Hi im Paul and i have been reencating for about 20 years now, so long i have lost count. I have only ever portrayed British Infantry. My interest started from visiting events such as Kirby Hall near Corby and thinking this is a hobby i would love to get involved with. From a young age i have always been interested in WW2 and decided thats what i wanted to portray, My Grandad in was in the 2nd battalion East Lancs and it just felt right to me. I have only ever been in one group which is the Tommy Atkins Society, portaying the Leicester Regiment, My home county.
Forward 18 years and i have always wanted a project to get my teeth in to for making something i can reenact with, as much as i would like a vehicle i just dont have the space and those sort of funds. One facebook group that caught my interest was a ration page, in particular one that specialised in British Army rations. I have always enjoyed cooking in my mess tin at shows and the public love to see this as well. So i thought i would have a look to see what i could improve upon.
Inbetween all this i had purchased a 3d printer for a bit of fun, but it had been sitting redundant as i just couldnt work out what to make that was useful……then there was an online conversation about biscuits in WW1. I knew people were making cookie cutters with 3d printers as i had watched this online with my daughter.
Then the penny dropped, why cant i make a hardtac biscuit cutter……and then it all got rather busy. Nearly 100 sales later of that cutter and it got me thinking what else can i reproduce to improve peoples impressions?
This was all in the middle of Lockdown in 2020, luckily i was still working but researching rations and packaging and the food that was used. Which then led me in to looking American and German rations, after all if the brit reeenactors like this sort of stuff surely other reenactors would as well.
So now my inventory is spreading out to axis and allies food stuffs, small field equipment and a little bit of homefront thrown in for good measure. 2 x 3d printers and a laser engraver have had to be squeezed in to support expansion.
I have learnt so much much more over the past 3 years in reenacting than ever before. I love making these items and getting the feedback from customers on how they have improved their impressions. My reproduction items are constantly expanding and i am happy to take requests for items if i think its feasible. So do please get in touch as i love the challenge.
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hM