here is my unit's web site it will help with your question's http://ivydiv_mp.tripod.com/ and here is a site to help with your research
smg.photobucket.com/albums/v98/faabala/WWII%20Military%20Police%20Photos/? and an another one
www.minnesooota.com/mp/dex0001.htm if you have any questions PLEASE do not hesitate to PM me
Sgt. Cody McCauley
4th MP plt. reenacted
PS courtesy of my frend Faabala:
The first thing is to figure out what unit you are doing. There are hundreds of variations. Go to my photobucket and pick one. Then you can figure out how to best reproduce it.
photobucket.com/albums/v98/faabala/WWII%20Military%20Police%20Photos/For the most part with some exceptions. Division MP Platoons used yellow bands. Some Army level MP BNs and Companies used red bands. White bands are seen on Post, Aviation, Station, and Corps level MPs.
If you are attached to a division use yellow band white letters
If you are assigned to a army post , corps, or air base use white band w/ white letters.
You'll need .......
flat insignia yellow and flat white. I use Humbrol model paint.
Small brushes (medium point and 1/2- 3/4 inch wide)
Wide rubber bands
Pencil
ruler
spray mount adhesive
Stencil template
img.photobucket.com/albums/v98/faabala/WWII%20Military%20Police%20Photos/MP%20Gear/Post-1-9811-template1.jpgMeasurements
The band on my 4th MP helmet is 1.25 inches
The Letters are 2.25 inches tall and .25 inches apart.
The band ends .25 inches from the letters
The bottom of the band is 1.75 inches from rim measured at the bales and 1.5 inches at the back
Print out the template so the letters are about 2 -2.25 inches high. Any bigger and it looks silly. Cut out template. Then I use spray mount to temporarily attach the letter M and the letter P to the helmet. Use the pencil to outline the template. Remove template.
Put two wide rubber bands around the helmet and use a ruler to space them 1 - 1.25 inches apart all the way around the helmet. Make sure the band flows evenly with the contour of the shell. Mark the band with the pencil and remove the rubber bands. Measure about a 1/4 inch on either side from the "MP" and close the band with the pencil.
Once everything is marked use the brushes to paint the band in Flat Insignia Yellow. Wait for it to dry completely. Then paint the "MP" in Flat White.
And you are done. It takes very little skill to do a nice job. Spray paint will never look good and masking only leads to bleed over.