Show us your helmets

[WolfgangKessler]

Thanks,it was worth it I guess they look awesome.Did you do your lids? Very nice collection,I like the one with the single bailing wire ,very cool

Thanks mate. Yeah, I do my own lids. The ones that I didn't do are the plain M42 closest to the camera, that's a Grigsby, the M40 next to her and the apple green M35 on the upper shelf. The 2 M42s at the end of the bottom shelf, I still have to refurb. I also have 2 more lids coming. Another M42 and a M35.

[screamingg eagle]

where do you find your bailing wire?

[WolfgangKessler]

I went and bought 12 gauge wire from Home Depot, then made the bail. I think it's for drop ceilings, so look in that department. The bail is all one piece, bent in the same fashion as when a breadbag strap is used on a hemlet.

I then soaked it in a bucket of white vinegar and bleach to remove the galvanize. About 50% / 50% mix.

Be warned though, I nearly killed myself with the fumes and my frau won't let me do it in the house anymore!

[landser32]

I recently picked up an original M40 shell as well as a new repro Czech liner and decided that I wanted to get a DAK/Med finish without killing myself attempting it in the process.

So I decided to send it to Hessen since they offer to repaint your shell, as well as a choice of finishes. so I went with the their Afrika/Southern front finish.

Within 2 weeks, it finally arrived, and all that I did in addition was to age the liner, and applied some old water transfer decals I had lying around. The national eagle decal I found in a surplus store just by chance. The owner told me that they turned color with age, but I think it may be for KM. Regardless, I thought it would look cool on a Tropical finish, so here it is..

[landser32]

Here's a shot of the front of the helmet as well..

[Sudamerika]

Hi mate,
How did you age the liner?

cheers

Erich

[landser32]

This is what I discovered while looking for some aging leather tricks on the net, so I bought it. I have to say that it definitely does the trick, and the more you apply it onto any type of light leather, the more it darkens it..

If you really want to go crazy and get it really dark, apply afterwards, a little shoe polish, followed by some mink and olive oil. This helps out and softens the leather as well.

http://saddlesource.com/proddetail.asp?prod=528014

[screamingg eagle]

I use brown shoe polish mixed with some water,less water makes the leather darker,"aged" more.More water less dark,"aged" less

[aeros66]

Thanks for the tips on the aging, guys- I was wondering that about the leather myself!

As a fan of antiques in general, and obviously of late, WW2 militaria- I can't stand brand new- looking things. Unfortunately the prices of "real deal" items (and who knows now if it REALLY is "real") are astronomical, the only alternative is all these repop items.

I bought a helm from barry lyndon on ebay, its pretty cool- I was gonna take a photo, but heck, the ones on ebay are good enough- looks good in real life. But it is WAY too new looking...I want to try all these things I've seen on this thread to it-
Throw it in the back of the truck in a box with screwdrivers and tools, in the back yard, spray fertilizer acid on it, wire it, etc and age the heck out of it to make it cool.

AMAZING lids on here- the realism is pretty insane...great jobs!

[landser32]

Here's a pic of an original M42 shell with a repro liner that also I picked up from Hessen. After I used just the leather darkening oil from the link, and as you can see, the leather liner happened to turn out not too bad.. Now If you're a helmet nut like I am, this may not be a bad investment to add to your stahlhelm bag of tricks..

[WolfgangKessler]

Nice work, Landser!

[Fern]

I don't think the German Army used to order equipment then store it for about 50 years until it got the right aged look then delivered it to the troops. AFAIK German recruits got NEW equipment and veteran's old equipment was replaced by new one when worn out.

In short, better to get a new item and let it to age naturally by using it during reenactments. I cannot understand the obsession of most people about gettiing that perfect 50-year-old look.

[Grabenkater]

Fern,

Ageing does not always need to look 50 years old.


I wear my items, but I also weather them to the point that I do not look like every other cookie cutter impression out there.

[landser32]

I think the confusion stems from the term "age" when it should correctly be "weathered" and this was pointed out in a thread from last year actually.

It's easy to use either term, but what we strive for is to weather our gear, so we don't have that cookie cutter look, especially since here on the EC, reenacments lately have been far and few in between. So unless you're a vampire or a Naaazzi zombie, weathering your gear via weekend events may take about 100 years.. Now who's got that kinda patience?

[chris1547]

Very nice Landser!!!