I decided that my ground troops needed some close air support so I am building an A4C Skyhawk. This is a tribute to my dad, who flew the A4, A7E Corsair II, and the S3 Viking in the US Navy.  I found some decals on eBay for the A4B with the squadron insignias for Attack Squadron 83, aka The Rampagers, my dad’s attack squadron. The ship is not the same, as he flew on The Kennedy, but I figured it’s close enough. I attached some photos of my dad on his first cruise in 1969, when he was 24. Even now he can’t believe the Navy let a 24-year old fly that jet. I told him the decals were for the B model and he told me that a friend of his that he learned to fly A4s with went to a B squadron and he went to a C squadron.  Apparently, The USS Shangri-La was so small and the instrument panel on the B model was so bad that the new guys were not allowed to land the A4B at night on the Shangri-La! The A4 was my dad’s favorite plane. I haven’t build an aircraft in awhile but I am putting some figure painting tricks to good use like oil washes to fill in panel lines and create some grime and hydraulic fluid on the wings and undercarriage.   The A4 I got from Hobby Boss didn’t come with a pilot so I had to order some.  After building some helos I have determined that a fast-mover has fewer parts and should be an easier build.   I love this era of aviation. This was truly the golden era of jet aviation. The technology was just so that it provided significant challenges to the aircrews and really required them to be the best. The aircraft had beautiful full-color markings and the danger was very real.  It also cost more to train a pilot than it did to build an aircraft. There was no doubt that the value of the aviator and his skills far surpassed the cost of the airframes. 

Interestingly the cartridge box is the .69 pattern box, and has the wooden block, and a whisk and pick. Those are typically for flintlocks. I'd guess that whoever used this set likely shot at North/South skirmish events, and probably crossed over between a flintlock and a percussion .69, like a conversion or 42. The wooden blocks are great for protecting the paper cartridges

Here are pics of the size..    

The cap pouch is reproduction as is the cartridge box. Interesting that it has the post Civil War wooden 50-70 ammo block installed. Looks like a great set to use for shooting ball out of your old 3-bander! ...here's my Jarnagin leathers I got at Shiloh in 1987

Ludwig,   Good points that I hadn't considered, I was focused on ID'ing the box itself.  Cerick, while there are no pictures of the markings in Dorsey's book here are what you would want to look for on the box.  Again, credit Dorsey.     OD

I’ve been collecting military field gear and edge weapons since I was in the national guard in the early 80’s. As I’m selling various items from my collection at shows,on  the forum, eBay, etc.    Currently I came across another Vietnam era Logan/Smyth MC1 paratrooper knife that I listed here earlier this afternoon.    I don’t want to admit this but I wouldn’t be surprised if I came across another MC1,  by Camille’s, Schrade/Walden and Logan/Smyth.      

There is definately crazing and flaking to the leather.  It is very stiff.  Not sure about the contents..

Here are side pictures of the eagle first and US emblem second.  

It looks like a re-enactor's / skirmishers set to me. a couple years of campaigning will make them look like this. Originals will usually have some crazing and flaking to the outer surface as well makers mark and inspectors' marks. Better reproductions will even exhibit correct period markings so that is not a definitive characteristic. Keep in mind large scale re-enacting has been going on since the 1960's, which would make a set dating from this time almost 60 years old. I sold my original set years ago. I have a reproduction set for living history events and it dates to the 1980's and it looks about like this. Just my opinion. 

I will try to take a picture.  Yes, I do believe someone used cleaner on them.