The helmet painter.

[Gene]

You need to know he stamps his helmets with his microstamp. Should you be unaware of this guy and you see such a helmet for sale, you've just wasted your money. We're talking about the inside of the helmet. Why not put a big, disclaiming dome stamp inside? Sure, the exterior can look a jillion years old but why must the inside?

[Jan B]

Same feeling here as Perry, can't add much more then I already did...

[Rolf D.]

First off he doesn't know his helmets "like the back of his hand" because he has an M40 Snow Camo helmet when it is really an M35!! Secondly on his Heer helmets he has consistently obliterated the eagle's head and detail with the exception of the "Unissued M40" and in this case you cannot zoom in on his pictures to get a better look at the detail. Hummmmm kind of strange.

Here is a site that does similar work but he only does this as a hobby he says.http://www.german-helmets.com/Stahlh...rke/indexb.htm

Here is the scenario to why people want an aged helmet:
Picture this:
France, June 9th 1944 the Allies landed three days ago and your unit is ordered up to the front. You in your combat experience have painted your helmet a million times. You get to the Normandy area and notice the shrubs and foilage around you and like the knowledgeable soldier you are about the type of camopflage scheme needed you once again paint your helmet to the proper "Normandy" camo scheme. Now you have what you think is an awesome helmet and are ready to go and fight. On the way to the front line some jerk is admiring your helmet camo and the idiot drops it and chis some of the paint off and exposes some of the underneath paint. You are very careful to keep your helmet from anymore damage but while you are running through the bushes to a new hiding position you are scraping and bumping your helmet all along the way. Now you have a "combat veteran" helmet with some damage to it. Now since more layers of paint have been scraped off your helmet has been aged and looks well used and you need to repaint it...only there isn't any paint at the front and you leave it alone for right now and it continues to get bumped around and keeps looking more worn and you leave it be. Pretty soon the helmet is worn through some more battles gets some dings here and some dings there and soon you have a perfect Normandy helmet.

Back to today. This guy whoever he is has made the helmets look as if they have been worn through some combat and they look nice but would I ever buy one...NO. It seems that you guys are saying that all of this guys helmetsare mimicking helmets that have been hidden away for many years. The only thing that happens is rust accumulates and some toning to the liner. Why he needs to tone the liner and add rust to various spots...beyond me but he is just trying to provide the reenactor community with a helmet that they can look at and like it because it looks as if it has been worn through some battles and that is exactly what some of those people want---a helmet that looks battle worn. I also am of the opinion that he needs to stamp a gigantic helmet stamp in te top because the only people who care are the ones trying to sell them as fakes.







p.s. Sorry for the long post

[Rolf D.]

http://pacificcoast.net/~gmax/fieldgear/m42helmet.htm

Seeing how this site offers "exact reproductions" are they just as suspect? The company who made the helmets has done it to deceive also. There is batch number and a correct size stamping. Why they didn't just do a big 68??? Just stupid details the reenactor does not need to worry himself about.

[Rolf D.]

Why don't we ask the question as to why reenactors need an aged helmet in the reenactor forum.

[PlaceOfBayonets]

Theodor,

That's hilarious! And I wholeheartedly agree with you and Perry about the "need for reenactors" to have a 60-year-old looking helmet when they're out in the field. They are as if they are back in time so why not reflect this by having a "newish" appearance? Wear and tear is to be expected, just not 60 years' worth. These are meant to deceive. I believe Mr. William is trying to allay both sides by stamping his helmets, but in all honesty why must it be a micro-stamp? Put a big ass dome stamp in there!

I'm a re enactor and I sent a helmet in to The Helmet Painter to be lightly aged because ground troops are not genrally brand new looking so it makes sense to have helmet that looks a bit used. Do re enactors need a 60 year old looking helmet? Of course not.

This is an old thread I dredged up and I want to report Richard Langford AKA as THE HELMET PAINTER is a rip off. I sent him my helmet 2 year and 4 months ago and I expected a long wait and for months I'd forget about the helmet and figure it would show up someday but I am calling the police on this bastard as of today. I am going to track him down no matter how long it takes and he is going to make all this good or pay for it.



Wilhelm

[Soldat de Fer]

Hello
If collectors are so scared of his work , then the right thing to do would be to buy one of his work and study it 100% , once you know his way to paint , to age etc..., you will never be fooled by it .
Really at the end of the day , if you know what to look for in a REAL helmet ,you don't really have to worry ,do you homework and study ,study and re study ,that is the only way to learn and not to get burn !.
Regards
Pierre-Yves

[PlaceOfBayonets]

Well, I called 411 in the town Rick Langford lives in and got a number of a family by the same last name. I called and told them who I was looking for and asked if Rick was family relation. I was told yes and was asked if I wanted to leave a message. I made sure to ask if the Rick she knew was a painter by profession and was told yes so I have the right guy and he's still alive. So I left a message and explained the situation and that I had the police over today to discuss the case. I was told to draft a report on the facts and I mentioned this to the gal on the phone saying unless I hear back from Rick I am going to file a report with my local police.
The last time I drafted and submitted a report to the Police heads rolled and people were replaced in the militaria collecting community.

I was assured that Rick would get the message. We'll see what he has to say for himself.

Wilhelm

[Dan P]

The same thing happened to me a few years back with this guy. If I remember correctly, he lives in Seaside, CA. I had him do a real nice heavy texture 3-color Normandy scheme. I think I waited about 6 months for the helmet emailing him with no response, so I got his home phone number, called him and ended up talking with the guy for about 45 minutes about helmets, guns, collecting, etc. Anyway 2 or 3 days later the helmet shows up and was done very nicely. I had him finish the helmet with no aging, but it still looked really nice. I guess I was one of the lucky ones.

[Spanish Freiwillige]

Didnt this guy also stamp the shell with his trade mark so evrybody knows that the helme is his work

I think I read this on his web site once, yet you are right he has a very characteristic method of aging, so if you become familiar, wetehr he stamps the helmet or not you will know is his

[Dan P]

The helmet I had him finish didn't have his stamp on the inside. Maybe he forgot or didn't bother since it was done with no wear or aging.

[Jareth]

Stamps smamps! Any stamp can be filled in, removed, painted over etc. What's the point? As the helmet changes hands so will the truth. Glad I don't collect camo!

[Striking 9th]

The same thing happened to me a few years back with this guy. If I remember correctly, he lives in Seaside, CA. I had him do a real nice heavy texture 3-color Normandy scheme. I think I waited about 6 months for the helmet emailing him with no response, so I got his home phone number, called him and ended up talking with the guy for about 45 minutes about helmets, guns, collecting, etc. Anyway 2 or 3 days later the helmet shows up and was done very nicely. I had him finish the helmet with no aging, but it still looked really nice. I guess I was one of the lucky ones.

Dan can you list some pics of your 3-color? I would like to see some pics of his work if you have time.
Scott

[Dan P]

Scott, I sold the helmet a while back but I think I still have pics somewhere on my home computer. I'll try to locate and post. I actually regret selling it.

I have a bad habit of buying things I like, keeping them for only a short time, and then selling. But I am seeking treatment

[Bob Hritz]

Darn, the link is not valid, just when I was going to box up all my helmets and have them camoflaged! LOL

Don't be mad at the guy for doing a job for which there is a demand. I know that I have bought some skunks and felt the sting of being fooled. I don't blame the guy, but blame myself for being ignorant on camo helmets. I suppose that is why mine are all the ugly or dark colors, I don't have the knowledge to risk $$$ on the pretty ones.

If he is out of business and there is a demand, there will just be two more making camo helmets. I would rather be able to see his work, for comparison, than to have more clandestine camo workshops spewing out rare helmets on us.

Or you just go out and kill they fakers. Wait, that is illegal; never mind!

Bob Hritz