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Post by neoptolemus on Sept 12, 2007 23:17:33 GMT -5
I just received my M38 helmet from Spearhead Militaria after winning it in an auction on eBay. I happened to win it at a low price so when I received the helmet, I was worried that Barry (if that is his real name) had stuck me with a crappy item because I ended up low balling him. The below picture is from a camera phone so I apologize for the quality, but it shows the unusual finish of the helmet. The paint appears to have dried poorly and wound up "scaling". Since I paid over 50 bucks for the helmet, I am a little concerned that this was not mentioned in the auction, has anyone else encountered something like it?  Also, how should the helmet fit? Mine is a size 60 liner (supposedly large) yet the rim cuts off slightly above the ear. Help is appreciated since I need to make a claim ASAP |
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Post by binarypunisher on Sept 12, 2007 23:49:26 GMT -5
The scaling is definately interesting. But for $50, I wouldnt complain - hell, Ill buy it off you if you dont want it!
Just repaint it.
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Adler69
Master sergeant 
Legio Patria Nostra
Posts: 2,859
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Post by Adler69 on Sept 12, 2007 23:58:56 GMT -5
Looks to me like the paint on the helmet was still wet when they packed it in bubble wrap and shipped it.
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Adler69
Master sergeant
Legio Patria Nostra
Posts: 2,859
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Post by Adler69 on Sept 13, 2007 0:13:42 GMT -5
Also, how should the helmet fit? Mine is a size 60 liner (supposedly large) yet the rim cuts off slightly above the ear.
The fit is fine, the helmet should come just above your eyebrows, and just cover the top of the ears. FJs on the Ost Front had problems their first winter because they did not have toques issued to them and the tops of their ears would freeze to the helmets.
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click
Sergeant
Company G, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division
Posts: 1,764
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Post by click on Sept 13, 2007 7:59:44 GMT -5
[quote author=adler69 board=axis thread=1189657053 post=1189660422) FJs on the Ost Front had problems their first winter because they did not have toques issued to them and the tops of their ears would freeze to the helmets. [/quote] That sounds REALLY painful.  Click |
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Post by neoptolemus on Sept 13, 2007 21:15:47 GMT -5
Adler you were right! I got an email back from the retailer after I complained and he apologized saying I received the wrong helmet (size 58), and that the finish was due to plastic touching the wet paint.
As compensation, I get another helmet sent to me in the correct size (I return the current one I have after receiving the next), and I get a free helmet cover!
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Gerry
Master sergeant
Wilkommen zu Italien!
Posts: 819
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Post by Gerry on Sept 13, 2007 23:35:41 GMT -5
Do you mean Spearhead militaria? I received a helmet from him that was horribly Fabricated. I am planning on sending it back. I bought one from him a while ago that is perfect and super comfortable. The 2 Helmets are obviously made different, The helmet on the left is my first helmet and the one with the Afrika paint is the problem one  Strike a line along the stitching in the liner and you'll see how off center the spanner bolts are, the chin strap runs along my ear! and the helmet rides way to high on my dome!  Not like Barry, to sell such a poorly made Item I'm sure he'll make good on it. |
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Post by neoptolemus on Sept 13, 2007 23:46:26 GMT -5
I did indeed mean Spearhead (Spear, Trident, both pointy right?). He did say that he had problems with the last set so I am sure I will order again.
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Post by binarypunisher on Sept 26, 2007 22:12:52 GMT -5
The shell shape looks different too from the picture, is the second helmet have a much more angled curve by the eyes where it angles up? Not sure if that made any sense.
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KRaddatz
Private 1st Class
505th
Posts: 589
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Post by KRaddatz on Sept 27, 2007 7:29:20 GMT -5
yeah i see it, its present on the first one but very slightly, the second one you see that its cut
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Gerry
Master sergeant
Wilkommen zu Italien!
Posts: 819
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Post by Gerry on Sept 27, 2007 8:21:41 GMT -5
Decided it wasnt worth the $38 to send a $62 helmet back to Hong Kong, so I used it as a guinea pig for my first attempt at Weathering/painting a helmet! Didn't come out too bad!  |
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Post by binarypunisher on Sept 27, 2007 11:36:20 GMT -5
Paint over the eagle...its what they did.
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Lev
Private 1st Class
Posts: 454
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Post by Lev on Sept 27, 2007 12:12:31 GMT -5
Best way to start off with a helmet refurb is to toally strip it first. I'd even go as far as sand blasting the paint off if you can.
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Post by binarypunisher on Sept 27, 2007 14:53:34 GMT -5
I wouldnt say you need to go that far...its not like wartime helmets were anywhere near perfect. Are you wanting to do an DAK or Italian impression? I say you should camo the helmet up...tan was the base I used and I think it looks like a pretty good Sicilian camo (I was going for Normandy though..) Heres what I did:  I was going for this:  |
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Post by neoptolemus on Sept 27, 2007 20:19:59 GMT -5
I have yet to hear back from him, so I will message him again in a few days.
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Gerry
Master sergeant
Wilkommen zu Italien!
Posts: 819
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Post by Gerry on Sept 27, 2007 22:20:54 GMT -5
His Service and communication has dropped off considerably the last couple of months, I'm not sure if he is just getting too busy or something! His E-bay add states a 4-7 day delivery time yet I am now still waiting for the order I paid for on the 11th. I have E-mailed him asking for a location on my order and have not heard anything yet. I needed the order for this weekend it looks like I'll have to change my gameplan unless it miraclously shows up tomorrow! binarypunisher... your Helmet needs a lot of work!! Check this page out for some helpful tips on rusting and aging metal so that the bailing wire doesnt look like you just left the dry cleaners www.military-steel-helmets-and-decals.com/decal_and_helmet_aging_tips.htmand go to home depot and buy some sand additive to give texture to your helmet, it costs about $2 along with some coarse steelwool. By the way Many Fallschirmjager were proud of their Luftwaffe Eagle and painted around it or if they sprayed it they would use a triangular template to keep from covering it over as did the Heer and Kriegsmarine. Yes... I am Aiming for a Africa/Sicily for my Tropical Impression. Check out this guys helmet his prices are pretty good too! stores.ebay.com/custom-helmets |
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Post by binarypunisher on Sept 27, 2007 23:10:18 GMT -5
By the way Many Fallschirmjager were proud of their Luftwaffe Eagle and painted around it or if they sprayed it they would use a triangular template to keep from covering it over as did the Heer and Kriegsmarine. Go look at lots of photos of original helmets and you will find that it was very rare to find that Eagle had NOT been painted over. I can post my collection of cammo'd helmets up here if you like, and you can go ahead and count the eagles. |
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KRaddatz
Private 1st Class
505th
Posts: 589
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Post by KRaddatz on Sept 28, 2007 8:02:12 GMT -5
he just said that...
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Post by binarypunisher on Sept 28, 2007 9:54:46 GMT -5
I forgot a word, its been edited to clarify. Go read it again.
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Gerry
Master sergeant
Wilkommen zu Italien!
Posts: 819
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Post by Gerry on Sept 28, 2007 14:46:33 GMT -5
By the way Many Fallschirmjager were proud of their Luftwaffe Eagle and painted around it or if they sprayed it they would use a triangular template to keep from covering it over as did the Heer and Kriegsmarine. Go look at lots of photos of original helmets and you will find that it was very rare to find that Eagle had NOT been painted over. I can post my collection of cammo'd helmets up here if you like, and you can go ahead and count the eagles. Whatever you say guy! |
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Post by Capt. Zak on Sept 29, 2007 11:04:02 GMT -5
Remember that orders were given to remove decals from helmets. Not all soldats followed those orders. I'm sure if a helmet lacked decals the whole thing got painted. If decals were present, they would either paint over them, or paint around them. Especially in the Luftwaffe, the eagle (& brown leather gear) was a status symbol. It meant you were around for a while and a combat veteran.
I have seen plenty of original camo helmets that had the tricolor shield painted over but not the luft eagle.
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Post by binarypunisher on Sept 29, 2007 11:30:35 GMT -5
And at least in Normandy, helmets were not painted individually - someone in the unit painted them all.
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2nd Bat
Master sergeant
Posts: 11,813
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Post by 2nd Bat on Sept 29, 2007 13:27:17 GMT -5
Brian, I have quite a bit of the textured spray paint if you wanted to squirt some on for more of the mottled look you're striving for. Your coat hanger metal will quickly oxidize in the elements for more of a seasoned look.
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Post by binarypunisher on Sept 29, 2007 16:19:47 GMT -5
That would be great, but I will probably end up using sawdust.
I think I am going to stick my helmet in my dorm room!
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