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This is not an exact reproduction of '44 pattern webbing, but it is as close as I could get with my skills and what I had available. Unfortunately it takes almost 2 sets of '37 pattern webbing to make 1 set of '44 pattern, and a fair amount goes to waste. The finished set has 2 ammo pouches, 3-section belt, shoulder harness, backpack and water bottle cover.
What You Need
2x sets of BBi Green '37 Pattern Webbing from 'Harry Sinclair' figure
1x BBi US WWII Water Bottle Cover |
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Instructions
Belt
The '44 pattern belt is made up of 3 sections; a centre rear section and left and right end sections.
1. From 1 belt cut 1¼ inches either side of the rear centre buckles; this gives the centre rear section of the belt. From the other belt cut either side of the rear buckles as close to them as possible; this gives the basic left and right end sections.
2. Remove the metal belt 'flat C' hooks from the back of one of the ammo pouches; do this by removing the stitching so the shoulder harness isn't damaged. These hooks are used to join the belt sections together. Also save the belt adjusting sliders from belt 1.
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3. Slide a 'flat C' hook onto each end of the rear belt section. Fold over the ends of the belt backwards by ¼inch, over the hooks and sew into place so that the rear section has a metal loop on each end.
4. Carefully cut the stitching on the '37 water bottle carriers and remove the buckles from the ends. The webbing and hooks will be needed for a couple of items - shoulder harness fasteners on the belt and ammo pouch attachments. The buckles are made of plastic, are fragile and can break easily, so be careful when handling them. |
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5. With webbing from the water bottle carriers, make 2 loops about ½ long each with a buckle at one end with the close end of the buckle outside of the webbing loop. These form attachment points for the shoulder harness on the end sections of the belt.
6. Take the left end section of the belt, made in Step 1. The loop from Step 5 needs to be positioned about 1 inch from the opposite end of the belt to the belt buckle, at an angle of about 30กใ from horizontal, pointing to the rear, and so that the buckle of the loop extends over the belt by about 2mm. Sew this into place.
7. Repeat Step 6 for the right end section of the belt. Also on the right end section, there needs to be a loop of webbing (originally designed to secure the rifle butt when slung but often used for a Field Dressing). Use about 1 inch of webbing from a water bottle carrier to make a flat loop. Sew this loop horizontally onto the belt. Only sew one end of the loop onto the belt, slightly forward of the shoulder attachement.
8. The end sections of the belt are now ready to be joined to the rear section. Thread the end of each end section through the 'flat C' loop on each end of the rear section. Point the folded end forward and secure with the saved belt adjusting sliders from Step 2. Adjust the belt to fit your figure so that the shoulder harness attachements on end end section are at the side of the figure, in line below the figure's arm.
Shoulder Harness
The front of the '44 shoulder harness are similar to those of the '37 braces. The rear of each shoulder is split into two straps. One strap connects to the rear section of the belt, the other strap connects to the attachment point on the belt. The braces are specifically left and right, so after making first the second needs to be the mirror of it.
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1. Remove the shoulder straps from the back of the ammo pouches by carefully removing the stitching, leaving the straps undamaged and the curved wire hooks in place.
2. Sew a length of webbing taken from the water bottle carrier to the outside bottom rear of the broad portion of each of the shoulder straps. Thread the ends these through the buckles on the rear centre section of the belt.
3. Using the ends of the harness attached to belt ends, left and right, and sew them to the opposite side shoulder harness on the inside bottom rear of the broad portion of each of the shoulder straps next to the ends attached in Step 3. It should be noted that the thin sections are interlaced where they cross the wearers back. |
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Ammo Pouches
The only difference between the ammo pouches is that the left side (when layed flat) ammo pouch has bayonet loops for a spike bayonet or similar.
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1. Using some spare webbing from the water bottle carrier and one of the belts make 2 small lengths just over ¼inch long. These will form the bayonet loops. The length from the belt sew onto the right side of one ammo pouch underneath the flap. The narrower length sew to the same side of the ammo pouch at the bottom to form the bottom bayonet loop.
2. Using some spare webbing from the water bottle carrier make 2 lengths of webbing, each ½inch long. Slide onto each of these one of the flat hooks removed from the ammo pouches while making the shoulder harness. Fold the webbing over and sew the ends of the loop closed. Attach one of these loops to the rear of each of the ammo pouches so that the bottom of the buckle is level with the top of the pouch.
3. Slide the loose ends of the shoulder harness through the buckles on the top of the ammo pouches and attach the ammo pouches to each end of the belt. The loose ends of the shoulder harness can be threaded in the gap between the hooks at the bottom of the ammo pouch and the belt to hang corrently. |
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Water Bottle Cover
The finished cover will hold a DML '44 pattern water bottle without the mug.
1. Remove the wire belt hook and its web securing loop on the back of the cover by carefully cutting the stitching. Save the webbing.
2. Carefully unpick the 4 vertical rows of stitching on the front of the cover. Roll the cover between the palms of your hands for a few second to loosen the fabric, I found this helps give a better shape to the finished cover.
3. Unroll the webbing loop from the back and form it into a single flat loop. Sew this on to the back of the cover just below the edging tape, ensuring the loop is large enough for it to be slipped onto the belt.
4. Paint the cover with acrylic paint to match the rest of the webbing.
Backpack
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The '44 backpack has a pocket on either side of the main central section. These side pockets are about the size of the ammo pouches; in reality, each was designed to take a mess tin. I attempted to attach the spare ammo pouches but the backpack isn't deep enough to adequately fit them. The only modification I made was to had 2 loops on the base of the pack so that a bedroll could be attached. |
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