SKP Model

1/35 German Helmets, WWII

Kit Number: SKP016

Reviewed by  Dennis Tennant, IPMS# 41582

MSRP: €13.99 Euros ($19.95 USD) www.skpmodel.eu Been searching for an alternative to the plain, undetailed German helmet you're used to seeing in many of the plastic armor and figure kits sold today? If you're looking for a way to punch up the detail of your German WWII figures or just improve a current armor or diorama project, SKP Model has released a five-pack of WWII German helmets that might be what you're looking for. The SKP package includes everything you'll need to produce five 1/35 scale helmets. In this set you'll find five shiny helmets molded from .5mm brass using what SKP Model call a "unique process." Whatever process they used, the results were worth it as the helmets are flawlessly executed. Four pieces of pre-painted photo etch recreate each helmet's two straps, leather liner and the inner reinforcing band. Also included are two Feldgendarmerie gorgets (as worn around the necks of German military police) and two sets of painting templates for the SS runes and shields often seen painted on the helmet sides. These templates are a welcome addition especially if you're planning to paint instead of decal your finished helmet. Assembly was pretty straightforward with the only problem being figuring out which photo etch parts went where. This task was made more difficult because no instructions were included in this kit! Not to be deterred, I solved the problem with the help of an Internet site devoted solely to WWII helmets (www.german-helmets.com). Referring to their photos, I was able to figure out where everything went without too much extra effort. With that hurdle behind me, I roughed up the inside and outside of each helmet with a 1200 grit sanding pad and added a primer coat of Tamiya lacquer followed by several light coats of Vallejo Model Air acrylic German grey. While those parts were drying, I concentrated on the interior bits. I began by shaping the inside band around a paintbrush handle of the correct diameter. I attached that to the inside of the helmet with cyano glue. After that had set up, I attached the two helmet straps (the longest piece goes on the right side) followed by the helmet liner. After everything was in place, the final step was to GENTLY push in the center of the helmet liner with the end of the paintbrush used earlier to shape the liner band. This caused the liner to sag just like the real thing. After some final paint touch-up to cover visible glue marks, my project was completed. Making these helmets was a quick, fun project. Installing the tiny straps and positioning the liner gave me the most trouble but the resulting helmet was worth the effort. As you can see from the photos, the finished helmets look great and have a lot of detail not to be found in plastic. Thanks to SKP Model for providing IPMS with a review copy.

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