The parts came for the Big Bang cannon. This is their 155mm model.
The parts came for the Big Bang cannon. This is their 155mm model.
I went to the WWII weekend yesterday but they have a flea market there so I did manage to get something. Two 30mm dummy shells, one is mostly plastic but both weigh about the same so they are weighted down. First I've encountered with the "shell" intact. I have a few spent casings somewhere.
And my usual Sunday haunt turned up this Civil Defense NYPD helmet. Don't know much about the history of it, first I've seen. A few are listed on the internet but no information on when they would have been issued, during the war or after. I posted more photos in the gear section along with the names of two patrol officers it was issued to.
Functioning rounds for the Gau 8. I have one here too, among the 30mm examples...
Regards, Jim
Yard sales were rough yesterday. I bought two books, a token from the 1939 World's Fair and some Winnie the Pooh collectibles for my wife. Hit two antique shops later in the day and nothing but unanswered questions. I found a weird US Navy hat, it was a fuzzy brown wool flat or duck hat with ear flaps. Searched multiple ways for it and nothing. Should be blue, shouldn't have the little symbols on it and shouldn't have ear flaps. Best I can determine is it was made for the Civilian market. Found some British Civil Defense arm bands but they were post war 1950's so for the price they were asking I passed. Today, another minor mystery, a Spanish Civil War gas mask. This does match multiple examples found on the internet, but I have my doubts these were actually from the Spanish Civil War. German made, German style, no markings whatsoever on them. Mask in bad shape. Price was cheap but with the mask it the condition it is I opted not to purchase. I'm still thinking it is likely post war.
I did find a couple of things at the flea markets today. A Vietnam era field cook set with the tag still on it. This is essentially unchanged from the WWII Mountain Troop cook sets. These were not issued individually, possibly one per squad but not sure on that. The small stoves will fit inside them.
And I found a Russian toy I didn't have. I have quite a few of this type that I don't remember where or when I got them. I find them interesting in that they are so plain and simple yet durable at the same time. These are like our toys were in the 1950's and always makes me think about what it was like growing up under Soviet control.