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In-Box Review
135
Big Size German Helmets
Big Size M42 WW II German Steel Helmet - Stahlhelm with wire and Chicken wire
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by: Engin Kayral [ GRAYWOLF ]

introduction:

During World War II, Germany produced steel helmets in six different sizes marked in even numbers from 60 to 70. Size 64 was medium size considered for an average European in nutritional and health conditions of wartime and it was 40% of total production. Bigger sizes like 66 and 68 were manufactured in 20% and 10% percentages.
Besides camouflaged cloth helmet covers, different types of wiring were used to provide a framework for foliage that will be attached to helmets for camouflage. In many cases, wire itself served as a means of camouflage without the aid of leaves or branches. Both strait bailing wire as well as fencing wire usually named as Chicken wire were used in various gauges. A variety of methods were used to attach wire to a helmet.


Wire types and grades applied to helmets often differed depending on the theater of combat where the helmet was being used. Helmets that used wire for camouflage were typically found in the Italian and French theaters in 1943 and 1944. However as a whole, continental Europe with its strong agrarian base was an abundant source of farm yard and fencing wire.
In most cases it appears as though each individual soldier hand crafted his own wire configuration.

LRE-35285 M42 WW II German Steel Helmet - Stahlhelm with wire and Chicken wire from Live Resin includes 6 German World War II M42 Steel helmets with different wiring.
review:

The set comes inside a transparent zip-lock bag sandwiched and stapled in a folded hard cardboard cover. Both sides of the cover show information and photos of the content.
There are six 1/35 scale,cast in grey resin M42 German helmets in the kit served with casting blocks. As the edges of the helmets are tiny parts, casting blocks and connector resin pins inside the helmets should be removed carefully. Resin quality is very good, details are very crisp and clean, there is no casting mistakes. Different types of helmets are marked with A,B,C,D letters on the casting blocks.

The set includes 6 helmets with 2 types of wiring.

  • A - Large Hex Full Chicken wire cover - 2 pieces

  • B - Large Hex Full Chicken wire cover with chinstrap on peak - 1 piece

  • C - Single Bailing Wire Cover - 2 pieces

  • D - Single Bailing Wire Cover with chinstrap on peak - 1 piece

    Helmet details like three liner rivets, two air vents, chicken wire texture, wire twists and chinstraps are all well defined.

    To compare the size with other helmet kits ; I took some photos of a helmet of this Big Size kit LRE-35285 with another helmet from LRE-35279. Note that Big Size helmet is on the right side in all photos.
    Conclusion:

    If you need big size German M24 Helmets on your World War II scenes or need high quality helmets for your 1/32 scale or 54 mm size figures, this is a nice kit with well defined, accurate details and different types of wiring.
  • SUMMARY
    Highs: If you need big size helmets, these are clean sculpt and cast. I never seen before single bailing wire cover helmets on market.
    Lows: No lows on this one.
    Verdict: Nice helmets to improve the apperance of WW II German figures and they can be used for 54 mm figures too.
    Percentage Rating
    93%
      Scale: 1:35
      Mfg. ID: LRE-35285
      PUBLISHED: Nov 28, 2016
      NATIONALITY: Germany
    NETWORK-WIDE AVERAGE RATINGS
      THIS REVIEWER: 92.20%
      MAKER/PUBLISHER: 93.95%

    Our Thanks to Live Resin!
    This item was provided by them for the purpose of having it reviewed on this KitMaker Network site. If you would like your kit, book, or product reviewed, please contact us.

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    About Engin Kayral (Graywolf)
    FROM: IZMIR, TURKEY / TüRKçE

    Born in 1962,married and having 2 sons. I started modelling about 8 years old building USS Fletcher with mom. It was a model dad brought from USA., I think in those days only a few people in Turkey had info on scale model kits. Grown as an AF officer son , I built many aircraft models in years. Som...

    Copyright ©2021 text by Engin Kayral [ GRAYWOLF ]. All rights reserved.



    Comments

    This is good! Sometimes the helmets in the kits seem ia bit small to me. Having worn both the steel pot and the early model ballistic helmet, I think most kit helmets for most nations are too small.
    NOV 27, 2016 - 12:40 PM
    About time! I got really tired searching through my spares box to replace helmets that were too darned small for the figure.
    NOV 28, 2016 - 08:29 PM
       
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