Navy helmet.

[gunto]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/251138951525...9#ht_500wt_922
Just won this helmet .
Is the paint original ?
I see traces of the yellow paint from the anchor under the bluish paint.
Thanks in regards

[Ryukyutunnelrat]

Really hard to tell from the photos. Maybe once you get it you can post better pictures.

David.

[gunto]

Got the helmet.
The god thing is :Its a od navy helmet with yellow stenciled anchor.
The bad thing is : it has a layer of brown paint and then the blueish grey paint with small withe dots in it? Original paint?
There is original od paint under the rim of the liner.
The liner was not taken out for the brown and bluish grey paint. Bad?
The bluish grey has wrinkled surface ,like it was exposed to heat?

[gunto]

[Jareth]

Blue/gray paint looks like it has age. How old is the question. Could be period done. Many helmets had over paints in solid colors. White dots? Sounds like flecks/over spray from a paint roller used on house painting interiors. The navy liner alone is worth it. Add up chinstraps & I think you did well

[gunto]

Thanks .
There is no stamps or size stamps on the liner, so its sure navy.
It has 2 small pillows with stuffed with straw , 1 pillow is missing
The chinstrap is near complete , imo.

[gunto]

This is how the helmet looks now

[Ryukyutunnelrat]

WOW!!!!!you were able to remove the paint to uncover the original paint/anchor. Thats pretty amazing and im sure took alot of work.

[gunto]

Thanks , I just love it more and more when I strip the paint.

So far I have used 400 cottonsticks ,some hours ,water and some magic spray.
There is only some left on the one side prox. 1/3 , so in a couple of days it will be finished.

The chinstrap is complete , since there is a cross stitching at the ends.

Overall a very nice complete helmet.


Br
Thomas

[Jareth]

Looks great!

[kaigunair]

WOW, what is that "magic spray" you are using? Do you think the blue paint is latex based and the original paint oil based?

A great example of a good piece going to the RIGHT collector at the right price. Always excited to see a piece restored !

[gunto]

Thanks, I was a little afraid if I was possible.

I will take some photos when finished.

The spray is based on citrus oil and is ph neutral.
I did need to sand it light ,before useing the spray. It was sprayed in a container and cotton sticks was used . Im on 650 now

I did a repair on the liner , the prongs from the front was weared thrugh the leather and the stitching was near breaking + some leather around the stitching. I glued a piece of leather that was square with hole for the prongs and with a cut ,to avoid bending the prongs. This did a lot for the liner. The front was moving when helmet was handled.

This was a bargian , once again on fleabay.

[gunto]

1100 cottonsticks was used

[Papa Nambu]

Bravo! You took a gamble on this one and you won big. Excellent restoration work.

[Ryukyutunnelrat]

I agree, you did a super job restoring back to its original condition. Neat to see a before and after photo. Thanks for sharing hard work and reward!