My home-made 508PIR M1 Paratrooper Helmet

Here it is; my home made 508 PIR M1 Helmet, rear seam, swivel bail. I made it out of a post-war Dutch M1 helmet. Things I have done:
- Removed the old (wrong) chinstraps
- Added a authentic cork layer to the helmet
- Added several layers of OD paint
- Added the "Double Firebolts" marking (508PIR 2nd Bat.)
- Sewed on the repro M1 helmet chinstrap by J.Murray INC. 1944 (shop)
- Fixed the liner by putting in the A-yokes

I still need to fix a few more things:

- Place a correct nape strap (neck band)
- Add the M1c studs in the liner
- Put in the correct rivets

Category:

Education

Tags:

• M1
• Helmet
• Paratrooper
• 82nd
• Airborne
• M1c
• M2
• 101st
• 17th
• Market
• Garden
• Normandy
• D-Day
• 508
• PIR
• Band
• of
• Brothers
• sux

[killer1SWAT]

kan ik die bij de gamma haalen ( rivets )

[JelleVD]

@killer1SWAT Geen flauw idee.

[gyrate4]

Why did they put on the cork. I'm thinking of doing this btw. Good job!

[JelleVD]

@gyrate4 They put on the cork against the reflection of the helmets ; )

[BOT101st]

Nice work! Brit helmets only need a liner, chin strap and shell then your done!

I like the markings on the side of the helmet, never seen them before! Fictional or proper distinction marks?

[JelleVD]

@BOT101st

Thanks! The markings are for the 2nd Battalion of the 508th PIR. There never was an "official" order by the regimental command to paint them on (like with the 101st AB) but a few of the troopers did it.

[marksilvers72]

hi nice helmet, just doing one myself, just need to add the a yokes to the liner, what rivets did you use for this? size number etc?

[killer1SWAT]

heb je eerst de emblemen erop gemaakt en dan kurk laag of andersom

[james47818]

can you tell me how did you put the cork layer on ? thanks

[VOLHans]

Interesting! Did your helmet come with the liner included or did you replace it? The only Dutch post-WW2 helmets I've seen had a plastic liner that was molded to the pattern of a WW2 USGI liner (Complete with the rivets and "A" washers) but made from injection molded plastic, like a toy.

[JelleVD]

@killer1SWAT By using special rivets.