opinions on makers stamps ect.
Posted: Tue Sep 03, 2013 1:03 pm
I recently bought a M40/55 Finnish contract stahlhelm. These are German made but minus any manufacturer Stampings..I ordered everything I need to refurbish this helmet to make it a M40 SS single decal. I'm looking for the most probable markings found in a reissued M40. I plan to stamp this one my self and would like to be as accurate as possible. I'm sure with some effort I can track down number and letter stamps with the correct look and size. Any recommendations?
On a side note: these helmets were painted with a pink primer,then coated grey. I'm going to buff that out entirely with very fine grade paper by hand,and then coat it once with 1944 Militaria's feld dunkel for M35s and M40's. (early war) then another layer,probably whitewash for winter combat,then again with a few coats of the Feld dunkel again and apply the decal.(with the idea that the decal was not factory done but a private purchase) then scuff and bang up the helmet a bit for the diffrent layers to show so it looks as though it's seen some Shiessa.
And then finally do woodchip camo and scuff that a bit so the decal shows through a bit.
Opinions?
On a side note: these helmets were painted with a pink primer,then coated grey. I'm going to buff that out entirely with very fine grade paper by hand,and then coat it once with 1944 Militaria's feld dunkel for M35s and M40's. (early war) then another layer,probably whitewash for winter combat,then again with a few coats of the Feld dunkel again and apply the decal.(with the idea that the decal was not factory done but a private purchase) then scuff and bang up the helmet a bit for the diffrent layers to show so it looks as though it's seen some Shiessa.
And then finally do woodchip camo and scuff that a bit so the decal shows through a bit.
Opinions?