Pretty interesting SPH-4 find

[Mikeym_us]

Got this in yesterday and only paid $133 for it. Has white earcups with the retainer you can find with SPH-3C's and the cord going to the mic has a built-in amplifier block and the drop cord has the navy end on it. Don't really know what the story is with this one or if anyone else ran into one of these as I've never ran into this setup before. 

20250809_212413.heic 20250809_212430.heic 20250809_212446.heic 20250809_212515.heic 20250809_212543.heic

[Mikeym_us]

I just got started on stripping the paint on this but don't know why the pictures didn't upload from my phone  in the first post.

[Mikeym_us]

Paint 90% removed and it turns out this helmet used to belong to the USFS when they were flying SH-3 SeaKing helicopters which would explain the Amp block and the drop cord. Did have to remove parts then clean under them and re-install again at the same time.

[Mikeym_us]

paint 100% removed. I know in the pictures it looks dull but after a light coat of machine oil it looks a little better color wise. Just need to order the tracks and mounting hardware to finish this up as I already have a visor for it.

[Mikeym_us]

here is my helmet next to a painted example I have the color on the new helmet looks nice.

[Edward C Bell]

Nice job on taking off the paint!

[Mikeym_us]

2 hours ago, Edward C Bell said:

Nice job on taking off the paint!

Didn't take long as the Acetone did a quick job on that black spraypaint.  That other helmet I have the paint will need to be chemically stripped as the silver paint on that is I suspect a Automotive lacquer paint which is thicker and I need to completely remove everything on it  before I do the stripping.

[Mikeym_us]

Visor tracks arrived and I installed the "Cobra" visor. Also took a bit of time to install the original Anvis mount onto the visor.

[Mikeym_us]

Put the velcro on and installed the original battery pack and added a lip light so this helmet is now complete. Plus I had found a original ICS control box for this particular coms configuration for use with a SH-3 SeaKing helicopter. And the NODs on the helmet came off of my HGU-84 it's the same repro unit I bought for it.

[hink441]

Very nice job!!!

 

Can you show a picture of the ICS control box ? I’m not familiar with that piece of equipment. Always thought the AIC-14 was the standard for most USN helos, but I guess it could be USAF. 

[Mikeym_us]

1 hour ago, hink441 said:

Very nice job!!!

 

Can you show a picture of the ICS control box ? I’m not familiar with that piece of equipment. Always thought the AIC-14 was the standard for most USN helos, but I guess it could be USAF. 

That particular one is USN for the SH-3 Seaking. I'll get a picture later of it. I have ones also for use with the Blackhawk helicopters. USFS were using surplus Seaking helicopters for a while when they left fleet service in the 90's.

[Mikeym_us]

here is the picture if the ICS controls. Technically you could hook a Navy fighter pilot mask and helmet into this and use it in a Seaking helicopter using this plug end on the mask cord fits into this.