Ian,
First it is important to decide whether you want the uniform to be enlisted, warrant officer or officer.
I suggest going either with an 80s era open collar era NCO Tunic or Warrant Officer Tunic. And to keep it simple so that the accoutrements are more easy to acquire, use an infantry one - white piping all around. This gives you many more options on the diifferent accessories. You can always wear an older decoration (to a reasonable degree) on a later uniform - but you can never go backwards.
-Lyre sleeve patch { worn by warrant officers only ]
-Lyre pin for the shoulder boards [ silver to enlisted; gold for warrant officers ]
-shoulder boards [ NCO or warrant; white ]
-swallows nests [ all white; either with or without the fringe-tassels. It will cost you the same for either one, and I personally think the Stabsmusikkorps (with fringe-tassles) looks more cool. ]
-white parade belt [ Yes ]
- uniformhose (riding breeches, or white piped pants?) [ Breeches - they look better and you get to wear the white belt with the plastic parade helmet - very cool. ]
-white gloves [ Yes - white ]
- Parade helmet (normal metal, or lightweight version?) [ Plastic / resin Parade Helmet - always. ]
You will also need either a Repraesentationsschnur or Achselschnuere, depending upon whether you elect Enlisted or warrant officer.
Repraesentationsschnure - Enlisted / NCO
Achselschnuere - warrant officer
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Ian,
Here is a suggestion - and only a suggestion.
The NVA Band Uniform is unique in one aspect. It is the only uniform where the NCO (Tress on the Collar) Tunic actually looks better (in parade configuration) than the officer and warrant officer uniform. Again, this is because they wore everything the officer's wore, even their own version of the parade cord; but also had the Tress on their collars. It made for a really striking uniform indeed.
I personally would go open collar and preferably late. This gives you more space to work with.
I would use an infantry tunic and stay "White". That also makes everything more easy to acquire. You can get a matching pair of white swallows nest on American ebay for about $20.00 plus shipping.
Helmet - By keeping the uniform late 80s, you have more options on the helmet. You can fit your bandsman with any one of the different plastic helmets that were produced, and still be correct.
Use riding breeches. They look better and you get to wear the plastic helmet this way.
Tunic. By keeping with an NCO Tunic, you don't have to worry about getting a Lyre patch and sewing it on.
The uniform, even though NCO, should be constructed of dederon. They are easy to find. Most originated out of or from Berlin and they appear on ebay all the time.
First it is important to decide whether you want the uniform to be enlisted, warrant officer or officer.
I suggest going either with an 80s era open collar era NCO Tunic or Warrant Officer Tunic. And to keep it simple so that the accoutrements are more easy to acquire, use an infantry one - white piping all around. This gives you many more options on the diifferent accessories. You can always wear an older decoration (to a reasonable degree) on a later uniform - but you can never go backwards.
-Lyre sleeve patch { worn by warrant officers only ]
-Lyre pin for the shoulder boards [ silver to enlisted; gold for warrant officers ]
-shoulder boards [ NCO or warrant; white ]
-swallows nests [ all white; either with or without the fringe-tassels. It will cost you the same for either one, and I personally think the Stabsmusikkorps (with fringe-tassles) looks more cool. ]
-white parade belt [ Yes ]
- uniformhose (riding breeches, or white piped pants?) [ Breeches - they look better and you get to wear the white belt with the plastic parade helmet - very cool. ]
-white gloves [ Yes - white ]
- Parade helmet (normal metal, or lightweight version?) [ Plastic / resin Parade Helmet - always. ]
You will also need either a Repraesentationsschnur or Achselschnuere, depending upon whether you elect Enlisted or warrant officer.
Repraesentationsschnure - Enlisted / NCO
Achselschnuere - warrant officer
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Ian,
Here is a suggestion - and only a suggestion.
The NVA Band Uniform is unique in one aspect. It is the only uniform where the NCO (Tress on the Collar) Tunic actually looks better (in parade configuration) than the officer and warrant officer uniform. Again, this is because they wore everything the officer's wore, even their own version of the parade cord; but also had the Tress on their collars. It made for a really striking uniform indeed.
I personally would go open collar and preferably late. This gives you more space to work with.
I would use an infantry tunic and stay "White". That also makes everything more easy to acquire. You can get a matching pair of white swallows nest on American ebay for about $20.00 plus shipping.
Helmet - By keeping the uniform late 80s, you have more options on the helmet. You can fit your bandsman with any one of the different plastic helmets that were produced, and still be correct.
Use riding breeches. They look better and you get to wear the plastic helmet this way.
Tunic. By keeping with an NCO Tunic, you don't have to worry about getting a Lyre patch and sewing it on.
The uniform, even though NCO, should be constructed of dederon. They are easy to find. Most originated out of or from Berlin and they appear on ebay all the time.
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