Miniature Medals on a Prince Charlie Jacket

**Father Bill** · 20th June 12, 09:08 AM

Not just magnets... rare earth magnets, attached to the back and also behind the lapel. Good luck getting them off.

**figheadair** · 20th June 12, 09:43 AM

I get around the problem by making a couple of loops to take the pin. This can be done with a fine needle and matching colour thread, the resulting loops are hardly visible when the medals aren't worn.

**Steve Ashton** · 20th June 12, 09:47 AM

My miniture medal set was made many years ago with the usual pin type with pinch backs.

I had an invitation to speak at a function. The invitation specified "Black Tie w/ full ribbons and medals".

Wanting to wear my Prince Charlie I was in the same quandry as you. Then I remembered the threads here about fastening kilt pins with rare earth magnets. I went to my junk box and found two old hard drives. Pryed them open and took out the magnets.

A little epoxy glue, about two hours total work, and I was ready.

**Cygnus** · 20th June 12, 10:19 AM

Kyle,

Rare earth magnets are strong - some of them are strong enough and small enough that I can't get them apart without using pliers (partly due to their small size and partly due to their strength). I don't believe you would be in any danger of losing your medals provided you use proper neodymium magnets, which can be found fairly easily doing an internet search.

**creagdhubh** · 20th June 12, 11:37 AM

Originally Posted by Cygnus

Kyle,

Rare earth magnets are strong - some of them are strong enough and small enough that I can't get them apart without using pliers (partly due to their small size and partly due to their strength). I don't believe you would be in any danger of losing your medals provided you use proper neodymium magnets, which can be found fairly easily doing an internet search.

Thanks, Cygnus!

**creagdhubh** · 20th June 12, 11:42 AM

Steve,

May I ask what type of wings you have pinned just above your miniature medals? I have parachutist wings, in which I earned through the U.S. Marine Corps whilst attending "Jump School" at Ft. Benning, Georgia. I wear them in the same manner as you when wearing medals (Marine Corps Regs!). I'm only curious, and my intent is surely not to derail the thread too far off-topic.

At my step-father's funeral this past April. He was a combat Marine in Vietnam.

Semper Fidelis,

**English Bloke** · 20th June 12, 12:40 PM

Teeny thread loops to carry the pin is how it's done on uniforms in Britain. Just make sure the thread is a matching colour.

Edit: Sorry Peter, I see you beat me to it. I missed page 2

**The Wizard of BC** · 20th June 12, 12:55 PM

Kyle,

The Wings with my medals are US Army Aviator Wings. I do not have a miniature set of Naval Aviator wings and I cannot find miniature USMC Combat Air Crew wings. (I'm authorized all three)
Also please note that while here in Canada I only wear the miniatures of awards. I do not wear the "I was there" medals. This is due to the respect I hold for my Canadian hosts. In Canada a person may have served for 30 years and seen combat three or four times yet would wear only one, or possibly two, medals. Our system looks gaudy to them.

So yes, I play it down while in my adopted country. I get enough questions as it is.

**Geoff Withnell** · 20th June 12, 12:57 PM

I use the Medals of America miniatures with magnetic backs. They don't come off by accident, but are reasonbly easy to remove by gripping the back with one hand, and the medals with the other, and sliding them apart, rather than pulling. I have never had a problem with the magnets not holding, through several Marince Corps Birthday Balls, and several other occasions associated with my job at a Department of Defense agency.

**creagdhubh** · 20th June 12, 12:58 PM

Originally Posted by The Wizard of BC

Kyle,

The Wings with my medals are US Army Aviator Wings. I do not have a miniature set of Naval Aviator wings and I cannot find miniature USMC Combat Air Crew wings. (I'm authorized all three)
Also please note that while here in Canada I only wear the miniatures of awards. I do not wear the "I was there" medals. This is due to the respect I hold for my Canadian hosts. In Canada a person may have served for 30 years and seen combat three or four times yet would wear only one, or possibly two, medals. Our system looks gaudy to them.

So yes, I play it down while in my adopted country. I get enough questions as it is.

Wonderful! Thanks, Steve.

Cheers,