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MKI khaki colour in comparion to MK2 khaki/brown and MK3

Article about: Hello, I know there are plenty of references to helmet colours on the forum but I’ve never actually had an army MK2 in the hand, don’t remember ever seeing one (I thought they were all just

  1. #1
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    Default MKI khaki colour in comparion to MK2 khaki/brown and MK3

    Hello,

    I know there are plenty of references to helmet colours on the forum but I’ve never actually had an army MK2 in the hand, don’t remember ever seeing one (I thought they were all just varying shades of smooth olive, thanks to Aaron I now know they weren’t) and screen settings also play a roll. After having recently bought a MK2 online where the colour looked ok(ish) in the photos but didn't upon its arrival, I thought I should ask the colour question.

    I do have a couple of MKI Brodies and would like to ask how close the colour of an early wartime army MK2 is to the colour of a MKI Brodie, or are they the same?

    How chocolate were the helmets during the second half of the war and were the the majority of MK3’s the same chocolate colour?

    In posts 47 and 91 here British MkIII Turtle pattern helmet Aaron’s MK3 and Jerry’s both look to me as if they have the same colour as a MKI Brodie, those in post 53 look a dark, rusty brown and Roger’s first one in post 116 looks like milk chocolate, or at least it does inside.

    Thanks
    Tony

  2. #2

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    I don't know if this could help you: below there are some pics of 2 mk's, but are a bit "flashy";
    the mkII is a 1941 specimen, while the mkIII has been made in '45.
    Both are more or less of the same khaki tone, the mkII being a bit lighter in color.

    MKI khaki colour in comparion to MK2 khaki/brown and MK3MKI khaki colour in comparion to MK2 khaki/brown and MK3MKI khaki colour in comparion to MK2 khaki/brown and MK3MKI khaki colour in comparion to MK2 khaki/brown and MK3

  3. #3
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    Thanks for the pics.

    The MK3 looks milk chocolate brown to me whereas the MK2 appears to be green/grey.

    I've just bought a MK3, it arrived a couple of minutes ago. I need to take some photos but at the moment I'd say it looks like a postwar olive drab colour as neither of the above seem to match.

    Tony

  4. #4
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    Hi Tony, I know next to nothing about the Mk1 helmet, but I'm sure there are some here who know what they are talking about.
    The Mk1* & Mk2, I know a little bit, Mk1* was stripped of it's WW1 paint as far as I know, then painted textured khaki green outside & smooth inside.
    This would have been done 37-39 maybe into 1940 as well as some have 1940 dated liners, but not necessarily so. The Mk2 from 1938 - 41 was painted khaki green textured paint outside & smooth inside, then in 1941 until 42/43 textured inside as well. I've seen a 42 dated khaki green textured inside & out, but not a 43, being textured inside is very hard to see the dates.
    1943 they went over to dark brown, there are some refurbished post war Mk2's painted dark brown which are hard to tell the difference.
    But as with all the helmets Mk1*, Mk2 & Mk3 there probably was a slight variation in the colour, then the next 70+ years also plays a part too.

  5. #5
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    Aaron, you know next to nothing about the MKI but a 'little bit' about the MKI* and MK2 I think you're being a touch modest there.

    That's interesting to hear that the MKI was stripped and also a pity because that was my reference colour anyway, I've just been taking photos of my just arrived MK3 together with a MKI and will post them after I've put them on my laptop.

    I'll stick the MK3 in the MK3 thread too, it's one of those MK3's with a lift the dot fitting.

    Tony

  6. #6

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    Quote by ynot View Post
    Thanks for the pics.

    The MK3 looks milk chocolate brown to me whereas the MK2 appears to be green/grey.

    Tony
    Actually, the tone is more gray-brownish, smooth on the inside.
    And, I wouldn't say that an olive drab color is necessarily a post war issue...

    MKI khaki colour in comparion to MK2 khaki/brown and MK3

  7. #7
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    Quote by ziomanno View Post
    Actually, the tone is more gray-brownish, smooth on the inside.
    And, I wouldn't say that an olive drab color is necessarily a post war issue...
    Ah yes, that's what I mean about computer screens.

    Here are a couple of the MK3 next to a MKI, the MKI looks yellow on my screen but it's more a green/yellow in the hand.

    Tony
    Click to enlarge the picture Click to enlarge the picture MKI khaki colour in comparion to MK2 khaki/brown and MK3   MKI khaki colour in comparion to MK2 khaki/brown and MK3  


  8. #8
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    Default MK I colours

    Here are a couple of my Mk.Is with what seem to be in their war-time colours, the first is a War office Pattern Helmet (Brodie) which has been refurbished with the lining and chin-strap of the Mk.I you can see traces of the original green paint as well as the later khaki.
    The other is a later issue Mk.I with the sanded khaki paint introduced in the fall of 1916.MKI khaki colour in comparion to MK2 khaki/brown and MK3MKI khaki colour in comparion to MK2 khaki/brown and MK3

    By comparison EC& CO LTD (E.Camelinat & Co. Birmingham) 1939
    MKI khaki colour in comparion to MK2 khaki/brown and MK3MKI khaki colour in comparion to MK2 khaki/brown and MK3

    JSS 1939
    MKI khaki colour in comparion to MK2 khaki/brown and MK3MKI khaki colour in comparion to MK2 khaki/brown and MK3

    RO&Co 1939
    MKI khaki colour in comparion to MK2 khaki/brown and MK3MKI khaki colour in comparion to MK2 khaki/brown and MK3

    RO&Co Mk.III 1945
    MKI khaki colour in comparion to MK2 khaki/brown and MK3MKI khaki colour in comparion to MK2 khaki/brown and MK3

    BMB MkIV 1945
    MKI khaki colour in comparion to MK2 khaki/brown and MK3
    Click to enlarge the picture Click to enlarge the picture MKI khaki colour in comparion to MK2 khaki/brown and MK3   MKI khaki colour in comparion to MK2 khaki/brown and MK3  

    Last edited by RVLucy; 02-23-2015 at 02:15 AM.

  9. #9
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    Thanks Roger,

    I think I should be able to spot an original painted late war helmet, that might not be the case with early war helmets but at least I can see they're much darker than a MKI.

    Tony

  10. #10

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    Quote by tinlid View Post
    Hi Tony, I know next to nothing about the Mk1 helmet, but I'm sure there are some here who know what they are talking about.
    The Mk1* & Mk2, I know a little bit, Mk1* was stripped of it's WW1 paint as far as I know, then painted textured khaki green outside & smooth inside.
    This would have been done 37-39 maybe into 1940 as well as some have 1940 dated liners, but not necessarily so. The Mk2 from 1938 - 41 was painted khaki green textured paint outside & smooth inside, then in 1941 until 42/43 textured inside as well. I've seen a 42 dated khaki green textured inside & out, but not a 43, being textured inside is very hard to see the dates.
    1943 they went over to dark brown, there are some refurbished post war Mk2's painted dark brown which are hard to tell the difference.
    But as with all the helmets Mk1*, Mk2 & Mk3 there probably was a slight variation in the colour, then the next 70+ years also plays a part too.
    Leon

    I have a particular interest in BEF (39/40) vehicle colours and markings and have followed this thread to understand more about the closely related subject of helmet colours. I have looked at Mike Chappell's books, Marcus Cottons' articles (though not the book he hasn't written) and several of Martin Brayley's publications, but have found very little hard information about helmet paint colour. Your posts on these threads have been extremely helpful and your summary here is exactly what I would expect to be the case for the BEF Mk I* and Mk II: Khaki Green No 3, and the use of sand textured paint also fits. I understand you have the evidence of a lot of actual helmets - have you also found any documentary evidence that ties in with this?

    Andrew

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