How Soldiers Modify Gear | AATV EP212

This week we take a look at mods by Soldiers and Airsofters do to their gear.
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Host:
Tom 'Anvil' Hibberd
Camera:
Jo Horsefield
Erin Flood
Production & Editing:
Black Dog Media
anvilairsoft.com
You can find us on Social Media @:
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/ aatv_airsoft

[@extreme_loe]

My grandad served in the falklands and he had 2 sets of 58 pattern webbing, one completely stock and the other consisting of 2 ammo pouched and 5 water bottle pouches with a “hercules strap” which im guessing is a roll pin, really wish he kept it but atleast he has the argentine helmet he nicked from goose green

[@James-C24]

How I have missed these videos from you two!!! I know that we will never have regular AATV again but it's so nice to see that what made this channel great is still their!! Gadge they still issue those gloves to this day 😬😂😂 Theirs a modern version of the zoot suit made by TRC outdoors I think.

[@AnvilAirsoftTV]

Thanks James!

[@Terminatorbart]

Customized is the way to go!

[@magaz]

The zoot suit, there’s a company called TRC outdoors that makes their own version of those called “cierzo shirts” I’ve got one in night grid and it’s always in my bag. Amazing as a “I didn’t realise this wind came from Hoth” emergency extra layer

[@AnvilAirsoftTV]

I’ve been eyeing them up.

[@adventureairsoft]

I used Parachute wind proof liners when serving in formation reconnaissance. I was Royal Lancers and still have mine but hoodless. Great piece of kit

[@AnvilAirsoftTV]

Hey thanks. Great info.

[@dunkyhut]

The boys are back in town. Another great video.

[@AnvilAirsoftTV]

Thanks Duncan

[@ChasWG]

Another BRILLIANT video guys!!! Thanks for the detail shots to really show us. I've been teaching myself how to sew using a very basic, but solid machine. So of course I had to try my hand at doing the Raid Mod to several of my BDUs. First to the M81, summer weight top and then to my DCU top. Not an easy thing to sew on really. I'm sure with the right machine it would be easier, but we do with what we have! The other bit of kit I've been working on is a SPEAR ELCS load bearing kit in M81. Sort of the first iterations of MOLLE. They even have these panels for adapting ALICE pouches to MOLLE. The entire kit is out there on eBay for about $325 to $370, USD, but I'm not about to spend that much. So I've been slowly putting together the one offs and bits and pieces that come available. As well as modifying other bits of kit used at this same time (1998-2001) that almost fit the need. Just a few mods here and there. Some seem ripping and a few stitches on the machine and I recreated a very passible clone of certain parts. Then add in the pouches, mostly M16/M4 STANAG, some GP or Canteen pouches, a butt pack and you are on your way. The real problem is the shoulder harness. It's very specific and impossible to find on its own. So for that I have substituted a Condor harness in OD. Not quite right, but it's working and the whole rig is actually very comfortable. And then I found it. The whole system, without pouches for $100 USD... Yeah, I snapped it up. LOL! So I will now have two belt systems. I also found in my searches a pair of rare for these kits, MP5 mag pouches (M81). I had to have them as I'm a big user of MP5s. So in the end, I will have a pair of systems that are super cool and fun!

[@AnvilAirsoftTV]

One thing we’ve learned looking at modified kit. Is that most of it is strongly put together but is pretty rough looking by commercial standings. Long as it’s not going to fall apart don’t feel bad about it and it’s great that you are having a go.

[@Hew.Jarsol]

Yeah the old NBC smock lacked pockets especially lower pockets. Could Joe stich some more on from a spare smock.

[@junglesairsoftblog6311]

Awesome, the boys are back!

[@AnvilAirsoftTV]

Got some more episodes in the works too.

[@andrewirvine6946]

It’s always a good day when aatv has a new video for me to get my geek on! Lol

[@chriscabbage1019]

Woohoo! I'm first !! Happy 2023 AATV!

[@AnvilAirsoftTV]

Hey Chris, happy 2023 to you too

[@MartinJHarris]

I think the first thing any serving soldier does when out of basic training is get their own webbing set made, TROOPERS or DRAGON SUPPLIES in Colchester was 16AAB go to, and very good gear.

[@AnvilAirsoftTV]

I think the DPM set I have is by troopers. I’d like a more modern Jay Jays set.

[@cloonsy]

I’ve still got my belt kit my windproof smock a DNC smoke I used to wear when I played enemy and COP vest the modification I’ve made to everything comes from the 13 years I served it get bit harder with the Ospray they issued us but I’d show you my webbing

[@jasemac5391]

Love the way we get issued gear in the military and then Mod the F out of everything 👍🏻🇦🇺

[@AnvilAirsoftTV]

I very rarely find surplus that hasn’t had something done to it.

[@EVILSCOTSMAN2k11]

Years ago in the cadets got an old OD green 92 pattern plce webbing from the detachment stores, the Detachment Commander at the time was getting rid of it and offered it to me for £20, it was already modified with a different belt and has a bungee cord round the outside of the belt pouches to stop them from shaking. Since then I've added a pattern 58 rucksack and a dpm hip protector.

[@AnvilAirsoftTV]

Sounds like my OD PLCE setup.

[@EVILSCOTSMAN2k11]

@@AnvilAirsoftTV after seeing a few more videos it is remarkably similar, got a plan to modify one of the mag pouches into an IFAK/dead rag pouch.

[@46templar]

Tom and you nick that Zoot Suit as that is Ally as hell and it's great to see a Video of you guys 👍👍👍

[@bigun5749]

We used to make pouches out of waterproofs material lighter and dpm we always got mistook for sf lol

[@AnvilAirsoftTV]

No one’s going to be mistaking us for SF :)

[@stewbacca117]

I basically ended up cutting all the standard pouches off my JPC style PCs out here and knocking together my own custom placard system from TMC fastex buckles and JTech MOLLE panels with velcro backing, so now I have a slick system to change between colour scheme and main platform being used that will carry 3x556/762 mags, or 4x pistol/SMG mags, or 4x PP2K thin stick mags with 2 pistol mags. And of course long before that I made the "gimp suit" 4 pistol rig with all the mag pouches at F&O and the PLB + hydration pack inspired by the SAAV vest setup but with grater modularity. I swear if they just made a SAAV vest with MOLLE/PALS setup instead of the sewn on pouches it'd be a perfect starting point.

[@AnvilAirsoftTV]

One of the original early US / USMC PALs vests would probably do the job nicely in that regard. The modern Russian vest system is pretty good though a little crude.

[@tonyhill4984]

My only modified kit was 58 pat webbing, take old ammo pouch cut off the yoke and belt attachment, dis guard that pouch, fasten the belt yoke attachment to a 44 pat water bottle pouch and put that to the front and then a new ammo pouch behind. I had 2 poncho rolls, poncho roll at the bottom where its supposed to be but one on top of the kidney pouches carrying my noddy suit. OH ye one more, cut the top 4” off a pair of sock and sewn them to the cuffs of my combat jacket to make them storm (wind) proof. AH forgot the rolle pin

[@skylongskylong1982]

Do not forget the grenade pin clipped onto your 68 DPM jacket front zip. One of the rights of passage after throwing your first live grenade on the range.

[@BikeWorkz1991]

Really cool episode guys! I really like to see more of this. Only thing i ever modified is make 2 side wing molle panels to fit on my viper xv chest rig. To fit a radio pouch and my pistol holster.

[@willjohnson1273]

I believe the zoots originated with the Hereford lads and filtered down to the lower mortals lol. Slap tbem on to sleep in apparently.

[@stevegrew6758]

Survival aids ran them to buy back in the day, advertised as a sleep suit - always wanted one but now the softee jacket/trs and try seems to be the next best thing.

[@johnhawkins2152]

Still got a heavily modified M83 vest. Removed the large side pouches, replaced them with mag pouches from the M83 gunners belt..

[@AnvilAirsoftTV]

They are a bit big sometimes and hard to access. The new fastenings on this one make it much easier to use.

[@adventureairsoft]

If you want new cuffs we used green woollen socks sewn in

[@AnvilAirsoftTV]

I’ve got some sock cuffs on one of my windproofs. Problem is I hate having tight things on my wrists. Even watches.

[@adventureairsoft]

@@AnvilAirsoftTV gutted some don’t like them. I tried them but found them too warm

[@MrGoogle87]

Great your made a video! One thing I don’t understand is you did not simply wear it to show it (and when mention original version, show a picture)

[@AnvilAirsoftTV]

Not having rights to the original picture is an issue. We were trying something new and at some point you just have to stop editing and get a video out. :)

[@MrGoogle87]

@@AnvilAirsoftTV I mean like you have that vest physically there around but on a hangar, for me it was hard to picture how it would look, therefore abit boring 😅.. And ofcourse do it like you want, a video is better then no video, I just like constructive feedback. Maybe just a causal airsoft podcast is a more sit-together kind of thing you like? (I watched most if not all your videos)

[@AirsoftTipsandReviews]

Exelent video guys! More of these please. And yes, do a video about Soviet gear mods

[@AnvilAirsoftTV]

Will do.

[@willjohnson1273]

Sonething the some of the bods in my unit did was get the poncho tailored into a cagoule type item with a big old map pocket on some of them.

[@AnvilAirsoftTV]

I love this kind of mod.

[@willjohnson1273]

Funnily enough 2 of them were from the airborne fraternity when they were regular army.

[@stubear]

I'm the proud owner of a genuine M83 jacket, a stonking bit of kit for airsoft.

[@AnvilAirsoftTV]

Great bits of kit.

[@HAMASSPIGS]

I used too cut the right mag pouch off as it was a hassle shouldering my R4 because of it There is quite a few variations of the jacket along with the camo ones that I got while in 32 Batalion The battle jacket is very popular with your SAS I have been told

[@AnvilAirsoftTV]

It was with SF, Parachute Regiment and the Royal Marines back in the day. These days they have some more purpose built solutions. It was 10-20 years ahead of its time.

[@adventureairsoft]

I on e had a cutdown chest rig with an open back like this as I was a driver. The user of this kit may of been a driver especially with a pouch removed from the left hand side. Gear stick side maybe not.

[@AnvilAirsoftTV]

Ah. Good thoughts. Thanks.

[@skipharris5764]

I enjoy this type of video.

[@AnvilAirsoftTV]

Thanks. Fun to do.

[@rankninja]

The unit tailor was always busy during our two year tour in Northern Ireland 88-90. I’ve still not seen anyone copy the SA80 quick detach sling setup ( ideal for in the cuds)

[@AnvilAirsoftTV]

The modern two - one point adjustable slings are pretty close. The issue with the SA80 sling when used on some other weapons is that it obscures some of the controls.

[@rankninja]

I think you are missing my point 😂

[@James-C24]

@Hugh Jardon never head of that sling before. Dont suppose you could describe it and how it was used?

[@AnvilAirsoftTV]

Ah ‘quick detach’ got you. 😂😂

[@rankninja]

@@James-C24 the sling issued in 1987 was somewhat a blessing and a curse in the same breath. The fact you could wear it made it a popular change from the L1A1 SLR rifle sling in that you attach that to your wrist. The SA80 sling was placed over your head and arm , and in doing so meant the last piece of kit to put on was your rifle. That doesn’t sound too unorthodox and most guys did this , obviously not a problem if you Patrol on belt kit or webbing and patrolling the bigger cities on 8-12 hour patrols. Once you are in the countryside for longer patrols wearing burgens places the sling high on your neck which will rub and irritate you for the duration you are out , taking your focus away from your environment . Every boundary of every field has some sort of obstacle to cross some harder than others and you can’t use the obvious crossing points in case of hidden devices, this means your rifle and sling needs to be removed before your burgen , make the crossing and then put it all on in order again and do that every few hundred metres, and do it at night and you soon realise there has to be a solution. The clips that Tom had on his 58 kit for his helmet are two such clips that you need , place them facing outward on the front and rear sling points on the left side of the weapon. Now thread the sling through the clip as you would do with the correct sling and then through the rear clip instead of the sling point. This means you can wear the sling under your burgen and if you come under contact you can remove your pack without removing your weapon or during difficult crossings just unclip your weapon like modern quick detach systems today. I hope this explanation helps

[@robh3596]

Could you show some close up photos of the water bottle pouches stitched together?

[@AnvilAirsoftTV]

Other than the ones in the video?

[@Cirkux]

Please do give us a eastern bloc gear hack video as well!

[@AnvilAirsoftTV]

Will do.

[@jmac781]

Interesting subject . Well done guys. About the only things I have left that are modified is a few pairs of the ACU pattern, useless stuff, that I've died. One set is done in Rit Apple Green. It works amazing in the spring here in the southeast USA. Hope it's ok to link this video. This where I saw it 1st. kzbin.info/www/bejne/qXWWqKxjaNCBo5Y I have another set done in Rit Swamp Green that is a bit darker, I have yet to try it out.

[@AnvilAirsoftTV]

Thanks for the pictures.

[@jmac781]

@@AnvilAirsoftTV you are most welcome.