1:16 U.S. infantry helmets WWII

M1 helmets in the large scale

An accessory with American steel helmets of the Second World War for 1:16 scale. The box holds two pieces, so they can be divided between two figures or one can be laid on a fender, on an ammunition crate or on a seat. At 120 mm a helmet is as big as a thumb and every unevenness of the shell shows on it.

Something about the real subject

The M1 helmet was made from 1941 and replaced the older flat British shape. It consisted of two parts: a steel shell and an inner liner of pressed fabric with a leather chinstrap. Soldiers often wore only the liner away from the combat line, while in the field they wore both parts together. This detail decides how to seat the helmet on a model.

Painting that suits a helmet

Free the casting of mold release agent with lukewarm soapy water and lay a primer over it. The shell was a matte olive, often with a sand spray or a cork grit finish to damp down reflections. The loop and the strap are best suggested with a thin strip of foil, because in the large scale the strap is a prominent feature.

Who the accessory is worth it for

• builders of figures at 120 mm who are missing a version without headgear
• for dioramas where a helmet laid aside tells a story about a crew at rest
• with American hardware, on whose sides equipment was commonly carried
• for figure painters who want to try unit markings on a large surface

The accessory comes without a figure, paints and glue.