Chest, Ice Storage: A Reenactor's Friend in Bivouac
Military re-enactors, how many times have you been on a hot bivouac but can't bring along a civvy cooler full of ice and cold drinks because it doesn't fit the impression? Or if you are a military vehicle collector showing off your Cold War-era vehicle at a summer show, how nice would it be to have a cooler full of cold drinks that fits in with your vehicle theme?
Now you can. Inspired by a 2018 military vehicle event on a hot day while watching Allied and Axis troops sneaking cold refreshments, I decided to build a new custom-made Waffenkiste Designs wooden crate constructed to sturdy military specifications--which also disguises inside a civilian ice chest cooler, ready for your ice and drinks.
I made it somewhat generic for World War 2 reenactors in all armies, but it can also fit Cold War impressions. It's made for bivouacs when displaying equipment at public events, and wooden transport crates are needed for an accurate static impression. It's also perfect for the military vehicle community, sitting in the back of a restored truck, jeep, or APC.
The wooden box is made of pine, spruce, and oak. The outside is built to resemble like a full-size military crate. But inside is a new Igloo Marine Contour 25-qt (23 liter) plastic cooler, ready for use on a hot day whilst wearing itchy and hot wool uniforms.
The bottom and top are made of pressure-treated pine to help preserve the box if it gets wet from melting ice or damp ground. The sides are common grade spruce wood. Cleats all around keep it elevated above the ground. The bottom cleats are cut from pressure-treated pine, and relieved at each corner with a 45 degree cut. There are two sturdy end handles made of red oak, well attached to the box by large screws, and relieved at each end with a 45 degree cut..
The robust box is painted in a semi-gloss olive drab (Rapco 23070) color. Hardware is commercial box hardware, painted in semi-gloss black, cured in an oven. The large front latch is a Winco series GN 832 steel toggle, clamp size 200. The interior is finished in two coats of clear satin polyurethane for waterproofing. Stencils are painted in semi-gloss black paint, or stamped non-porous ink.
The Igloo Marine Contour cooler body is designed to be removed entirely from the box for ice drainage. The cooler lid is permanently attached to the crate top. The cooler is held securely in place internally by five small blocks, so the cooler lid will always strike accurately when closing, keeping the contents cold. There are two discreet drain holes in the bottom of the wooden box to handle interior spills. The interior is not made to hold ice by itself, but rather only this Igloo cooler that is full of ice and beverages. The wooden box is built around the cooler, so a Igloo Contour 25-qt cooler is the only one that will fit inside the box, or one with exact similar dimensions. Please note: this Igloo cooler does NOT come with an internal drain.
Now you can. Inspired by a 2018 military vehicle event on a hot day while watching Allied and Axis troops sneaking cold refreshments, I decided to build a new custom-made Waffenkiste Designs wooden crate constructed to sturdy military specifications--which also disguises inside a civilian ice chest cooler, ready for your ice and drinks.
I made it somewhat generic for World War 2 reenactors in all armies, but it can also fit Cold War impressions. It's made for bivouacs when displaying equipment at public events, and wooden transport crates are needed for an accurate static impression. It's also perfect for the military vehicle community, sitting in the back of a restored truck, jeep, or APC.
The wooden box is made of pine, spruce, and oak. The outside is built to resemble like a full-size military crate. But inside is a new Igloo Marine Contour 25-qt (23 liter) plastic cooler, ready for use on a hot day whilst wearing itchy and hot wool uniforms.
The bottom and top are made of pressure-treated pine to help preserve the box if it gets wet from melting ice or damp ground. The sides are common grade spruce wood. Cleats all around keep it elevated above the ground. The bottom cleats are cut from pressure-treated pine, and relieved at each corner with a 45 degree cut. There are two sturdy end handles made of red oak, well attached to the box by large screws, and relieved at each end with a 45 degree cut..
The robust box is painted in a semi-gloss olive drab (Rapco 23070) color. Hardware is commercial box hardware, painted in semi-gloss black, cured in an oven. The large front latch is a Winco series GN 832 steel toggle, clamp size 200. The interior is finished in two coats of clear satin polyurethane for waterproofing. Stencils are painted in semi-gloss black paint, or stamped non-porous ink.
The Igloo Marine Contour cooler body is designed to be removed entirely from the box for ice drainage. The cooler lid is permanently attached to the crate top. The cooler is held securely in place internally by five small blocks, so the cooler lid will always strike accurately when closing, keeping the contents cold. There are two discreet drain holes in the bottom of the wooden box to handle interior spills. The interior is not made to hold ice by itself, but rather only this Igloo cooler that is full of ice and beverages. The wooden box is built around the cooler, so a Igloo Contour 25-qt cooler is the only one that will fit inside the box, or one with exact similar dimensions. Please note: this Igloo cooler does NOT come with an internal drain.
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Specifications
Interior dimensions of cooler: 17.0-in L x 9.0 W x 11.0 H
Exterior dimensions of wood box: 26 1/4-in L x 16 1/2 W x 16 1/4 H
Weight of box and cooler combined (empty): 35 lbs.
How to order
The example illustrated on this page is the prototype chest, created to see if there is interest in this kind of reenactor unit comfort equipment, or for vintage military vehicle owners. If I reach my price point, I will make a few more of these and put them up for eBay bids. They will resemble this box, but I am open to other suggestions, such as German logistical boxes. Or if there is interest in using better and more expensive coolers, such as a Yeti, Orca, Kysek, Driftsun, Igloo Yukon, or Palm coolers, but the final price will reflect the additional costs.
Price: US$295.00. Shipping weight (not included in price) will be about 38 lbs.
Please email me for your shipping costs, as they will vary, most likely via UPS Ground service. Domestic US/Canada shipping addresses are favored; international sales on a case-by-case basis only (prohibitive shipping costs).
Fall 2024: I have discontinued manufacturing this custom item.
Interior dimensions of cooler: 17.0-in L x 9.0 W x 11.0 H
Exterior dimensions of wood box: 26 1/4-in L x 16 1/2 W x 16 1/4 H
Weight of box and cooler combined (empty): 35 lbs.
How to order
The example illustrated on this page is the prototype chest, created to see if there is interest in this kind of reenactor unit comfort equipment, or for vintage military vehicle owners. If I reach my price point, I will make a few more of these and put them up for eBay bids. They will resemble this box, but I am open to other suggestions, such as German logistical boxes. Or if there is interest in using better and more expensive coolers, such as a Yeti, Orca, Kysek, Driftsun, Igloo Yukon, or Palm coolers, but the final price will reflect the additional costs.
Price: US$295.00. Shipping weight (not included in price) will be about 38 lbs.
Please email me for your shipping costs, as they will vary, most likely via UPS Ground service. Domestic US/Canada shipping addresses are favored; international sales on a case-by-case basis only (prohibitive shipping costs).
Fall 2024: I have discontinued manufacturing this custom item.
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