Restoring a bunch of WWII Helmets Part 3 | Removing a lot of paint and painting shells

Decided to restore a bunch of helmets (13 at once) and I decided to film parts of me restoring them which includes paint removal, painting, making and assembling liners and also applying decals.
Check out my website:
www.m31liner.wordpress.com
Since someone asked, I made a Discord server now, join if you want.
/ discord

[@rotte6]

I find that "Nail varnish remover " effective for removing postwar paint .Very good for removing the black paint often used on re-issues while leaving the original paint underneath.

[@PotatoDigger]

Yup, that, nitro universal thinner and acetone are the thinners I tend to use, sometimes I also try turpentine but it rarely works but it can help clean the whole thing up and it doesn't damage decals either. Otherwise depending on the type of paint the thinners won't cut it because the old lead based paints tend to not be affected by it. But those types of paint are often rather brittle. Luis

[@rotte6]

@@PotatoDigger Have you used any of the paints produced by the German company "Historypaint" for you restorations ?

[@PotatoDigger]

@@rotte6 No, so far I haven't but looking at them on ebay they all look rather light and also rather gray. But I can't say how they'd look in real life. So far I am happy enough with the paints I have at hand. Luis

[@caslinden1373]

They look good👍👍

[@PotatoDigger]

Thanks!

[@worldwarwill1278]

Really interesting as always, thanks for showing us! I really liked the Luftwaffe m35 with the early decals you showed in the WRF too.

[@PotatoDigger]

Thank you! Yeah that M35 is probably one of my favourite restorations so far, also because it featured as many original parts as possible while still looking like a new helmet. Luis

[@anaktambangindonesia8025]

Very nice collection ❤️❤️

[@drapples1235]

I have a repro m35 helmet but I really like the look of the m42

[@PotatoDigger]

Yeah M42s are cool and if you have a repro it's a good idea to invest into a good original shell to restore. Luis

[@drapples1235]

Indeed

[@dbhllproductions6544]

Awesome collection! The helmets are looking really good

[@PotatoDigger]

Thanks!

[@Artyom_SPOSN]

I’m getting an m-42!!!!! I love your helmet restorations and those helmets they are really good looking

[@PotatoDigger]

Very nice! Thank you! Luis

[@Artyom_SPOSN]

@@PotatoDigger danke und bitte

[@drapples1235]

It looks hard but is always worth it at the end

[@PotatoDigger]

Yes indeed, if you want good results, you need to put some effort into it. If you don't it will always look kinda disappointing. Luis

[@sWarhistory]

@@PotatoDigger very true

[@dennisedelweiss1513]

Tolle Video Danke....bitte mehr so Videos Danke

[@andrewbarron7690]

Great series,and a wonderful pile of helmets for you to check out and restore. I would love to see more about the qvl64 and the Q66 M42. I have a qvl shell,but I have heard about Quist M42's in size 64 only. Please show us a qvl vs a Q m42. Thanks for the great videos Andrew Barron

[@PotatoDigger]

Thank you Adrew! That is an interesting idea, as I have both at hand I could do a comparison between those different M42 shells, too bad the NS66 is already with its new owner haha :D. But comparing qvl with ckl and Q is a good idea and also useful to debunk some misconceptions. Indeed Q M42s were only made in limited quantities and in size 64 only, they also used the same steel as for their M42s as they do for M40s so these are by far the heaviest feeling M42s you can get. Luis

[@andrewbarron7690]

@@PotatoDigger I would love to see a comparison between the helmets and hear your thoughts. I don't understand why FJM44 has offered qvl/bvl helmets as Quist production M42's. I think Brian Ice believes the qvl's are Czech production from ET/CKL equipment moved late war. Other collectors have suggested that qvl/bvl are a late change in codes by the Thale factory. My only qvl has the same casting errors as my late CKL shells. I think the late war variations of Thale helmets were made at the original factory but the stamps were eventually wrecked and replaced by a close alternative or production demands were increased enough to substitute other letters in the manufacturer code the same way Thale workers varied the upper and lower case stamps. Thanks for that stack of helmets. You can certainly reproduce a capture pile from 1945.

[@PotatoDigger]

@@andrewbarron7690 Thank you, I will definitely do it in future! It has been proven that bvl/qvl has nothing to do with Quist as there are examples with dome stamps that clearly indicate that the ET factory was involved. I think your theory could also make sense especially on these late war ones the stamps are often misoriented or they use upper and lower case letters together in a fashion that does not really make sense. I think the many errors come mainly from bad steel quality and forced labor. But we will probably never know for sure if it was the alleged czech factory that made them or if it was just Thale using a different code and making a bunch of errors in the process. To be honest I should've filmed that pile, too but for some reason I decided just to take photos of it.. Luis

[@worldwarbuff8159]

I hope that you can do videos with history secrets I also love this KZbin channel

[@PotatoDigger]

Yeah perhaps when the covid restrictions are loosened again we can do something again. Thank you! Luis

[@VAMO_-tn9yv]

WOW😛, dat zijn mega veel helmen

[@billtruex4590]

What exactly type of aluminum oxide and grit size do you use and where can I get it?

[@johnfrederickson]

Fanily a New video! 😀

[@johnfrederickson]

Sorry for my bad english

[@PotatoDigger]

@@johnfrederickson No problem! Thank you!

[@sWarhistory]

I want more helmets after this but I am saving up for a very rare square dip helmet from Ww1 also great job

[@PotatoDigger]

Ah yes, square dip M16s are indeed pretty cool in their own right. Thank you!

[@sWarhistory]

@@PotatoDigger your welcome

[@sWarhistory]

@@PotatoDigger I got the square dip helmet

[@PotatoDigger]

@@sWarhistory oh very nice, congrats!

[@sWarhistory]

@@PotatoDigger thank you

[@SteveMrW]

Hi recently subscribed to your channel and loving it. As you strip so many helmets, have you thought of a bead blasting machine? It would be a lot quicker. Do you apply texture to your helmets?

[@PotatoDigger]

Thanks! Yeah true it would speed some processes up but only for helmets that I know have no original paint, as sandblasting would obviously remove all original paint as well. Yes, I also apply texture to any 1940 or later issue of helmet but of course not for pre-war M35s. Luis

[@benkurtz1773]

Do you have any shells in size 68?

[@Speed_Star98]

So were you going to make any a striped Normandy camo , or were they all going to be feldgrau and Luftwaffe paint?

[@PotatoDigger]

I might make one of them a camo but for now they are all just going to be factory issue kinds of helmets. Luis

[@aaronietosvuori2576]

Bro how much money woud you take from size 66 and liner 59 cuz i want To know because im intressed In helmets

[@PotatoDigger]

A liner with a repro steel liner band would cost 57,50€ plus shipping. You can choose the markings on the leather( i.e. maker, month and year of production) Luis

[@aaronietosvuori2576]

Ok do you sell those beatifull helmets

[@PotatoDigger]

@@aaronietosvuori2576 yes I currently am in the process of selling some of them, if you're interested send me a message on instagram. Luis

[@sjkfkclvkdkflfmdmd3026]

#sd2022

[@Bennie1983nl]

Why not use chemical paintstripper?

[@PotatoDigger]

Sometimes it works better to do it like this and some older paints are not at all affected by those types of paint strippers.

[@heavyd7224]

Hi! I Wonder if you would sell some of the helmets and if you are do you have eny m42? Daniel

[@PotatoDigger]

Hi, yes I am indeed selling some of those helmets and among those are some M42s, I can still offer you an M42 in shell size 64 made by qvl. Luis

[@heavyd7224]

@@PotatoDigger for What prise?

[@PotatoDigger]

@@heavyd7224 The qvl is 195€+shipping

[@heavyd7224]

@@PotatoDigger this is a restored Shell with liner?

[@PotatoDigger]

@@heavyd7224 yes indeed, repainted shell with liner, split pins and a correct dome stamp.

[@tilly1950]

WOW Nice collection !! so many fine restored helmets you have got !! I have also got a collection of restored helmets its called TILLMANS COLLECTION I am on U/Tube KEEP IT UP Robbie U K

[@PotatoDigger]

Thank you! I will check it out when I have the time! Luis