Camouflage Net Fabrication
Roll your own for your military display.
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to enlarge
Authentic
looking camouflage netting adds to any operational display at events.
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Women working in factories increased the manufacturing capability of the United States immensely. The war would have lasted years longer if they had not pitched in to help. Many worked a shift at the factory and then returned to their homes to another full time job of raising a family. We all owe them.
BC-474 display at MRCA meet Gilbert. This camo net was not fabricated but purchased on line from one of the popular surplus dealer. I believe it was surplus from Sweden. We got so many nice comments on the display so that a decision was made to fabricated some WWII Camo to published specifications.
FM5-20B is one of the many publications on the subject.
FM5-20B PDF file
A nice color section of the manual.
CLick here to download FM5-20B
Most camouflage nets use fishing nets with large squares as shrimp nets have too close a weave i.e. there is no room to weave in the burlap strips. However shrimp nets were often used by them selves as camouflage. Consider purchasing white "cotton" nets as they are easy to dye using Rit dye. However nylon or similar material nets that are black or tan can be found. Be sure that the squares are big enough to weave the burlap strips.
The string will be used to secure the ends of the burlap strips.
This is an actual WWII net that has survived and it belongs to one of our MRCA members. It just might have a slight mildew smell.
Another example. Ignore the cat.
Another example of WWII camo.
Careful shopping on ePay and other sites will provide rolls of burlap strips. Usually remnants from a large manufacturing company. Beware of the Arts and Crafts listing as the burlap strips listed are too expensive. You can cut your own strips but it will take a while - a suggestion from a local fabric store is use electric scissors if you are cutting your own.
Your friend Rit Dye. Easy to use and cheap. Go to their site to look at basic colors. In the example above the green tag is selected and the various shades that are available appear.
| https://www.ritstudio.com/color-library
Standard colors out of the manual. Use the lower chart to estimate how much burlap you need.
Its a fun project and not difficult.
I used off the shelf colors but the Rit web site has a calculator for different shades that you can mix.
My secret recipe large photo below.
In
this example the sample of burlap strip on the left was not dyed but left
"natural" and the right side was dyed. This time I used a short
time period of burlap immersion just a couple of minutes. Overall the
length of time in the dye do not seem too critical - after all it is only
burlap.
Mixing is not rocket science. Pour in some dye in and use hot water. Tap hot water works fine.
Drying rack. Note the garbage cans pressed into service.
Just about finished. My garage door opening was used for hanging the net during the weave process.
Net with 3 basic colors. Color of the actual net is tan.
Poles are used for support in the field when other supports are not available.
Wooden poles are sold in your nearest Home Depot or Lowe's. Ask for closet poles or look in the wooden "dowel" section. To conserve space during transport I coupled short section of poles with a metal tube coupling. While you are in the store pickup some small diameter manila rope for guy lines.
PAINT:
Take a sample color to Lowe's or Wally World etc. They will "shoot"
the color and come up with the secret mixture for that color. Don't get
a gallon get a pint. Get a small can which is approximately 1.75 pints.
BRUSHES: Dollar store get a package of brushes for a buck. I usually just chuck the brush once the paining is done. While you are visiting the Dollar Store stock up on 9 volt batteries for future events.
MRCA Gilbert indoor display.