1:72 Yugoslav helmet M59/85

Yugoslav M59/85 helmet in 1:72 scale

A small accessory for figures in 1:72 scale. It serves for swapping the headgear on figures, for bringing the equipment of a whole group into line, or as an object of its own in a scene. It is not a kit of a vehicle or an aircraft and a figure is not included in the package. The manufacturer makes the pattern in larger scales as well, and there is also a version carrying the detail designation, so check the full wording of the name before ordering.

The real subject

The M59/85 helmet was part of the equipment of the Yugoslav army and, after the state broke up, it appeared in the armed forces of the successor countries. It came about by revising the earlier M59 pattern, the change affecting mainly the liner and the fastening; the outer shape of the bowl stayed similar and remained a characteristic mark of Balkan figures. For a modeler it is one of the few accessories that places a scene from this region in the right setting at once: with an ordinary helmet of an eastern or western pattern the scene would not fit.

Usage and painting tips

Separate the casting from the casting block with a sharp scalpel, level the parting line with a fine file and degrease the part in warm water with detergent before painting. It is glued with cyanoacrylate glue. Painting can be managed with a brush as well as an airbrush; apply thin coats, so that the edge of the bowl stays visible. A base shade, a darker wash into the edge and light drybrushing of the raised edges will give the part the depth it needs in a small scale.

Who the set is for

• Builders of figures and dioramas from a Balkan setting
• Conversions of figures whose headgear does not match the region
• Scenes with equipment set down and with crew gear
• Modelers who use the same pattern across scales

The accessory is supplied unpainted and without a figure. Paints, glue and other accessories are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.