Patch King - Miss Drop 44

[MissDrop44]

So, if you don't know who am I, that's lucky for you. A quick into, I've been a re-enactor/livinghistorian since 2000, I have been involved in all sorts in the military history world, recovering soldiers killed in war in various countries, military archeology, had soldiers name put onto war memorials that were mistakenly missed off etc etc... the list goes on. 

I wrote the first specific book for re-enactors, giving a detailed guide on how to do an authentic 101st riflemans impression for Normandy. A big hardback book with all the information someone would need, we all know the state of most 101st re-enactors and this seemed a logical thing to try and help fix in the hobby! I then went onto a reproduce field and technical manuals, to help save the original onces from getting trashed in the field and at public displays. My stock list was growing... but then took a monumental leap forwards when our supplier of good quality authentic patches suddenly vanished, and as I had mentioned him in my 101st book, people turned to me to find the next best place to get them from... there simply wasn't one. All the major suppliers of kit just sold cheap crappy patches that sometimes barely resembled an original and when you've spent hundreds on a uniform because its authentic, to then stitch a trash POS patch on it felt wrong. So I purchased a top spec digitial embroidery machine and got to work... learning how to make the files on £2500 softward, learning about materials, stitch patterns, underlay and the like. To date now I have near over a 1000 different patches, all infantry divisions from ww1-ww2 are done, often many versions of each divisions. Every version of the 2nd and 35th inf divs from ww1 was well over 60 patches! 30+ versions of the 101st patch were done. Then came along another company in the US who started making 101st patches, but was charging 4 times my price... I scratched my head at audactity of this. HOW MUCH? To let you into a secret, if you'paying more than £10 for any SSI you're being ripped off, unless its made of some unusual, like the backing on the 101st type 8 for example. One thing I've always done with Miss Drop 44 stock is to keep the price down, yes of course I make a bit of pocket money for myself, but that usually goes into making the next items and so on. 

Moving on from all in infantry divisions and some USAAF musuems started requesting if I could do Squadron and Group patches for them to sell on. Of course! No problem at all, so those went into a few museums in the UK, I'm currently doing another order for a bomb group and all its 4 squadron right now for them (Ridgewell) I will show off those pics momentarily.

I also have a ludicrous You-tube channel all about the hobby of re-enacting etc, some of it is very satirical, you'll either love it or hate it - Like Marmite! Also there is some playing with militaria, unboxing re-enactment kit and occasionally something sensible! Miss Drop 44 channel.

So what's the point of this post? It's not a sale post, it's not a post of self promotion, it's a post of letting people know that if you need something that is missing the hobby, I'm here to help get it made. Especially of its patch related, I bet everyone one of us can name a patch thats either not being made currently, or is too expensive, or if they are being made they are either shite quality or BOTH!

Manuals can be a bit more tricky to make, as there is usually a break even point when ordering the quantity of them... however, depending on how many you want, if you have an original or even a good quality pdf then its not totally out of the question. 

I'll include a few pics below of my random things I've made and been asked to make for the hobby and lastly a photo of myself from last weekend at a show in the UK. 

If I can help with anything, please let me know.

Dan

 

[manayunkman]

Are the patches marked in some way so

you know the are current production? 

[MissDrop44]

15 hours ago, manayunkman said:

Are the patches marked in some way so

you know the are current production? 

One look at the back and it would tell you that they are modern manufactured. I've purposely left the backs to look so super modern, with very bright white tight bobbin thread. OR I also use black bobbin thread where almost the entire reverse is black, there is no mistaking the back as original unless you're totally clueless... and those sorts of collectors would be fooled by anything made in China. It really is only the front that look really tasty.