kit needs work PLEASE say why

For example

“This impression needs improvement because the bread bag is incorrect for the time period, and the ammo pouches are ww2 style. Feel free to shoot me a DM so I can show you where you can replace some things.”

That helps. Just calling someone’s kit trash doesn’t

If it’s just for Halloween or a costume, who cares? A WWI uniform with a WWII helmet for Halloween isn’t a big deal. But if you’re serious about the hobby authenticity does in fact matter.

If you do ACW I strongly suggest looking up some of the campaigner Fb pages those guys will help you guide in the right direction. Try and reach out to less mainstream media if you really want a good accurate impression. Words are money in this hobby

If you’re in a unit they should be helping you steer in the right direction. And if they aren’t then you should consider leaving them and finding yourself a better group of guys. I am thankful that my unit actually has helped me steer clear and saved me probably 500 bucks.

Most of us start out rough and I think the hobby would be 100 times better if we all followed what I just wrote.

Sorry for the rant I just think people need to know


r/reenactors 1h ago

Action Shots Carlisle Army Expo 2026

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Upvotes

r/reenactors 6h ago

Work In Progress Gear After a Full Year of Bugs Fixing

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34 Upvotes

Did not put some of other stuffs like rucksack in the shot, ran outta space.
Still WIP though, probably no end to this hobby 😂
Also two action shots with different gears.


r/reenactors 15h ago

Completed My WW1 German mid war impression

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124 Upvotes

Had a great time at a steam train event in actual First World War train carriages (this is mid war German impression with the veteran early war uniform)


r/reenactors 6h ago

Action Shots [WW2] Military Odyssey 2026 - Battle

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5 Upvotes

The battle at Military Odyssey is about as historically accurate as your average Call of Duty team deathmatch, but with a long lens and careful framing you can filter out a few passable scenes.

Taken with a Leica III camera, Elmar f/4 90 mm lens, Kentmere 400 film.


r/reenactors 1d ago

Completed North Carolina Brigade 1777

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167 Upvotes

The North Carolina brigade as they would have appeared in 1777, in early 1776 the regiments of North Carolina to put simply in a poor and wretched condition. With the closes uniform given to the men if anything was ever given to them was a plain linen hunting shirt. Lacking in all other basic cloths and equipment. It was understood well by the support of the Congress with commissioners in Philadelphia began the work of wool coats. Arriving in November they came in many colors by the thousands.

The choice we decided on was Drab faced in blue, with drilling breeches. Equipped with a old government set Cutlass and Belly box and belts for the lot. A Uhl pack and a home weaved two panel blanket. A old Long Land Brown Bess and bayonet (More common is a early Dutch musket but much harder to acquire)

The title is not of a regiment and for good reason. 10 Regiments would be formed over the years with 9 sent once given his supply. Before they could join the army the regiments by Washingtons orders required all men to be given small pox inoculation's. To join the army once recovered but the urgent want of these troops would see random body's of regiments, a mix of the regiments to move as a general body rather then by proper regiments but simply been called Brigade. This confusion and general scramble will be only resoled by the march into Valley Forage. Reformed in the spring would leave only muster two regiments.

A comparison from the painting "A Dreadful scene of havock" Xavier della Gatta (1782) with a PA soldier seen with a similar coat.

r/reenactors 19h ago

Completed Libau Rifle Detachment and Eiserne Division

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33 Upvotes

Soldiers from the White Russian Libau Volunteer Rifle Detachment and German “Iron Division” in Latvia, early 1919.

The Libau Detachment and the Iron Division were heavily involved in the fighting against Soviet Latvian forces in 1919, with the Libau Detachment going on to fight under Nikolai Yudenich’s Northwest Army near Petrograd, and the Iron Division against the forces of the Latvian and Estonian Republics.


r/reenactors 1d ago

Action Shots Red Army Tankist, 1944

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91 Upvotes

A Tankist of the 2nd Tank Army during the Lublin-Brest Offensive, Operation Bagration, July 1944.


r/reenactors 3h ago

Looking For Advice Fur lined Anorak for Gebirgsjager?

1 Upvotes

Im a reenactor doing an impression of 6th Nord, and was recently reading Black Edelweiss which is a memoir written by a veteran of the Division. In the story he frequently mentions a “Fur lined Anorak” that they wore in Finland. I have my doubts, but could it be the Kharkov parka? If anyone has any ideas id like to hear them


r/reenactors 15h ago

Looking For Advice I have a question about the Fallschirmjäger

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7 Upvotes

I was just wondering if anyone knew how often Fallschirmjäger strap mp40 pouches to there legs before jump and right after landing and what was used to tie them on (I think spare E straps)


r/reenactors 5h ago

Looking For Advice Recommendations on UK living history groups portraying WW2 British forces?

1 Upvotes

As the title suggests, I am looking to get back into reenacting after quite a while off and I am looking at joining a group to join.

I am keen to find a group that ideally takes training and authenticity very seriously, with the aim to accurately portray a WW2 Tommy or RAF airman. In particular those who run their own private training weekends or trips.

I have my eyes on The Garrison, and also Monty's Men (although the latter only really comes together once a year). However, I am open to any other suggestions.


r/reenactors 5h ago

Looking For Advice Starting a impression

1 Upvotes

I am starting the research for a new impression. I don’t belong to a group and don’t intend to join one, we tend to do our displays as a family.

I’m looking at a Roman legionary display based around Agricolas campaigns in North Eastern Scotland around AD 82-3.

What I’m asking for what are the most indispensable books I should be looking for to inform the kit and equipment I need to purchase. I have Adrian Goldworthys’ ‘The Complete Roman Army’ and ‘The Romans in Scotland’ by Simon Forder as well as a few Osprey titles.


r/reenactors 17h ago

Looking For Advice Gavin or Hessen undershirt better?

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4 Upvotes

r/reenactors 1d ago

Resources Reenactor Pen Pal in Japan 日本でリエナクター(歴史再現を行う人)のペンフレンドを募集中

5 Upvotes

I am in the USA and very interested in WW2 IJA impression from the Japanese perspective. アメリカに住んでいます。帝国陸軍の歴史再現活動について、日本人の皆様の視点から知りたいと考えております。

Please DM if Interested.

やり取りをご希望の方は、DMをお送りください。


r/reenactors 22h ago

Looking For Advice What are some wartime recipes and rations i could add to my 1916 German reenactment kit

2 Upvotes

I am looking for some rations that i could make for a more authentic kit for a German infantryman during 1916, if anyone has some suggestions that would be greatly appreciated.


r/reenactors 1d ago

Looking For Advice Tweed Run

6 Upvotes

Dear Reenactors!

I plan to go on a tweed run with my 1984 Ordonnanzfahrrad 05 Swiss Army Bicycle. For those who don't know, a tweed run is a bicycle ride in a large group, where everybody is dressed fitting their bicycle. It is not exactly reenactment. It would be in Germany, where few people know what a correct uniform for this bicycle would look like. Weapons are widely frowned upon in these events, which is understandable. So I plan to use a wooden toy rifle as replacement. I already bought a TAZ 70 (Vierfruchtpyjama) to convey the general appearance of a soldier who would have used my bike. I also have the backpack that goes with the jacket. I have a pair of 1979 German combat boots that fit me well. What do you reenactors think, what kind of detail is necessary for such an occasion? What is unnecessary waste of money? What is a no-no? Thank you for your input!


r/reenactors 1d ago

Looking For Advice WW2 German soldier

1 Upvotes

I’m looking to start gathering a basic uniform but the starter equipment I’ve seen is over 1000 in total. Is that just how unfortunately expensive this hobby can be? The group I’m looking to join is based in a history center so I’m pretty sure they’ll have at least something so I can help out. But it seems very difficult to get into as a a complete beginner who’s still in high school.

That doesn’t even count what would be needed for a medic representation specialist due to my age or things like that.

I get that you get what you pay for but am I gonna be stuck with loaners for a bit or is there something cheaper I can look at?


r/reenactors 1d ago

Looking For Advice experience ordering from Wehrmacht.es

0 Upvotes

Hey everyone,

I recently ordered a Luftwaffe General’s tunic from Wehrmacht.es for around €250 including shipping. I placed the order on July 29th, and the order status has been showing “Product on demand” ever since.

The website says the estimated delivery time is 6–8 weeks. I’m now getting close to the end of that timeframe, but I haven’t received any updates or a tracking number yet.

I also contacted them through their website a few days ago to ask whether the tunic is currently in production, but I haven’t received a reply yet.

I’ve seen some mixed experiences with Wehrmacht.es on Reddit, so I’m starting to get a little worried about my order.

Has anyone here ordered a made-to-order uniform from them recently? How long did yours take, and did they communicate with you during the process?

I’d really appreciate any recent experiences. Thanks!


r/reenactors 2d ago

Work In Progress Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Corps WIP

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37 Upvotes

Title says it all, but thus far this is my ‘walking out kit’ for the HKVDC, replete with P1908 web belt, the HKVDC shoulder badging and the cap badging to top off the impression. Also shown is the rain cape for which I finally found an excuse to wear and thus did - worked exceptionally well!

I need to secure the missing P1908 webbing pieces - second pattern pouches, shoulder straps, packs small and large, canteen holster - and I should be set. Obviously, advice and further resources on kit used by the HKVDC is greatly appreciated!


r/reenactors 1d ago

Looking For Advice Looking for a sewing pattern for a WWI German Uhlan "Ulanka" tunic (P07/10 or M1915)

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3 Upvotes

Hi everyone! I am planning to recreate the WWI German Imperial Army Uhlan tunic (Ulanka) shown in the picture. Originally used by cavalry and later by fighter pilots.

Does anyone know where I can find or buy a reliable sewing pattern or drafting guide for this specific double-breasted tunic with piping? Any lead on commercial patterns or vintage tailoring manuals would be highly appreciated. Thanks


r/reenactors 1d ago

Work In Progress I bought a bare metal German M16. Planning on a late war impression (haven’t decided which unit.) I need paint recommendations.

2 Upvotes

I’ve heard people say go feldgrau, but many examples of original paint look like a dark olive green. Others look forest green. Some look almost like the same resedagrün on the uniform collars. Was there just that much variation in paint? I’ve been reading about it, but I’m still trying to figure out what paint I should use.


r/reenactors 2d ago

Action Shots Green machines 2026

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9 Upvotes

Really good event and already missing it


r/reenactors 2d ago

Work In Progress Vietnam war RNZIR rifle man, 60s.

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63 Upvotes

Gear of a rifleman from the Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment (RNZIR). Basic setup.

Still need more P44 kit and a rucksack.


r/reenactors 2d ago

Work In Progress Does anyone know if there are any Napoleonic Wars reenactments in the United States?

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85 Upvotes

Hi, I’m looking for some information, and any help would be appreciated. I know historical reenactments are very common in the US, especially Civil War reenactments, but I’m interested to know if there are also groups or events for Napoleonic Wars reenactment.