1:35 Italian helmet M33

1:35 Italian helmet M33: an accessory for figures, Firma49

This is a separate accessory for figures in 1:35 scale, not a kit and not a figure. The subject is the Italian steel helmet known as the M33. The accessory is used where a scene is to take on a particular national character, or where the helmet appears set aside: on a crate, on a belt, on the ground beside a vehicle.

The real subject

The M33 helmet was introduced in the Italian army in the 1930s and replaced an older type. It has a low smooth shell with a short brim and was worn throughout the Second World War on every front where Italian units served, from North Africa to the Eastern Front. In a modified form it served in the postwar years as well, so it can be used for later subjects too. For modelers the helmet is a rewarding item precisely because it is instantly recognizable: its shape tells the viewer the nationality of a figure before they notice the uniform or the weapons.

How to work with the accessory

• Wash the part before painting and let it dry properly.
• Sand the traces of production down carefully with fine abrasive paper.
• A base coat evens the surface out and the paint holds on it better.
• The low shell comes out well when the shade is lightened from above and darkened toward the brim.

Who the accessory is for

Builders of figures and dioramas in 1:35 scale who need to add Italian gear will appreciate it, as will modelers of vehicles who bring a scene to life with small objects. The Firma49 brand offers the helmet in other scales as well, so the same subject can be used in another size.