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ELC Kit Bags

Smithy

Well-Known Member
I need a new, sturdy bag to cart stuff around in and have been thinking of picking one of ELC's kit bags up. They look great but the price is up there so just wanted to know from any here who might have experience with them, if they are any good. Obviously for something north of 200 quid I want to know that it'll go the distance and not fall apart if someone looks sideways at it. I'll use it for work, also weekend city trips and also to take some clobber up to the cabin in the mountains when we get away for a few days.

Any firsthand observations and experiences would be appreciated guys.
 

MikeyB-17

Well-Known Member
I’ve had mine for years and use it for weekends away etc. I used to use it as a gig bag, but stopped using it for that when I realised how much they charge for them these days-mine cost me about a third of that. It’s fine, quite basic but well made, and would easily handle what you want it for. I think I’d look for a decent leather holdall if I was paying that much though.
 

Greg Gale

Well-Known Member
I've been wanting one of those for so long...They look amazing, but I wouldn't pay that much for a bag. As an alternative, you can try SoF:
http://www.sofmilitary.co.uk/usaaf-an-6505-1-aviators-kit-bag-medium-product,20542

Surely not ELC quality, but hey, it's a bag. Then you can buy a nice 4th FG patch and sew it on ;)

A bit OT, but I was in the same dilemma, and decided that it would be a tad uncomfortable, because it can only be carried in my hand. So I went for a modern helmet bag that can be thrown over the shoulder, or worn as a backpack. Very sturdy, very practical, and it has that aviator look - but not WWII.

s-l300.jpg


(The backpack straps can be tucked away and hidden)
 

Smithy

Well-Known Member
Thanks Mikey and Greg.

And Greg I had no idea that SoF had a version. Worth a punt for £40!
 

Greg Gale

Well-Known Member
I originally bought it to use at the airfield, but it’s so cool that I started using it every day. Velcro laptop compartment, 2 internal sidepockets with zips and 2 bottle pockets at the front. I put a patch velcro on it so that I can change it whenever I want to, plus a remove before flight keychain.

31C638BA-C171-4FC0-B96C-F120A972411F.jpeg


SoF is usually a hit or miss. It's cheap, some of their stuff is pretty good, some is not worth even that cheaper price.
 

Smithy

Well-Known Member
That really looks the biz Greg. I think I'll actually have a go with the SoF one and have a crack at painting a squadron/group badge myself - actually should be a fun little project.

And thanks once again to you and Mikey for making me see sense - over £200 for a canvas bag, what on earth was I thinking!
 

B-Man2

Well-Known Member
Tim
In the US we know them as Parachute bags and you can pick them up for about 20 dollars US.
Same double and triple stitching as an ELC bag but way lower price. They are all over Ebay as well. If you can’t find one let me know and I’ll try to help you out.
Burt
 

Persimmon

Well-Known Member
I need a new, sturdy bag to cart stuff around in and have been thinking of picking one of ELC's kit bags up. They look great but the price is up there so just wanted to know from any here who might have experience with them, if they are any good. Obviously for something north of 200 quid I want to know that it'll go the distance and not fall apart if someone looks sideways at it. I'll use it for work, also weekend city trips and also to take some clobber up to the cabin in the mountains when we get away for a few days.

Any firsthand observations and experiences would be appreciated guys.

If anyone is interested I have a Eastman usaaf Aviator kit bag that I am happy to let go at £50. That’s about a third of the current price.

It’s about 5 years old. Hardly ever used. Don’t think it’s ever been out of the house !! Just found it in my wardrobe.

Anyone interested I can send/ post pictures
 

Smithy

Well-Known Member
Thanks Alan. I would've been interested but bit the bullet on a SoF one which might be better considering how my hamfisted attempts at painting a group patch on it go!

Off topic but in terms of painting this kind of thing, what's the best kind of paint to use? I have some enamel paint (so oil based) which I use for scale modelling and which I thought should be OK to use?
 

tjoenn

Well-Known Member
If anyone is interested I have a Eastman usaaf Aviator kit bag that I am happy to let go at £50. That’s about a third of the current price.

It’s about 5 years old. Hardly ever used. Don’t think it’s ever been out of the house !! Just found it in my wardrobe.

Anyone interested I can send/ post pictures
I'll buy it for £50, no need to post pictures, I trust that it's in good shape, just let me know how to pay for it. Shipping will be to Norway.
 

Smithy

Well-Known Member
damm !! you snooze you loose !!:(

Carl, you're a dab hand with USAAF kit so a question...all the photos I've seen of original early AN-6505 bags have two canvas fabric strips sewn between the straps stitched on the main bag body on the same side as the printed kit numbers. Yet the Eastman bags don't carry these. This seems to be incorrect for early khaki AN-6505s isn't it?
 

Carl

Well-Known Member
Smithy , i hear you ! Ill have to go dig my 3 or 4 out to double check !
I have one stamped AN6505 and the others are stamped AN6505-1 .
Now this is just an assumption , 6505 was the first type (?) 6505-1 second type with the addition of the extra fabric for strength ?? Just a thought
C
 

Smithy

Well-Known Member
Hi Carl!

You can see it here:

DSCN4663A_600w.JPG



It's definitely not present on the ELC kit bags which doesn't seem to be entirely correct.
 
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