Berets

[Ghostie31]

Hi, just wondering how you should properly shape a beret? Tried searching for it but nothing came up.
Just got one and I don't want to ruin it.
Thanks very much chaps

[BEagle]

Berets?

BERETS?

How simply ghastly. OK for Frank Spencer, French onion johnnies and dribbling old tramps, perhaps. But such things are distinctly un-officerlike.

At least for aircrew.

[Ghostie31]

Good point, however, I am only a lowly UAS member!
I feel a bit bad wearing an Officers hat! Even though my official rank is Officer Cadet.
:)

[SirToppamHat]

Wise words BEagle

If it's from stores, do yourself a favour and throw it in the bin. If you must have one, go and buy a proper one from Snaiths' or some such - it should not need shaping.

STH

[BEagle]

Ask amongst your fellows - there may be some ex-Air Training Corps chums who will know how best to tame that awful grey-blue felt head-pancake!

Enjoy your UAS time!

[The Rocket]

Remembering back a VERY long time to my days as a Halton Apprentice, I seem to remember having to dunk the beret in alternate bowls of hot and cold water, whilst regularly shaping it over your head.

Honest!

[Ghostie31]

Thanks very much, im sure some of them must have some experience.
I've only just started and im LOVING it!!
Thanks for your time.

[snaggletooth]

Soak the fabric in warm water, keeping the leather band dry, stand in the bath & pull on in a Frank Spencer-stylie. Shape it to your head squeezing excess water out as you do & ignoring the blue dye that must by now be running down your arms. When shaped, doff said cap & place in an airing cupboard to slowly dry in this eye-pleasingly contoured profile.

Or,
a. as you're an O., disregard all of the above, take out of packet & lay beret on bonce in the manner of a flat-topped grey funnelled war canoe
b. buy a chip bag

[Ghostie31]

Thanks snaggle, I'll give the bath one a go I think!!:ok:

[SASless]

I think the better question is how to properly shape an officer.

[mystic_meg]

- surely that's for OR's? Simply don beret, and whilst shaping it with one hand, reach for industrial staple gun with the other hand and affix - et voila! :E

[snaggletooth]

With hindsight this operation requires a deftness of touch and an eye-hand coordination quotient most O.s lack. Mail it to me & I'll do it for a Fiver. Ahem, the beret that is.

[Large Dave]

To get a beret that truly looks like it's been to 'Nam, you'll need to soften it up a little in the washing machine before carrying out the hot/cold water procedure. 60 degree wash will sort it right out.

Dave

[snaggletooth]

O.s in berets is like pigs in leg-warmers. They do it so badly it shouldn't be allowed

[Days Like These]

I feel a bit bad wearing an Officers hat! Even though my official rank is Officer Cadet.
:)

Things have changed since my day then...we used to wear Airman style SD hats...back in the day...(2000!)

[Ghostie31]

SD hats? :confused:

[snaggletooth]

SD hats? :confused:

Don't know what the 'SD' stands for, but it's the peaked cap much beloved of him off the buses and any postie circa 1956.

[Large Dave]

Service Dress, I believe.

Stop posting and get that beret in the washing machine.

[Ghostie31]

lol, I might be a student but I know what a hot wash does to wool!!
Thanks anyways!
:ok:

[Onan the Clumsy]

Take one cat, several cans of cat food (the more pungent the better), a large bowl of water, one small closet (preferably dark) and one beret of the appropriate size.


Finely empty the closet and introduce the large bowl of water.
Lock cat in the now empty closet for one entire day, paying special attention that no medical care is required.
Dispense the catfood into a large bowl and introduce into the closet, taking care that the cat does not escape.
At the same time, place the beret carefully into the opposite corner of the closet.
Resecure the closet door.
Wait one more day, after which, open the doors to the closet (1).
Extract the beret, and discard the whoopsie.
Serve chilled, on head and garnish with with Frank Spencer voice.
(1) it is advisable to stand to the side during this operation and to have previously opened the back door.

[Large Dave]

Oh well, worth a try. Presumably you're studying Textile Management MSc?

Perhaps you can draw me a Long Weight next time you're at stores.

Chuckle chuckle.

[Jobza Guddun]

Snaggletooth's method is just about spot on, however, when said titfer is in the airing cupboard, the drying process tends to alter the wet-formed shape. One of the best ways to let the beret dry and maintain it's shape in the warm, is to spray milk evenly over it (from a good old squirty bottle) just before you put it in the airing cupboard. Something about the lactose in the cow juice seems to help maintain the shape during drying.
Hope this helps

Jobza

PS Don't go mad, mind, too much of the white stuff will leave white marks on the outside funnily enough!

[The Rocket]

You can also speed the drying process up quite a bit by popping the beret into the microwave for 2 mins while it's wet. Saves waiting around for it to dry in the airing cupboard.

[Onan the Clumsy]

...but remember to take the badge off it first though :}

[g126]

Alternative bowls of hot and cold water work a treat, as said, avoiding getting the leather band wet. Leave to dry on your head and no where else. You make look a bit silly whilst sat there watching the TV but it is worth it.

[insty66]

Hot and cold method works a treat but the only way to ensure the beret stays the shape of your swede is to let it dry on your head.
Careful planning is therefore required.:ok: :E :8

[Strictly Jungly]

Whatever method you use......as long as you lose that "smuggling plates" look, you will be fine!!!!

When do get to wear those strange "Thunderbird" type hats the Crab bretheren often pose in?:D

[snaggletooth]

Anytime in flying garb or blues. Chipbags with CS95 are frowned upon.

You're welcome.

[Climebear]

Snaggletooth.

The great what shall we wear bible does not permit the wearing of Chip Bags (or Forage Caps) with No 3 Dress (CS95) - obviously unless you are DCINC STC

http://www.mod.uk/NR/rdonlyres/5A46B764-454E-4FB5-9D44-051DD9D2EEC0/0/NRF2.jpg

Strictly Jungly

You can purchase them from any good military tailor - we inherited them from the Army. Many regts/corps still wear them in barrack dress (although the wearing of barrack dress seems to be restricted to Shrivenham now with the rest of the Army wearing their combat pajamas)

[SwitchMonkey]

Flying badge on CS95.... :hmm:
Surely that can't be right/allowed/sensible?

[snaggletooth]

Thanks for the pic Climebear. IMHO our lord & master would've looked better in blues, and then he could've worn his chip-bag... Oh.

But I suppose as there's no light blue piping on a beret people might'n't realize how impotent, sorry, important he is. Did I get that right?

[Onan the Clumsy]

The chap on the left...

...is that a special penis camoflage?

[BlueEagle]

Lots of officers wear berets! Para, Marines etc. etc.!

The hot/cold water and dry it on your head is the way to go. You may need to do this more than once to get the shape you desire.:D

[BigGrecian]

Snaggletooth.
The great what shall we wear bible does not permit the wearing of Chip Bags (or Forage Caps) with No 3 Dress (CS95) - obviously unless you are DCINC STC

Or SLOPS at Marham when visiting once I saw him wearing his SD Cap with CS95 :bored:

[HEIGHTSGOODBACK5]

To stop you getting a rash/bald patch you need to un-pick the plastic liningthat is inside the said beret and once sized secure the tensioning ribbon and snip off the excess or carefully tuck it into the leather headband. If all else goes wrong ask a friendly Cheif Tech who will guide you in the gentle art of constructing a size 5 HLS on your swede complete with a Nato Tee:eek:

[HEIGHTSGOODBACK5]

To stop you getting a rash/bald patch you need to un-pick the plastic lining that is inside the said beret and once sized secure the tensioning ribbon and snip off the excess or carefully tuck it into the leather headband. If all else goes wrong ask a friendly Cheif Tech who will guide you in the gentle art of constructing a size 5 HLS on your swede complete with a Nato Tee:eek:

[Washington_Irving]

To get a beret that truly looks like it's been to 'Nam, you'll need to soften it up a little in the washing machine before carrying out the hot/cold water procedure. 60 degree wash will sort it right out.
Dave
The young thruster doesn't want to look like he's been to 'Nam (or banished to Honnington to learn how to throw his own faeces properly for that matter). He wants to try to look respectable, not like he spends his social life with 3 PARA mortars. It's bad enough that he is being forced to wear such a monstrosity, the last thing he needs at this young and vulnerable stage is to be laughed at by 17yr old pongos for trying to look warry while dressed in a collar and tie. I've seen some blunties trying to wear their berets Para-stylee and, to a man, they have always looked like shuddering hoops. I dread to think what it would be like to have to wear a beret with a grow bag. (Just think think how silly the AAC look with their baby blue lids- Jesus!) I think I would even consider getting changed into No.2s every time I had to leave the building, just to avoid it.

As the others have said, alternate between hot and cold water, taking care not to get the leather band wet and remold several times. (Please tell me there's a leather band and it's not a cloth band- if it's the latter, you will be mincing around for the next three years like you have your sports bag on your head, no matter what you try.) IIRC, my beret had instructions on how to shape it on the plastic bit inside.

Incidentally, I took the plastic bit out and am going bald nonetheless. Do any of the barrack-room lawyers around here think that I can make a claim against HMG for this?:}

[Krystal n chips]

A couple of Hunter starts will resolve the problem in about 30secs flat ! --or rather would have. :E

[Roland Pulfrew]

Or SLOPS at Marham when visiting once I saw him wearing his SD Cap with CS95

When I went through training my flt cdr said that a real officer would only ever wear an SD hat with DPM. Berets were purely for the troops and rock apes and no self respecting officer would want to be confused with either. Its worked well for me!!;)

[BEagle]

"Flying badge on CS95....:oh:
Surely that can't be right/allowed/sensible?"

Aircrew in Clockwork Squaddie 95....:oh:
Surely that can't be right/allowed/sensible?

The bloke with the white strap over his shoulder in that piccie seems to have taken things a bit far with his "I want to be...a tree" camouflage, doesn't he?

The DPM desert jim-jam things seem to be the current replacement for good old KD. With which proper officers wore SD caps and Bondhu boots!

[Samuel]

Contrary to popular opinion, no cat, or any animal for that matter, actually understands human speech. They only react to associative sounds, such as the unpuckering sigh of fridge door opening.

In imagine if you will, early Saturday morning at a house near you. A man is propelled from bed by a sense of altruism and the sure knowledge that the love of his life deserves a cup of Earl Grey or the finest Darjeeling. Either that or he is simply propelled by a well-aimed elbow or a knee in the back.

He gropes his way downstairs, occasionally opening one eyelid for navigation purposes, to make sure he doesn't fall over something like the cat basket. He vaguely remembers leaving it on the stairs when he got home at 02:00 dark. It seemed like a good idea at the time..

He opens the door of the microwave for illumination, rather than risk the thermonuclear flash of an overhead bulb. The dim light of the microwave is all he can take for him to locate the fridge.

Suddenly he freezes. Something cold, wet, and furry slides over his feet. His bare ankles are trapped. Neolithic hard-wiring warns of danger. In the half-darkness, images of unimaginable creatures race through the most primitive parts of his system. Adrenalin is discharged into his bloodstream. He assumes a kung fu readiness stance [he does, after all, own a beret!] and whirls to face the slithering threat. His foot flails explosively like that of a Thai boxer.

A very startled cat staggers groggily down from the top of the range-hood where it landed after describing a none too graceful arc from in front of the fridge. It is confused. It had entered the kitchen quite happily, anticipating the delicious bowl of Chunky Fish and Chicken, but now retreats to the corner and commences licking...

...which brings me to the Beret: as any airman will tell you, all air force officers look complete prats wearing a beret. Besides, you cannot polish your cap badge with an SD hat, nor clear the inside of your windscreen, put out incipient fires, or give your shoes a quick flick. Unshrunk, you can look a bit like Frank Spenser.

[Clockwork Mouse]

Reference DCINC STC. Got bored too while rolling his sleeves up. And is he wearing spats? Dear me.

[Widger]

Don't take any notice of the knockers. If you want to look like a civvy in uniform or something straight out of Thunderbirds, then wear your Chipbag. There is nothing, absolutely nothing better than a well shaped Beret, especially if it is green and combined with a grade 1. Feel free to add headset but it must not, absolutely not be combined with a Tache! Trinny and Susanna would eat you alive.

http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/rn/data/gallery/full/989831555f.jpg

[Solid Rust Twotter]

Beags has it. Put the the thing on your pip and pull down on the saggy bit to place it on the appropriate side. After a few days it'll assume the shape needed. Trying to look all warry by soaking and plastering the beast down only makes it look sillier.

Not sure if HM Forces are governed by the same type of people but we had a RSM who would peel the offending article off one's dome and proceed to tear it into small pieces while foaming at the mouth if he found one shaped with water in the manner described on here. This would happen on the parade ground in front of 300 other soldiers and one would be sent off to the QM store to purchase another one after the parade. The next few weeks would see the offender making intimate acquaintance with a chunk of concrete affectionately known as a marble while fulfilling the duties of one confined to barracks with extra drills.

[airborne_artist]

There is nothing, absolutely nothing better than a well shaped Beret, especially if it is green agreed, but you'll find that Ruperts outside of Para Reg, RM and Hereford can't hack a beret.

Green only suits Bootnecks - anyone else wearing it is green slime in barrack parlance.

My wife always said I looked best in my beige one ;)

[Duncano]

Just checked inside my beret which has shaping instructions on the label as follows.
1) Immerse beret alternately in hot & cold water until soaked through - DO NOT WET LEATHER BAND.
2) Place beret on head & mould to desired shape.
3) Leave beret to dry naturally.
Some other info which may be of interest
Wearing of Head-dress
When wearing uniform outdoors, on or off base, headdress is to be worn by all personnel in the following manner:
a. No 1 SD Hat. The No 1 SD hat is to be worn so that the bottom of the hat is 25mm above the eyebrows, the front of the hat level and the
badge positioned centrally. The chinstrap is to be taut and positioned to cover the blue seam between the hatband and peak. RAF Police
personnel of the rank of WO and below wear a white-topped SD Hat when wearing all variations of No 1 or No 2 SD. The No 1 SD hat is
never worn with CS 95.
b. Forage Cap. The forage cap, which is an optional extra at own expense, is worn tilted to the right so that that front edge is approximately
25mm above the eyebrows and the side edge is approximately 12mm above the right ear. The material is blue/grey worsted barathea of
standard styling for wg cdrs and below; for gp capts and air officers the cap is piped in Minerva blue. The forage cap is never worn with CS 95.
c. Beret. The beret is to be worn so that the black band is horizontal around the head and 25mm above the eyebrows. The surplus material is to
be pulled down over the right ear and the badge clearly displayed in a position directly above the left eye. The adjustment ribbon is to be
secured with a knot and the surplus ends hidden from sight.
d. Turbans. Officers and airmen of Sikh religion may wear turbans of the approved Service pattern and colour, instead of uniform headdress.
The appropriate cap badge is to be fitted centrally on the turban with its base at the apex of the triangle of the headband. When necessary to
wear specialist headgear such as combat helmets or flying helmets the turban has to be removed and the patka (mini turban) may be worn.
e. Hijabs. Muslim females may wear Hijabs of the approved pattern and colour under their uniform headdress except when operational,
training or health and safety considerations dictate otherwise. It is worn without cap badge under the hat outdoors and without hat indoors. The
hijab is to be worn in such a way that rank slides are visible at all times.
0125. Hats need not be worn: (QR 202)
a. When indoors at designated place of work.
b. When in FOD hazard areas.
c. When serving detention.
d. When otherwise ordered.
e. When engaged on PEd instructional duties (PTIs only).
f. When attending a church service (female personnel excepted).
g. Male personnel, other than members of the Jewish faith or of other religions which require the head to be covered on solemn occasions,
when in civil or Service courts and when taking oaths, are to have the head uncovered whenever they take oaths. (See AP 3265 – Guide to
Legal Procedures).
h. Additionally, except when on duty under arms, Service personnel in civil courts are not to wear their headdress while the judge or magistrate
is present.

[teeteringhead]

Berets? Such things are distinctly un-officerlike.
At least for aircrew.

Oy BEags (He says, leading with his chin) Wot about the SH mates?? Perhaps not considered by superannuated Fun Bus drivers to be:

a. Officers OR
b. Aircrew ;)

[RayDarr]

Duncano,
So, reading your post it seems that DCinC is not only wearing the wrong 'at, he's wearing it in the wrong way. It should be tilted over his right ear. Are you going to tell him or shall I?

[Onan the Clumsy]

http://www.televisionheaven.co.uk/smdae2.jpg

[Data-Lynx]

Agree with Climebear. Just be grateful that DCINC STC was not wearing one of his huge stock of white tee-shirts and could the 'spats' be harrier aircrew boots? A beret was good enough for the 1st Sea Lord and piping is something we do to get him on and off his warships.
http://www.warshipsifr.com/media/admwest2.jpg

[RayDarr]

Ref DCinC RAF (down a few posts) Just an aside, but it always tickles me that people wear the CS95 disruptive pattern stuff, I presume so that it is more difficult for the enemy to see them, then add a bloody great red/white/blue belt. Rather spoils the effect don't yer think.
Wings on CS95? Well he is a pilot. We ought to be thankful he's not wearing a ruddy "growbag"!!!
Looks like the RN have it right....again (doh!)

[Brian Swell]

Trinny and Susanna would eat you alive.
Trinny AND Susanna, eh?
Never mind all this hat stuff - please tell us more about THAT!;)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/lifestyle/tv_and_radio/what_not_to_wear/images/styleguide.jpg

[scottyhs]

i can help you with this being a lowly space cadet.....

Get in the shower with it on, sounds silly i know (it works) Once soaked (the band keeps itself dry enough) simply mould to your desired shape. I.E. the RAF way.... and then stand under shower again. Once this has been completed for a little while take the beret off. Fold to allow the shaping to be bent across the fold and pin under something heavy, or with bulldog clips. Allow to dry...well near enough dry and then repeat and after the 2nd time it will be shaped perfectly!!!

[Crashed&Burned]

Since the originator of this thread is a UAS bod, it is worth mentioning:

1. If soaking the beret in a washing machine, take the beret off your head first.

2. If drying the beret in a microwave, take the beret off your head first.

(can't be too careful...)

C&B

[Mmmmnice]

Smashing to see much to debate coming from one photo of a senior officer.
The whole brevet/stable belt/bona-mate p*ss flap boots combo is quite outstanding - he ought to be SH; going to such lengths to make sure no-one else present is dressed the same.
Re: drying the sodden wet mass that used to be a beret - find something the same size as your swede to leave the thing on whilst it dries. Drying it in-situ is v similar to that thing the Indians (Native Americans) used to do with wet rawhide to the white men who upset them; the bulging eyes are a good sign that things have gone awry!
Beags - I used to take my SD hat away with me until it went missing and was found days later in a blanks bag - I then found the one true path and dug out the beret - more functional and less 'BoB extra'!!

[Washington_Irving]

Don't take any notice of the knockers. If you want to look like a civvy in uniform or something straight out of Thunderbirds, then wear your Chipbag. There is nothing, absolutely nothing better than a well shaped Beret, especially if it is green and combined with a grade 1. Feel free to add headset but it must not, absolutely not be combined with a Tache! Trinny and Susanna would eat you alive.
http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/rn/data/gallery/full/989831555f.jpg

All well and good, but you neglected to mention that the men to which you refer also have a penchant for wearing blonde wigs, pink dresses and big floppy hats and/or rolling around on the grass with each other, naked save for a couple of rollmats on their arms. We're not about to follow that example either.

[Beeayeate]

Ghostie

Don't listen to all the ramblings on this thread they'll only lead you astray - especially those from the zobbits that show up here. There's only one sure-fire way to get a beret that looks good and sits well - own it for a goodly number of years in service.

Mind you, the shrinking ploy will give it a head-start (sheesh!), but generally it's down to exposure to Avtur, Avgas and splash or two of OM-15.

:hmm:

:ok:

[Kim Il Jong]

Fantastic!

Now i've got top cover for wearing my chip-bag on CS95 AND Brevet. A wee print is rolling off the printer: it will duly be presented to anyone who objects to me being dressed properly.

:ok:

[Climebear]

Why is it that the RAF get so an*l about not putting wings on CS95.

The AAC wear their wings on their CS95

Paratroopers of all varieties (including RAF) have their wings on their CS95.

But for some reason the RAF (where the decisions on dress policy are taken by GD (late aircrew) air officers) doesn't want you to do it!!!

[DummyRun]

This hat wearing malarky, does it apply to spec aircrew/PA, if so where does one aquire one of these appendages? They'll be expecting quarterly haircuts next!!!!
Load moving......

PS What is an icon?

[Two's in]

AAC wearing wings on CS95 is simply due to having much smaller helicopters, so the totty need some additional nav guidance for finding the real men. Odd too that they (AAC) wear it on shirts but not jumpers, opposite of the RAF, but maybe real men don't wear jumpers?

[Washington_Irving]

Why is it that the RAF get so an*l about not putting wings on CS95.
The AAC wear their wings on their CS95
Paratroopers of all varieties (including RAF) have their wings on their CS95.
But for some reason the RAF (where the decisions on dress policy are taken by GD (late aircrew) air officers) doesn't want you to do it!!!

Perhaps it stems from a deeply held article of faith that if aircrew have to wear CS95 in the first place or (God forbid) pick up a weapon, then one is either in the wrong place or something has gone very, VERY wrong.:}

[BEagle]

".....but maybe real men don't wear jumpers?"

Absolutely! Leave the wearing of knee-length beige pullovers to Woopert of the Wedgiment who wanders awound his mess with his labwador.

Ditch the stupid blue pullover with giant white moth and wear the Aircrew Leather Jacket instead with No 2s. Plus proper SD hat. Much smarter - and drives the SWO (or whatever they call SWOs these days) into low earth orbit...:E

[ExGrunt]

Anyway, to digress briefly back to the original posters request for info - The key to not looking a tw@t in a beret is that under no circumstances must the pulled over part come below the top of the right ear.

Ideally you should get what is called a 'small crown' beret. For many years the rolls-royce of berets was a victor beret, but I think they have gone out of business - You may want to look Here (http://www.dubora.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=20) for a suitable item.

EG

[BEagle]

Rolls-Royce of berets? Shurely shome mishtake - that sounds like an oxymoron!

I guess the 'small crown' beret gives the authentic Marthur Longhurst* look?










* A character in Granada TV's 'Coronation Street' - a series about how 't folks live oop North which I haven't seen since it stopped being in 405-line black-and-white. Which was perhaps rather more authentic to 't grimness of 't North?

[Roland Pulfrew]

[i]..... wear the Aircrew Leather Jacket instead with No 2s. Plus proper SD hat. Much smarter - and drives the SWO (or whatever they call SWOs these days) into low earth orbit...:E

Ah yes the aircrew leather jacket. Perhaps the best combo I have seen here was leather jacket with DPM shirt (with wings), DPM trousers and chip bag. A stunning example of ignoring all of the rules..... Well done that man:ok:

[Pontius Navigator]

There are many ways to shape the beret but only one to shape the beret and the head under it.

Having undone the ribbons at the back slacken the head band until it is a comfortable fit. Then tighten it some more. One it fits and will not blow off then tie off the ribbons. If you are in the French navy leave the ribbons loose. If you do not want to look like Frank Spencer then push the ribbons out of sight.

Then wear the beret with the right hand side pulled firmly down to keep the wind out of your right ear. Walk around Pen-y-Fan for two days allowing the beret to dry out in the wind on day two.

Use a wire brush to raise the pile. After a further 4 weeks remove beret from daily use and ensure it is dry. Put away it away for ten years of so and let kids 1 and 2 use it for play/frisbee or whatever.

Repeat wire brush routine and put away for further twenty years ready for gkids 1 and 2 . . .

SD Hats? Bought one once. Couldn't afford Bates so I've got an Alkit one.

[Pontius Navigator]

Washington Irvine my AC wears his wings on his CS95. Not sure if they are on shirt as well as jacket. It could be something to do with the cost of the proper profiled wings and the fact that aircrew wear name patches anyway and CS95 only rarely.

[detgnome]

Berets - best and easiest thing to wear with a flying suit. Far easier to carry around than a chip bag or SD hat and less likely to get crumpled or damaged in transit, well for those with a smallish cockpit anyway!(Guess not a problem for you hey beags?) It also has the added advantage of annoying senior officer FJ mates for some reason; on this one I am firmly with Tee-head.

[TEEEJ]

Hi, just wondering how you should properly shape a beret? Tried searching for it but nothing came up.
Just got one and I don't want to ruin it.
Thanks very much chaps

Follow all the advice on shaping the beret when wet. My advice to you is get rid of the lining. Most of the problem with new berets is the thickness that is caused by the lining. Be careful not to get the head band wet as it will shrink. Shape on the head when wet/damp. To keep shape roll beret up and place an elastic band lightly around it.

[BEagle]

Hmm - my everyday SD hat got so tatty (having been stuffed into headset bags various) that my boss fed it to a navigator's labrador. Then the expensive Bates PWB* one fell to bits.... After that I bought a new one for a very reasonable price from stores - less than £15!

Came in handy at a certain Axminster shuffling session...:eek:



* Parades, Weddings and Bollockings

[Mike Reheat]

BEagle..., late in reading up on this string..., but you obviously never got to Fragrant Harbour. You could have dropped into Ah Wa Lam's RAF Uniform emporium just down the road from Kai Tak and got the deal of the century. Best uniforms..., SD's.., Chip Bags... berets etc..., You just had to look at the name tags on the many finished uniforms (UK, USA, Canadian etc) hanging awaiting dispatch to see many 1, 2 and 3 Star names etc to see who were getting a good deal. Saw a set of impressive medals being re-mounted for a UK 2 star..., (Name will be kept out of this input) but on the rim was stamped the name of an LAC - and definately not the 2 stars name....., one wonders !!!

[Safety_Helmut]

Oh dear, a thread on how to shape a beret. Just do what any self respecting groundcrew would do. Get it from stores, put it on your head and wear it. Nothing more, nothing less.

If you're eally stuck for help, get yourself along to a fast jet squadron crewroom (groundcrew that is) and ask the question there.:E

S_H

[Pontius Navigator]

Safety Helmut,

but he doesn't want oil on it.:)

was this thread a serious one?

SD hat shaping has never been the same either since they changed the furniture in the 60s. Old desks in messes and quarters had six pigieon holes. These were slightly too small to take an SD hat.

In other words they were perfect for forcing the sides down in the approved WW2 droop, if you could not afford a Bates.

Bates was always THE master hatter.

[BEagle]

Until they replaced the leather 'chinstrap' with a tatty plastic thing which often ripped.....