To Helmet or Not to Helmet?

I've seen quite a few pics of US snipers, all of them wearing helmets. The same goes for German snipers. Strangely enough, given the rigidity to which standard equipment rules normally applied, British snipers were allowed to wear whatever they thought was best for the job - much to the envy of the average Tommy.

Helmet gets my vote for looks, but a Jeep cap might be more comfortable (well, comfort is a relative term, given that its a case of wearing a wool cap in the middle of summer!)

Further to that, If you scrim up a us helmet that should give you plenty of camo.

I will prob wear a jeep hat, helmets & scrim have a tendancy to get tangled in the trees, I will have a helmet but dump it somewhere,

Ste.D

Strangely enough, given the rigidity to which standard equipment rules normally applied, British snipers were allowed to wear whatever they thought was best for the job - much to the envy of the average Tommy.

Yes, in my Osprey squad tactics book, there is a pic of a Brit sniper with SS oak A camo on. The comment in the book said words to the effect of, "whether he gets back through his own lines safely is another matter"!

Controversial photo that one.

Popular opinion is that the pic is fomr a guy playing opposing forces on an exercise.

I know the pic but its now not considered a 'line' pic. I was disappointed when i found out.

I'm always surprised by the unpopularity of helmets in airsoft generally.

Helmets are excellent because -

a) If you run into a tree/obsacle it won't hurt.
b) They keep the rain off.
c) Snipers have something to aim at which isn't your face.
d) You know a sniper has shot you because of the PING.
e) They look good.

I'll be helmeting it simply to complete the look to be honest. and also its far easier to camo a helmet than a jeep cap

IMHO Helmets are essential for the look of WWII airsoft . Few loons would have gone into combat without them , commandos being the first exception that comes ot mind .
It always saddens me ot see Axis players shunning the old Stahlhelm, with the right size it's comfy and can be worn all day , as it was designed . A good M36 is far more comfortable than a MK6 Kevlar ( I have both) Feldmutzes are ok, but few infantry troops in the field would have used them in areas where they thought they were in danger, as as Barrie says they are get for getting a resounding ping when you've been headshot.
A general plea of don't discount them off hand from me .

My post-war US helmet is extremely comfortable and sits very nicely. I have to say my German repro one is not as stable - perhaps I need a better liner in it. But whatever, it has to be a helmet!

i have t say the impression forever imprinted in my mind of ultimate coolness is the 1/72 airfix afrika corps there is a guy with an mp40 wearing a cap and his stance is perfectly balanced ......

Helmets are good but its a long event, for the axis side I quite like the M43 ski cap, kind of reminds me of a book I have just read, "sniper on the eastern front" quite a intresting book, not for the faint hearted,

Ste.D

i have t say the impression forever imprinted in my mind of ultimate coolness is the 1/72 airfix afrika corps there is a guy with an mp40 wearing a cap and his stance is perfectly balanced ......

Do I sense another loadout happening....??

I believe I'll be wearing a cap, don't think my lil head will fit a german helmet without lots of padding and am going to have to heat shrink the cap as is (hoping it works on the same principles as berets)

I believe I'll be wearing a cap, don't think my lil head will fit a german helmet without lots of padding and am going to have to heat shrink the cap as is (hoping it works on the same principles as berets)

You could hunt down a Berlin Fire Brigade helmet, they come in sizes that small no human head could possibly be big enough. I think warren had some at the pheonix game, and I also think josh at gunman airsoft were talking about getting some as well.

Andy, you have to get the right size liner. But thats where the problems start. German liners are sized to the helmet shell. Most cheaper repro shells tend to be a 70. Which *should* take a 62/63cm liner. Then the manufacturers fit them with the wrong size liner - just so they can save money on not making more than one shell size - end result is a: a helmet that looks "wrong" b: helmet that tends to slide around on the head as there's too much of an overhang between the liner and the shell.

For the germans, i'll list the liner/helmet sizing.

Liner (cm) - Shell (cm)
52/53 cm - 60cm
54/55 cm - 62cm
67/57 cm - 64cm
58/59 cm - 66cm
60-61 cm - 68cm
62-63 cm - 70cm

errrr...... yes but you didnt hear it from me.....

i have t say the impression forever imprinted in my mind of ultimate coolness is the 1/72 airfix afrika corps there is a guy with an mp40 wearing a cap and his stance is perfectly balanced ......

Do I sense another loadout happening....??

luckily my nut is a size 62.....

Andy, you have to get the right size liner. But thats where the problems start. German liners are sized to the helmet shell. Most cheaper repro shells tend to be a 70. Which *should* take a 62/63cm liner. Then the manufacturers fit them with the wrong size liner - just so they can save money on not making more than one shell size - end result is a: a helmet that looks "wrong" b: helmet that tends to slide around on the head as there's too much of an overhang between the liner and the shell.

For the germans, i'll list the liner/helmet sizing.

Liner (cm) - Shell (cm)
52/53 cm - 60cm
54/55 cm - 62cm
67/57 cm - 64cm
58/59 cm - 66cm
60-61 cm - 68cm
62-63 cm - 70cm

Thanks for the info, Jay. Well, this is what I've got - I suspect it's rubbish!

The trouble is, the helmet does tend to move around, but when I tighten the string, it just sits on the top of my head looking ridiculous.

What do I need and from where?

Im very tempted to get a Loadout inspired by a model of a DAK Gefreiter standing next to a jerrycan. Its been tempting me for about ten years since i first saw the model.