Post by 2nd Bat on Sept 29, 2020 17:45:56 GMT -5
It used to be that finding and buying WW2 era steel pots was so cheap that I never would have imagined that Chinese Replicas would be made and sold or that Surplus stores would either not have them or price them so high that fielding a group of them would be outta the budget.
Once I realized that the shape of a front seam WW2 era helmet is different that my Nam era steel pot it got even crazier. To tighten up the costume department I bought a dozen plastic GI helmets from a cheesy paintball supplier. I thought once over a liner, who'd notice? I got them and geese talk about cheap. They were worse that Halloween costume offerings and just as expensive. The shape was fine but they were paper thin and the shinny outer surface didn't even work under a camo net with garnish and no way they would hold up to rental or loaner use. After two events most ended up thrown out.
I am back doing a few conversion bolties and busy slipping out lots of resin paste dynaglass. With each application (a conversion rifle typically require five or six mixes) there is always some residue. I decided to slot any left overs onto the paper thin plastic helmets. Next thing you know they are acceptable textured and thick enough to hold their own. I wish I'd thought of it when I had a dozen. They all.need a paint job but truthfully they will work great for my purposes. Not as heavy of course as a steel pot and no frying an egg in them but even without a net and scrum they look pretty good.
I'll do some up with medic crosses or MPs and they will supplement my event supply room quite nicely.
Once I realized that the shape of a front seam WW2 era helmet is different that my Nam era steel pot it got even crazier. To tighten up the costume department I bought a dozen plastic GI helmets from a cheesy paintball supplier. I thought once over a liner, who'd notice? I got them and geese talk about cheap. They were worse that Halloween costume offerings and just as expensive. The shape was fine but they were paper thin and the shinny outer surface didn't even work under a camo net with garnish and no way they would hold up to rental or loaner use. After two events most ended up thrown out.
I am back doing a few conversion bolties and busy slipping out lots of resin paste dynaglass. With each application (a conversion rifle typically require five or six mixes) there is always some residue. I decided to slot any left overs onto the paper thin plastic helmets. Next thing you know they are acceptable textured and thick enough to hold their own. I wish I'd thought of it when I had a dozen. They all.need a paint job but truthfully they will work great for my purposes. Not as heavy of course as a steel pot and no frying an egg in them but even without a net and scrum they look pretty good.
I'll do some up with medic crosses or MPs and they will supplement my event supply room quite nicely.