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Chris Hobbs, German Helmet Restorer at Artesan Studios
When I was asked to write a piece for the Panzer grenadier website about my helmet re-spraying I thought fantastic, shouldn’t be a problem. When I actually thought about it though I realised I hadn’t written anything longer than my signature since leaving college, and that was a while ago.
So how does one find ones-self re-spraying helmets? Well combine running your own china and ceramic restoration business for nearly 11 years, making military models since you were old enough to hold a paint brush and a love of militaria and military history and a your somewhere close. After trying my hand at selling reproduction militaria, mainly uniforms and equipment to collectors and re-enactors I soon realised that unless you bought in large quantities it was difficult to not only sell the items that you had but also to find a market place where you could show your wares. Ebay seemed an ideal solution but it seems it’s not PC to sell German militairia and after being thrown off several times I thought it best to call it a day. Helmet spraying though seemed like it could be a niche market and a chance to make a little extra money while allowing collectors and re-enactors the chance to obtain something either a little bit different or something that would otherwise be too expensive.
The idea is to supply re-enactors, collectors or military vehicle enthusiast’s authentic looking helmets at a fraction of the cost of an original. Each helmet is finished specifically to the buyers needs and is usually based on photos that the individual supplies. Customers can either supply their own helmet shells to be re-sprayed or have one of the M35 or FJ Para helmets that I can obtain re-worked. M40 and M42 helmets may also be available but the costs vary greatly especially when it comes to the larger shell sizes. The advantage with the repro helmets is the buyer can specify the size. Once I know what I’m working on then the fun can begin and there are plenty of options to choose from if someone wasn’t quite certain what they were after. Choose the branch of service, smooth or textured finish, snow, desert or camo over sprays, half or full chicken wire baskets, single or double decal, the list goes on. All decals are dry transfer types and were recommended by the ‘second battle group’ after the initial ones I was trying turned out to be a bit of a disappointment. The range of these decals is vast and if the guy I get them from hasn’t actually got one that a customer requires then chances are he can make one up. Finally once everything is on the whole thing is aged and weathered to give it a battle worn and original look. True it’s not an original but if like myself you’ve got kids and a mortgage then it’s a great way to get a fantastic looking helmet at an affordable price.
The M35 SS single decal was for a customer who was having an original Kubelwagon restored and wanted a helmet to have inside the vehicle when it was on public display. Having an original £1000+ helmet lying around was too big a risk and a brand new repro would not have been in keeping with the look he was trying to achieve. The helmet itself is one of the repros I have on offer, the shell was re-sprayed with several coats of field grey and given a textured finish. The second pattern decal was applied and then the half chicken wire basket as per the buyers request. Once all this was in place the whole thing was weathered so it would not look out of place along side the other original items he had within the jeep.
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“After seeing Chris's advert regarding reproduction weathered helmets and seeing the picture of a single decal SS helmet I immediately got in touch and ordered this helmet.
I also asked him to construct a 'half basket' of chicken wire (large mesh) for me to add authenticity of a typical 'Normandy' battle hardened helmet. When the helmet arrived I was 'gob smacked' on how real it looked, he did not try to hide the fact it was reproduction but what a fantastic job he made at such a very small cost. It’s a MUST for someone trying to portray a realistic battle hardened look! At the moment he is doing a German Camo Para lid for me and I can't wait to see that !!!!!!!!! “
Mark S. - Kubel owner and collector |
The M1938 FJ Para helmet pictured is again one of the repro helmets I can supply. The customer had sent a picture of a helmet he wished me to copy so I ordered one in the size required and waited for it to turn up on my doorstep. When the helmet arrived it was a very deep shade of blue so the whole thing was given between 4 and 6 coats of a colour closer to the luftwaffe blue grey and the decals added (in this case a second pattern luftwaffe eagle and tricolour). Once this had been given time to dry a textured tan coat was applied to the outside of the shell. This was the first time I’d tried a camo scheme and as each of the colours went on I kept thinking, “Wow, this looks a little bright”. However once the dark earth and field green had dried slightly I then started to blend the edges and subdue the whole thing to tone down the colours, when this was done I was much happier with the results. The next step was to add the chicken wire basket, the hardest part of which was to get the heavy gauge wire in place for the actual chicken wire to be placed onto. The wire is really thick but I think that the hard work pays off as it looks much better than if I had used a much thinner piece. Once everything was in place the whole thing went through the weathering process. As the client had asked for a heavily aged example I really look my time and added plenty of scrapes, scratches and rust. The amount of weathering is entirely down to the individual, helmets can either have a straight out of the factory look to them or a battle and time worn finish.
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"This helmet was a collaboration between Chris and myself, with me giving airy-fairy demands and Chris turning them into substance. All through the process I was sent step-by-step photographs, and what photographs!! Not your usual grainy eBay type blurs but full screen digital works of art. The end result of this painstaking process is that I am now the immensely proud owner of what, to me, is a near perfect copy of a rare helmet that would cost around the £3000 mark at the International."
Mr T Pullen. |
Helmets, their colour and finishes are always a good subject for debate. Through out the course of the war, colours and shades changed, application methods varied enormously and camo and colour schemes were sometimes done on an individual basis. What one customer requires may be totally different to that of someone else. It is for this reason that as much information is obtained from the buyer before hand so the helmet is a very personal thing to the individual.
Lastly when it comes to helmets I treat every day as a school day and I’m always trying to find out more information and gain more knowledge. The greater my understanding of this iconic item then hopefully the further my work will progress. For more information on ordering, prices and payment methods then please either e-mail me on chrisjohn.hobbs@btinternet.com or ring me on 01642 801020 Monday-Friday 9 till 5. Equally if you have any knowledge you like to pass on please get in touch.
Mr Chris Hobbs - Artisan Studios
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