ken88 Posted January 17, 2012 Share #1 Posted January 17, 2012 Hi folks, I need your advice. What do you do when you guys put helmets on mannequins? Do you let them wear the helmet using the helmet suspension? You see I have this helmet that I would like to display, the webbing is not rot, but the rivets are rusty. I want to avoid the webbing from tearing. So I had this idea of putting a sponge or something between the liner and the mannequin's head to replace the volume between liner and suspension.. Silly, I know, but I would like to preserve the helmet suspension at all costs, without the mannequin looking silly. Tips? Thanks! All the best, Ken Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeeper704 Posted January 17, 2012 Share #2 Posted January 17, 2012 If it is too fragile, I would leave it off and look for another helmet in beter condition to put on the display figure. Erwin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ken88 Posted January 17, 2012 Author Share #3 Posted January 17, 2012 Erwin, Not too fragile, I just want to make sure I don't put too much pressure on the webbing surrounding the rivets. I'm only looking for the best and easiest ways. So you're all letting the helmet rest on its suspension? It's not an emergency though, I'll manage.. Take care.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nack Posted January 17, 2012 Share #4 Posted January 17, 2012 So I had this idea of putting a sponge or something between the liner and the mannequin's head to replace the volume between liner and suspension.. Silly, I know, but I would like to preserve the helmet suspension at all costs, without the mannequin looking silly. That's what I do. I fold up cloth and stick it in there under the suspension so it supports the helmet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BEAST Posted January 17, 2012 Share #5 Posted January 17, 2012 What about putting a rod or screw into the top of the mannequin's head and having the top of the liner rest on it? The rod could have a ball or padding put on it to distribute the weight more. This is similar to how many helmet stands work. It would only have to protrude out of the mannequins head a few inches. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Croix de Guerre Posted January 17, 2012 Share #6 Posted January 17, 2012 My advice would be that if the webbing is too fragile, either don't display it on a mannequin head at all or only do it for short periods of time. OR If you could come up with a "crown" or some device that the helmet would actually sit on rather than have the weight borne by the suspension that might help. If the mannequin head is made of styrofoam you could push dowell rods with foam covered ends into the head in a pattern that would bear the weight by avoiding the web straps. :think: Just an idea. Good luck and if you come up with something, take some pictures for us to show us what you did. Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hawkdriver Posted January 17, 2012 Share #7 Posted January 17, 2012 Are you displaying it inside a steel pot? If so, why not get a different liner to put inside the steel pot as no one is going to see it anyway. If you are just displaying the liner, they weigh so little, you aren't going to hurt it sitting it on top of a mannequin head. I just did a WWII display and my dummy had a vietnam liner inside the WWII pot. No one noticed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArchangelDM Posted January 17, 2012 Share #8 Posted January 17, 2012 Hi Ken i had the same problem with displaying them in my cabinet, im also told that constant pressure on the liner webbing is not so good so i have found a great alternative, an acryllic helmet base. You can purchase them on ebay and the actual base that rests on the liner can be rested on the inside top of the liner not on the webbing. I have one, there a tad costly but look great on display, ill add the link mate Hope that helps http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Victorian-US-Bri...=item2eb40a28a0 Dean Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOLO Posted January 17, 2012 Share #9 Posted January 17, 2012 another way is to untie the adjustment string in the liner and put a small knit cap / beanie on the mannequin's head to support it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Hudson Posted January 17, 2012 Share #10 Posted January 17, 2012 I think the idea of folding up a piece of cloth and putting it between the suspension and the liner shell if going to be very cheap and effective. You can get bags of white terry cloth rags at auto parts dealers and they'd work well I suspect. I would not use sponge or foam as I'd be concerned about it having some impact on suspension parts it comes in contact with - but a white cloth is going to be pretty inert. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Too Much WW1 Militaria Posted January 17, 2012 Share #11 Posted January 17, 2012 Ken, As suggested here, cloth is good. For long-term display, stay away from foam heads! They give off gas that plays havoc with all kinds of headgear. What I like for long-term display are the glass heads that can be found at Pier 1 Imports. As far as taking the weight off the suspension, well that's a tricky one! Depending on how long the liner has been mated to the helmet, you could risk further damage by seperating the two. If you do, a soft cloth built up on the glass head would be a good way to display the pot alone. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ken88 Posted January 17, 2012 Author Share #12 Posted January 17, 2012 Thank you everyone! I am glad I asked.. very helpful answers here! The cloth seems to be the best choice for long term display, so I'll give it a try.. Nothing to worry about foam heads, it's a standard plastic dummy reinforced with glass fibre. The liner itself is strong enough to handle a bit of pressure, but the webbing inside is far from mint. I'l just untie the suspension to let the helmet rest on cloth. Thanks for all your input! All the best, Ken Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nack Posted January 17, 2012 Share #13 Posted January 17, 2012 The liner itself is strong enough to handle a bit of pressure, but the webbing inside is far from mint. I'l just untie the suspension to let the helmet rest on cloth. Eek. :w00t: Just put enough cloth in there so that it totally fills the space between the crown of the liner and the webbing suspension - there will be no need untie the string. Those strings have been there for 70 years and are easy to damage and really hard to put back the way they were. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ken88 Posted January 18, 2012 Author Share #14 Posted January 18, 2012 Eek. :w00t: Just put enough cloth in there so that it totally fills the space between the crown of the liner and the webbing suspension - there will be no need untie the string. Those strings have been there for 70 years and are easy to damage and really hard to put back the way they were. It's not that bad. Far from mint doesn't mean it's rotten. It'll do. Thanks y'all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M1Marksman Posted January 22, 2012 Share #15 Posted January 22, 2012 Why not buy repro hardware & restore the liner? Everything is available. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kammo-man Posted January 24, 2012 Share #16 Posted January 24, 2012 I would respectfully ask the mannequin not to damage the helmet and maybe refrain form going out in the rain whilst wearing it . And be home at a reasonable hour . owen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RustyCanteen Posted January 24, 2012 Share #17 Posted January 24, 2012 I would respectfully ask the mannequin not to damage the helmet and maybe refrain form going out in the rain whilst wearing it . And be home at a reasonable hour . owen You can tell them but they won't listen, I doubt you will even get a response. "In one ear and out the other". RC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kammo-man Posted January 25, 2012 Share #18 Posted January 25, 2012 Some of mine go missing in action for days on end . Its mustard . owen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt. Boghots Posted January 25, 2012 Share #19 Posted January 25, 2012 "" . . . stay away from foam heads! They give off gas that plays havoc with all kinds of headgear."" Same goes for the heads of most politicians . . . keep 'em away from your headgear !! Best regards John, Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PvtTamura Posted January 25, 2012 Share #20 Posted January 25, 2012 Just tell the mannequin he can't wear it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kammo-man Posted January 25, 2012 Share #21 Posted January 25, 2012 My guys said give the Kid a break , let him wear the helmet . owen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gitana Posted January 30, 2012 Share #22 Posted January 30, 2012 I'll only add to use unbleached cotton muslin (washed without any detergent) as the buffering agent. It's completely inert and won't add to the long-term problems. You'd also want to put a layer between the mannequin's noggin and the liner webbing. You can get it inexpensively from a fabric store like Joann's (not that I ever go there...). I've also tried the glass head from Pier 1 and it was too small. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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