I'm glad this thread was revived actually as I'd like some opions on my idea for a helmet. I plan to get either a helmet to go with my tropical kit for Husky.
I want to paint it up in a way that will be suitable for both that period and later (ie normandy). My intention is to has a base coat of standard field green over which I will paint a thinned coat of sand colour. I'll then wear/scratch/rub this off to varrying degrees to reveal the original colour beneath. I'm hoping this should give it a well worn veteran look of some one who has taken their issued helmet and painted it in the field in North Afica but by the time of Sicily this is wearing off.
I figured this would also provide a decent camo effect when worn under wire mesh so would still be suitable for later periods and also be a proud mark for a veteran.
To endhance the impression of a redone helmet I thought I might also have decals on the green paint which can be seen through the worn sand coat with a newer DAK symbol over the top of the original eagle.
What do people think, does it sound like a good plan?
for aged decals have a look at http://www.fallschrimjager.com
his stock changes on a regular basis and also his helmets are aged by himself. good ideas for camo schemes.
Heres my helmet done by me old m8 Dave barret 
Can you tell what it is, yet....? 
You've got nothing to ein, zwei, drei, vier
Can you tell what it is, yet....?
one of those old fossilised buffalo poo's that are classed as en-dangered according to American Park Rangers?
Period molehill ?
Vinegar will also get things nice and rusty
P1/DB nice work on the Stahlhelem- looks very ally .
Heh, I've seen a lot of footage and photos of Fallschirmjäger with helmets simply covered in mud. Was bored yesterday, so tried it out. 
You've got nothing to ein, zwei, drei, vier
Another "interesting" project... pic 1. Helmet was whitewashed with emulsion - now removed. Next step: sandpaper.
You've got nothing to ein, zwei, drei, vier
Now with primer and sand - a messy task. Will remove some of it later.
You've got nothing to ein, zwei, drei, vier
Much sand removed, and now with a first coat of RAL6006. Might apply another one, but can't do anything much more until my pre-distressed decals arrive.
You've got nothing to ein, zwei, drei, vier
I've just started work on my two helmets.
My M38 was going to be mid war green with single decal but I bought the wrong green by mistake- Ral 6003 instead of 6006 
. So instead I'm going for more of an olive green based Mediterranean camo scheme but with the single decal still visible, probably with a bailing wire frame over the top.
I thought about keeping the 'frost' (semi washed off chalk snow camo I put on for AM) camouflage on my M42 for the winter. However I decided I could just redo it over my finished paintjob should I need to in the unlikely even of snow on a game day. I'm going for a 'Normandy' type scheme on this with a single emblem and maybe a wire mesh basket.
I have a pile of nicely aged/rusted chicken wire and some bailing wire so I'm going to experiment and make a few. I anyone wants one or just some wire let me know. 
Nice job Andy. I've done a similar job on mine but with a more low-tech approach.
1. No priming or keying of existing dark grey paint (cos I think a bit of flaking looks good).
2. Brush paint a tin of RAL 6006 eggshell (the paint shop couldn't do me an oil based matt finish in that colour).
3. Use the brush to "stipple" the wet paint - basically dabbing the ends of the bristles all over it so you end up with an orange-peel effect rather that brush strokes.
4. Take 2 bits of old brick mortar (found in next door's builders skip) and grind them together over the wet paint as evenly as I can. The debris has bigger "chunks" that dry sand.
5. Allow to dry, recoat and stipple.
6. After a few hours, take an old chisel and hack some of the just-dry paint off the high wear areas of the helmet (top of crown, edges, etc.).
7. Apply dead flat decorator's varnish to the finished shell. This gives a nice matt effect and also brings up a little bit of rust on any bare metal 'cos it's water based.
Pictures to follow
I applied another coat of RAL6006 yesterday. (It's gloss, because Halfords made it for me - I have some clear eggshell finish spray. Despite this, the sand really takes the shine off it.) I am waiting for some free daylight time to "weather" it again on the edges - probably 25th or 26th.... 
You've got nothing to ein, zwei, drei, vier
...
Very nice, Martin!
You've got nothing to ein, zwei, drei, vier
Indeed a nice looking helmet indeed, nice work
Well, the decals are on.... for now! It's a good job I'm going for the distressed look, because they flake off like anything. I decided on taking the liner out because I wasn't sure I could put it back in again, so oven baking was out. A brief blast of the hairdryer didn't do them any good... 
So, I just decided to go ahead with the final stage rather earlier than I'd intended - a spray with Plastikote, to keep the decals on (hopefully) and take off the remaining shine of the gloss RAL6006 - although to be fair, the sand mixed in with the paint did a grand job of reducing the shine - exactly why they did it in WWII.
I'll put a photo up when it's dry.
You've got nothing to ein, zwei, drei, vier
Well, here's my effort. Quite a few things didn't go to plan, but in the end it looks a lot better than it did.
You've got nothing to ein, zwei, drei, vier
Andy
Well, here's my effort. Quite a few things didn't go to plan, but in the end it looks a lot better than it did.
Helmet itself looks realy good but i hate to be the one to poo poo on your efforts but the decals are in the wrong place 
