SKP Model

US Helmets WWII For any 1/35 diorama or figure

Stock Number: 026

Reviewed By  Mark Aldrich, IPMS# 39295

MSRP: $20.75 www.skpmodel.eu In a world of resin and photo-etched accessory parts, it was only a matter of time before someone applied these principles to helmets. SKP Model has been around since 2006. They produce decals, after-market resin parts, resin figures, photo-etched parts and they are currently working on a full plastic kit. The M1 series helmet and liner were made to replace the aging M1917/M1917A1 series helmet. The M1917 series helmet had largely remained unchained since the beginning of World War I. Though a nice basic design, it did not provide much for protection in the rear or sides. The M1 series was accepted for issue in 1941 and this new design with liner remained largely unchanged until its replacement by the Kevlar Ballistic helmet in the 1990s. The M1 "steel pot" was issued with a resin impregnated cotton liner. This appears to be the only thing that SKP Model does not include. You get five brass formed helmets, five cushion adapters, 5 head bands, ten chin straps (one for each side), and five (what I believe are neck brace straps). All the photo-etched straps are pre-painted. The liner adjusters and chin straps are OD green in color. The head bands/sweatbands are painted in tan. Assembly of the kit began with making the sweat band. I used a paint brush to get the basic shape and then proceeded to attach the head webbing to the sweatband. The chin straps were attached next. These are nice but they seem to have no way of attaching to each other. Also, the straps are painted on both sides. This allows the attaching of the straps over the front brim or the rear lip. After painting and assembly, I tried to find a bare-headed figure that this helmet would fit on. After 20 resin attempts and four plastic ones, I still did not find one that it would fit. The plain brass ones fit decently on four or five. You can tell by the photographs I had to settle on a wet Q-tip to get the photograph taken. For the die hard enthusiast, these are a real gem. Great for those "helmet off" diorama ideas. However, with the high end price tag, I think you would be netter off with some of the plastic manufacturer's products and some tape webbing and chin straps. The idea is great and I personally think maybe making the straps and plastic helmets would be just as good an idea and probably cost less. Special thanks to the SKP Model guys and keep the great ideas coming.

Information, images, and all other items placed electronically on this site are the intellectual property of IPMS/USA ®.