From: Henry J. Fackovec (hfackovec@easternems.com)
Date: Wed Apr 16 2003 - 04:57:33 PDT
Hi Kirk:
Very good response, just to clarify my point on "farby Accessories": I
am in no way referring to Repro uniforms or equipment. As a collector
and historian, I have a large collection of Rev War - Viet Nam era
uniforms and equipment (Several cases of NOS or close WWII uniforms,
field gear, Tanker jackets, jump jackets and etc) and would much prefer
to see someone wearing a quality repo uniform rather than wearing out a
irreplaceable original item. Not only is it better for future
generations of collectors, but it gives a more accurate impression of
what the soldier really looked like in 1944. The uniforms were new then,
crisp and shiny, well fitting. not faded, not mothed, the brass was
shiny....
What I refer to as " farby" is the over accessoriseation of vehicles and
troops: i.e. Mounting a machine gun on every jeep in a squad... Vehicles
having EVERY accessory known to man mounted or hung on it... infantrymen
carrying both rifle and side arms... 40 year old infantrymen who are way
overweight. (That's one of the reasons I gave up reenacting, I am not in
the shape to properly portray a soldier.
I guess I am what you would refer to as a "stitch Nazi" If you are going
to do it, do it 100% correctly.
I hope to meet you also, just because I am critical of aspects of
reenacting does not mean that I do not appreciate the work that people
put into their impressions and the hobby.
Good luck, and watch out for M1 thumb <G>
Hank
Reformed reencator:
Rev War
Civil War
WWI
WWII
-----Original Message-----
From: Kirk Gustafson [mailto:kgustafson@ssd-inc.com]
Sent: Wednesday, April 16, 2003 7:22 AM
To: (Military Vehicles Mailing List)
Cc: HFackovec@easternems.com
Subject: Re: mil-veh Digest #1138
Hi Hank and others,
I was quite impressed with your description of the terms "farby", etc.,
but wonder if you're
missing the point. I've been lurking on this board for several years,
and only recently
started reenacting (Dec, 2002). As you indicated below, "farb"
typically indicates
non-authentic, or out of place. This is not restricted WWII reenacting.
I know people who
reenact several time periods, and have an "impression" for each. This
would be similar to a
person owning several MV's. Each one has parts that are appropriate for
that vehicle. Just as
most MVers would not think of putting a WWII Willys MB carb. on and M915
truck. It wouldn't
fit, and in fact, would seem "out of place".
On the subject of "farby accessories", I have a few of those, if your
talking about
reproduction items. I am a big guy, at 6'2 and 205 lbs. and would have
a heck of a time even
finding an "authentic" uniform in my size. Even if I did, I am very
uncomfortable with the
idea of me wearing an authentic historical piece out in the field as we
"play soldier", and
take the chance of damaging and or ruining it. If I can find an
authentically crafted
reproduction, that appears "appropriate" for the time period, that will
be my choice. Of
course there are a few other items that I carry with me that are not
"period", including tooth
paste and tooth brush, and a cleaning kit for my rifle. I own a couple
of period toothbrushes,
and even the old time "tooth powder", but when it comes to brushing my
teeth in the morning, I
really prefer to use my own!
I am sorry that there appear to be such hard feelings between MVers and
reenactors, and hope
that events like the WWII Convoy though Missouri will start to bring
some of the members of the
two groups together. In much the same fashion as this convoy was
organized, others could be
planned that might include Vietnam reenactors, and the appropriate MVs
for that era; and the
same could be true for other eras as well.
I have heard the term "stitch nazi" applied to some reenactors, related
to their insistance on
"absolute authenticity", but then I also know several from this list who
have a similar mind
set when it comes to "authentic" parts for their WWII slat grill.
I hope that I get a chance to meet you some day, perhaps after I get
started on my next
impression. I haven't decided if it will be Vietnam or Korea. Either
way, I'll be trying my
hardest to put together an impression that honors the soldiers whom I
portay.
P.S. I can't vouch for how ofactorally <sp?> repugnant my excrement is,
but I am sure it
smells as much as the next guys :)_
>>Ronzo:
>"farbing up" or "farby event" or just a "farb" is a term we used in the
>brigade of the America Revolution during the bicentennial ( I know Joe
>is going to jump in and say it was an NSSA term in the '60s, he's
>probably right).
>It means non authentic, not protypical for the period, out of place. A
>term of distain and insult from people who think their excrement is not
>ofactorally <sp?> repugnant.
>If you steer clear of the reenactors, you will not have to deal with
>the concept. We accept everyone at the MVMVC (Well I do look down on
>the people with pre M series stuff, but what the heck, most of them
>have so much rust and bondo, there is not enough real metal left to be
>melted down and made hot roll stock for my blacksmith shop).
>If you like I will take you to critique the "self proclaimed" purists
>vehicles and equipment and I am sure we can find some farby
>accessories...
>Call me in the AM, I'll be on the Nextel
Hanko
-- Pvt. Kirk Gustafson 134th Infantry WWII HRS 201 North 8th Street, Suite 206 Lincoln, Nebraska 68508
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