Spasm

WW1 Sniper's helmet plate with an EK1

Thankyou most kindly gents, it's pretty nice when people say they like the things you do. The Thule one above just got binned by ebay - damn. Another warning from them as well so I'd best try to stick to Allied and WW1 stuff.

Another one, Totenkopf Thule Regiment - Panzer Grenadier Rgt 5 winter whitewashed helmet commemorating Kharkov 1943:

Worn by sections of civil defence, fire services and rescue services as protection from falling debris and being non metal was a safeguard against electrocution from damaged live power cables. I also believe miners wore the same type of helmet albeit in differing shapes.

Well, that was annoying. This is a Zuckerman Civilian Fire Guard Helmet and I noticed that the holes (to take the liner) weren't level. On further investigation I found out that they were made this way to give the helmet a slope to protect the neck. Damn, I've painted the bloody thing round the wrong way. I assumed that the maker's stamp would be at the back So, sand off, re-undercoat, and start again. That's 3 whole days wasted. Poo.

From the Met Police web page: The Metropolitan Police Act 1829 defined the original Metropolitan Police District as an area of about seven miles radius from Charing Cross. Within the next year seventeen police divisions were set up and centred on the following areas: A - Westminster; B - Chelsea; C - Mayfair and Soho; D - Marylebone; E - Holborn; F - Kensington; G - Kings Cross; H - Stepney; K - West Ham; L - Lambeth; M - Southwark; N - Islington; P - Peckham; R - Greenwich; S - Hampstead; T - Hammersmith and V - Wandsworth. M Division is Southwark and F Division is Kensington (I'd rather be walking Kensington than Southwark).

David It seems to be a way that the US police, and media, distinguish between a 'rookie' and an experienced police officer. In some cases rookies turn into 'veterans' very quickly depending on their place of work and what they've been through. The norm for becoming experienced seems to be about 5 years in the US Police Force but if an officer is called a veteran with only 3 years it portrays that he/she has had a great deal of experience in a shorter period. He/she is therefore considered to have 'been round the block a few times' and a better/more experienced officer than the average. One officer explained it as "Depends on how many times you've vomited at crime scenes" - makes sense to me Spaz

Wonderful model and even more wonderful painting. Nice one, well done. A lot of drybrushing which is easily overdone. Thanks for showing.

Let me know if you find any stamps - I've got Brian's Helmet Lot Number book and can look it up for you.

The helmet looks pretty original to me, I don't suppose there's any remains of the stamps? Sometimes they can be made out on relics as they nearly always have rusted away more severely on the top (Probably due to being on its top under water). It does have a few paint remains (looks apple green) but only very small. I've had loads of relics in worse and better condition with a lot more paint intact. Only a few with makers marks and fewer with batch numbers - but I only ever had two (at most) that had any remains of decals. Although I know that the vast majority of helmets either had them removed as ordered or they never had any to start with. I'd side with the not real team (now that I'm a complete expert with SS decals as I've done over 2 hours internet research ), but I still think it's a great item for the money spent. Put it on the shelf and enjoy it.

John I've been sucked into this since you posted. Probably because I wanted that helmet but just forgot about it (must press the watch list button, must press the watch list button). The Walhalla forum will put you straight in a second but here's what my penny's worth. It looks to be an M40 helmet with Type 2 runes - its pretty hard to see from the pictures surprisingly. I've handled loads of relics but obviously much easier in hand. From a list I found of known SS decals and comparing those to yours: It's not a "Q" decal as they are 1st type runes and there's a sharp break in the curve of the shield. It's not an "EF" decal as again those are 1st type runes and they are mostly found on M42 helmets. It's not an "NS/SE" champagne decal as they have a sharp break in the curve of the shield and the gap between the runes at the top is too wide. It's not a "fat runes LAH" or a "fat runes Nordic" as yours have too wide a gap between the runes. It's not a "Pocher" as the runes stop at a sharp break in the shield on those It's not an "Austrian SS" as those were only on pre-war transitionals The only match is the "ET" decal. But comparing with yours the gap from the top of the runes to the border looks to be too wide. Obviously this is probably not a complete list as I've only just scratched the surface in the couple of hours spent. I didn't realise what collectors do to ensure and check that theirs are correct but given the money these things bring (even the relics) you need very very deep pockets to own one. I honestly can't see these guys missing out on such a bargain on ebay or if it was a collector allowing it to go for so little. So we're left with believing the advert that the seller didn't know what he had although he knew ebay would probably bin his advert if they had noticed the runes. I've had helmets binned even without any offending symbols on them. But, then again, I did sell an SS without knowing they could've binned it but I didn't try to hide it. I wish you luck with this but I wouldn't hold my breath. (I would probably have still bought it though, it's just a great thing and what's a ton against something you really like) Cheers Spaz

Ah, I saw this on ebay (I think it is the same one) and then promptly forgot all about it. Liked the way he advertised and how he took his pictures. Can't help with the decals sorry but I'm sure someone can. Just annoyed I forgot about it. Spaz

I like the post "do they take visa or mastercard?"

Mervyn Your helmet came this morning - figuratively speaking. Once I make a start I'll get going on the other channel.

Mervyn When the helmet arrives I'll start a new thread in the GMIC Competition Forum to show all the work through to the finished piece. Now all I've got to do is think up an SA WW2 theme to base it on. I was thinking about the Royal Natal Carabineers/1st SA Infantry Division's little fracas at Alem Hamza in June 1942 that led to Sgt Q. Smythe's VC. Nice Rgt colours and a VC to paint. Should I ask for ideas given the one already suggested?

The old guy in the back of the shop?

No worries, Chris is only pullin' my plonker - we'll go for the cage fight in his trench when I get over there (if I can get through the barbed wire and pass the searchlights without being shot). No helmet as yet, I'll let you know when it gets here. Once I start on it I may do a show and tell as it progresses if I remember to take some pictures.

Newmex Similarly I am also new to these campaigns and have found some books most helpful. A couple of the best (from my beginners point of view) is 'The Peninsular War Atlas' by Colonel Nick Lipscombe printed by Osprey - it's a large book that takes its readers through the war and battles with the aid of easily read and fairly detailed large maps (helps due to the original place names not now found on Google Maps). Printed fairly recently and easily available (so good I bought another to give to the Son-in-law). Another is by Richard Holmes called 'Redcoat' by Harper Press. Although it does cover a longer time period from the Seven year War through to the Crimea (mostly Peninsular though) it gives an excellent insight into the humdrum/terrible normal days of a soldier in the line. Full of actual letters and anecdotes from the soldiers themselves. Gives a good foundation on what it was like serving. Reads like a novel and fair whizzes along. Other basic books are the excellent Osprey softback books on Weliington's Tactics, Wellington's Army etc etc fairly easily available on t'tinternet and another I've found (if you are interested) is the first complete illustrated guide to British uniforms in the Peninsular called 'British Napoleonic Uniforms' by CE Franklin printed by Spellmount. Those should keep you busy for a bit. Spaz

Colourful one for the French

Marabout Thanks for the info. I've now found Tim's various websites and contacts and we'll see from here. Never really spoken with a Major before, more used to Corporals and Staffs at the extreme, I'd best shine me trainers up. Spaz

All Just had a look through this again and noticed that none of the links to family tree stuff work anymore. Sorry, she's building me a webpage to sell my stuff on so it'll only take you there (nothing on yet, still a work in progress). I've obviously insisted on a link to this forum. Mervyn, thanks for the praise but still an awful lot to do to get a fuller picture. I'm pretty sure of our Hero's travels now, I'll get it all together at some point and mark up a few maps. I need to get that done before I book some travelling but still need to get some more details of the actual battles themselves. I also need to visit Kew to get muster roles etc. Spaz

Marabout Thanks for all of that. How great that these things are still in people's thoughts. I'm still doing a lot of digging around to get a bit of their history together so that I can spend a couple of weeks in the 39th's footsteps and travel their paths in the Peninsula. Take lots of photos and write something up based on their travels. I'll never be able to get the Canada and US bits in while Simon Fussy was with them but I'll get the majority. May even do some big impressive artwork stuff to bring it alive. Is there any chance you can let us know some dates and whether it would be ok to attend these ceremonies. Here's the webpage of the film of the ceremony when they were hung in the 1920s (I think) in Sherbourne http://www.britishpathe.com/video/the-old-39th-cuts/query/Abbey and it would be great to see a similar event now. Fantastic, thankyou Spaz

Linas It's a Spanish Red Cross Order (Orden de la Cruz Roja Española). ‘IN HOC SIG - - NO SALUS’ is "in this sign, health" the motto of the Spanish Red Cross which was one of the earliest national societies, founded in 1864. They also have crowns instead of castles which may indicate differing classes or area but I 'spect you can find more on t'tinternet now you know what it is.

Try here http://www.vyznamenani.net/?page_id=365 You can translate with Bing unless you know the language - it gives sizes, differences in lettering, issuers etc.