Luftschutz Helmet

[Major 2]

I was given a 3 piece Luftschutz helmet, no liner but the size decal is in place and the inside is Luftwaffe blue.
Outer shell was rattle can painted black and where is was rubbing off was the same blue
and the Luftschutz decal sprayed over.
There are scratches & digs that show want may be a reddish primer, I discovered it was rather easy to wash away the Rattle can black with Mineral Spirits....
Assuming someone painted it for prop post War ???
The original blue and decal remained.

I know what it is, but debate "if" I should bother to purchase a liner ? any thoughts ?

Worth it ?

Information

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[jond41403]

I would, why not, you have already came this far with it might as well finish it out

[Boonie Stomper]

Major 2--I feel your pain. I acquired an M1916 Stahlhelm in very good shape with good original liner & M1891 pickelhaube chinstrap in great condition. It had the original WW1 hand brushed camouflage finish. An incredible collectible....except...some idiot had added their own camo with gloss, Christmas-tree-green rattle can paint on top of the original finish. It was painful to look at.

I tried removing the green paint with solvent in a small area, but it also removed the original paint. A friend then told me of a process that works very well. Buy a Harbor Freight cheapo sandblaster with the sand hopper mounted on top. Instead of sand for a media, use regular baking soda. Hook up your sandblaster to comp. air & try various pressure settings. It was perfect--you could slowly remove the rattle-can until the original paint showed. This process is best done outside because baking soda gets all over.

If your helmet is worth restoring, it's worth doing it well. In fact, this process will work on any relic restoration when you only want to carefully remove just a little bit.

The pictures are "after"--I never took any "before".

[browningautorifle]

use regular baking soda

That's good...

[Major 2]

Very cool Boonie Stomper .... neat tip

I may do that with my Adrian . But the Luftschutz Helmet original blue is in good enough condition it will remain.... the rattle can black some bubba or kid did completely removed.

Thanks Jond , my thinking is in agreement.... it is a 3 rivet and I've seen them offered somewhere.