Out of the woodwork M35 "camo"

[Ben]

Hi all,

just acquired this "out of the woodwork" M35 SD Heer, which is completely un-touched. It has the non-reinforced aluminum band, 1937 date, which is unfortunately broken in one spot near the chinstrap hinge. Chinstrap has 1938 date.
Helmet is marked SE68 and 3607.
Repaint is something like a thick mud type pattern camo, cannot really make out the color on it as it still very dusty and I am not going to clean it in any way of form. It looks as if there are spots of white under the paint but I can't really say for sure.
Don't know if the National is still under there but I'm certainly not going to find out.
I hope you enjoy the pictures.

Cheers,

Ben

[Ben]

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[Perry Floyd]

That's a nice looker. Looks like it could have even been a whitewash..

[Ben]

..

[Ben]

...

[Ben]

Perry,

thanks.

My sentiments exactly concerning the whitewash, I als think it is what is giving the green repaint it's roughness.
White specks can be seen peeking through when you have the helmet in hand. I like the fact that it has never been cleaned and that there is all sorts of cr*p in the liner.

Cheers,

Ben

[william r match]

Ben,

Nice lid.

Billy

[Luftm40]

That is a GREAT helmet! Its actually a factory reissue. The thick paint you refer to was applied over the shield and around the adler. Just a theory, but I think this helmet was part of a batch redone by the SE factory probably around 1940. You see a lot of these. SE shells w/ early single ply alum liners and the factory camo finish leaving the original early eagle exposed. They are exceptionally attractive helmet IMO...they have a neat color. Bill Shea is selling an almost mint example on his website right now. I agree that it had a white wash. I have a camo with a patch of white wash remaining and it has that same chalky oxidized kind of look. Here is my SE reissue. Just like yours, minus the white wash. This one was captured in Italy by a US soldier.

[Luftm40]

eagle

[Ben]

Thanks Billy ;-)

Andy, nice pot!
Do you mean to say that the "whitewash" under the green paint was factory applied to give it that rough look?

Ben

[Luftm40]

No, I think the white wash is actually over the green paint...just stuck in the crevices

[Ben]

Thanks Andy, got ya!

After closer inspection it indeed looks like some the "white" (more like gray now) remained in the crevices after the whitewash was removed. The helmets is a NW Europe find.

Cheers,

Ben

Both are great lids! The way I like them...

cheers

Jan

[JohnB]

Very nice helmet Ben.
John

[Edelweiss]

With a very first pattern liner : only qualities on this one, Ben. Nice find. Keep it just as it is !