For Great war they were "Apple Green" which is Matt 30.
No it's not. Matt 30 [humbrol] is designed as a match for RAF Dark Green originally seen in the 1930s, it's not very good at that impression and worse for a WW1 helmet.
An earth colour seems to be the most common colour for WW1 helmets though greens and greys were all used.
aka Stigroadie
AFRA
better by design
"Truth is a shining goddess, always veiled, always distant, never wholly approachable, but worthy of all the devotion of which the human spirit is capable. "
General Purpose - Boxes, Tins, Signals Equipment, Vehicles, Helmets, Weapons, etc...
"Service Brown" - BS 381C colour 499 (I've found that RAL '8014' and BS 381C '499' are virtually identical)
"Olive Drab" - BS 381C colour 298Specialist/Other - Helmets, Weapons, etc...
"[Middle] Bronze Green" - BS 381C colour 223
"Olive Green" - BS 381C colour 220
Witch one of these colors was used on the british paratrooper helmets? I have a 1972 made one that need to be repainted on the outside 
I have a repro that is painted what looks like a fairly matt "[Middle] Bronze Green" - BS 381C colour 223
This seems to match the pictures of originals. Early helmets (with the external rubber mouldings) seem to be a lighter shade that is none of the ones you have quoted.
I have a repro that is painted what looks like a fairly matt "[Middle] Bronze Green" - BS 381C colour 223
This seems to match the pictures of originals. Early helmets (with the external rubber mouldings) seem to be a lighter shade that is none of the ones you have quoted.
Thanks Ramsay 
Does anyone know where to get reproduction liners for the standard Mk2 british helmet? I have been searching but I could only find originals
I thought WPG did liners?
Try Soldier of Fortune or for a better one try Pegasus. They may not be in the pegasus catalogue... you may need to email them.
Getting a new liner to fit is also more than a 5 minute job. It involves shaving bits of rubber with a Stanley knife
Never had to do that, mucking about with a knife.
You alter the number and position of the bumpers depending on the size.
I have a chart somewhere, watch this space.
aka Stigroadie
AFRA
better by design
"Truth is a shining goddess, always veiled, always distant, never wholly approachable, but worthy of all the devotion of which the human spirit is capable. "
Yeah... all you do is get the right size of liner and screw it in!
What finish should factory issue "service brown be? Gloss matt or satin?
Same as the metal ammo boxes that were also painted in it, so it does have quite a sheen to it - gloss more than likely, but satin wouldn't let it stand out as having a brand new lick of paint on it.
A Proud Member Of 'Team Spleen!' who play mainly at Gunman Airsoft, Tuddenham, Suffolk.
I have a repro that is painted what looks like a fairly matt "[Middle] Bronze Green" - BS 381C colour 223
This seems to match the pictures of originals. Early helmets (with the external rubber mouldings) seem to be a lighter shade that is none of the ones you have quoted.
Thanks Ramsay
Does anyone know where to get reproduction liners for the standard Mk2 british helmet? I have been searching but I could only find originals
If you are successful, could you let me know where from/how much?
Just got my hands on a Mk 2 helmet, no strap, fabric backed leatherette liner is shot, so need to replace those. It looks like one of those civil defense ones as it has the 3 drilled hols either side.
To the tune of "Mademoiselle from Armentières"
Napoleons army ran away, As you do
The guard stood firm for Frances Pride, As you do
They said the guard will stand and die
But we heard what their Colonel cried
It wasn't pretty I tell you.
Resistance is fertile
SoF or Pegasus for liners.
Would Brits in Italy have painted their helmets sand colour, or would they be green? Would it depend on what they were wearing? i.e. if KDs, then sand colour. If wools, then green?
You've got nothing to ein, zwei, drei, vier
Would Brits in Italy have painted their helmets sand colour, or would they be green? Would it depend on what they were wearing? i.e. if KDs, then sand colour. If wools, then green?
All the pics I've seen show darker shades of helmets, so probably the usual service brown and/or bronze-green.
A Proud Member Of 'Team Spleen!' who play mainly at Gunman Airsoft, Tuddenham, Suffolk.
Cheers! 
You've got nothing to ein, zwei, drei, vier
Would Brits in Italy have painted their helmets sand colour
No. They might have turned up with sand coloured helmets but British camo pattern in Italy is very different from North Africa.
I've photo of some commonwealth troops in Italy with *very* light coloured helmets, could be sand, could be light green... hard to say but it's only one photo. The rest it's all darker (plainly green) shades.
I also cant remember for the life of me the nationality I have a feeling they are Indian troops, s the pics from behind hem advancing it's hard to make out the ethnicity
"I think we are in rats' alley - Where the dead men lost their bones."
I've got a 1938 one where the paint is almost cyprus green originally and its been painted over a gloss olive green!
"I think we are in rats' alley - Where the dead men lost their bones."
