WWI PAINTED HELMETS

[mkite93]

No name or division painted on this one that I can see. But a interesting camouflage / map scene on this one. 

[Pbaczuk]

Here is a helmet from Pvt. Walter Rhoads of the 138th Infatry Regiment. It is partof a grouping.

[rd12]

On 10/28/2021 at 1:01 AM, ispy said:

There's some stunners there rd12

Thanks!

[Pbaczuk]

Here is a nice British made painted helmet.

[Pbaczuk]

American made liner by Leatherworks of New York.

[KingBee]

I am going to restore a M1917 helmet shell, and need help finding the right paint. Any suggestions on where to purchase historicaly correct paint?

[warguy]

There is really no such thing available today as those paints had lead in them. I hope you aren't restoring a historical item…a rough painted or faded original helmet would be ruined historically and monetarily by a restoration. 

[ispy]

5 minutes ago, warguy said:

There is really no such thing available today as those paints had lead in them. I hope you aren't restoring a historical item…a rough painted or faded original helmet would be ruined historically and monetarily by a restoration. 

They still make & sell  lead based oil paint, any good art shop will have it. A lot of artists still use it fundamentally because of it's drying qualities.....it's fast drying.

[warguy]

3 hours ago, ispy said:

They still make & sell  lead based oil paint, any good art shop will have it. A lot of artists still use it fundamentally because of it's drying qualities.....it's fast drying.

Well now I learned something. I thought lead based paints went the way of asbestos. I guess artists are immune? Thanks for correcting me. I still would not re-paint an authentic painted WWI helmet myself though. 

[ispy]

4 hours ago, warguy said:

Well now I learned something. I thought lead based paints went the way of asbestos. I guess artists are immune? Thanks for correcting me. I still would not re-paint an authentic painted WWI helmet myself though. 

It's down from the pre-ban levels of 50% lead for domestic paint to now 1% and it's expensive at $40 - $50 a tube of 12ml

[E4B]

Here is my one and only WWI helmet.  British Brodie that has been painted.  I can’t identify the symbol on the top.  I built the stand to compliment the helmet.

[Latt]

A British Mk1 that I picked up with a unit flash. I believe the flash is for the 103rd regiment of the 26th division. From what I have read about the 26th division suggestd that they were unique in painting insignia on helmets based on regiment rather than division.

 

The helmet mark chosen for the 103rd Infantry was a green pine tree on a white diamond in honor of Maine, “The Pine Tree State.” This heraldry clearly represented the Northern New England contingent of the “Yankee” Division, combining the Maine state military crest with the YD diamond insignia on a white field (for infantry).