Heer M40 ET70...70!....and some ugly art

[MD Helmets]

This guy must had had one heck of a cranium. Another lid that I picked up this past weekend at a local antique mall. Normally, I wouldn't be all that attracted to a helmet with some less than eye appealing art work, BUT, I had to make an exception due to the size of this helmet, and I think you fellow helmet nuts will agree. How often do you see a size 70 helmet in any configuration and for sale? You can see the outlined remains of a decal, presumably Heer, beneath the eagle artwork. My guess is someone at some point decided to touch up the missing parts of the eagle decal, and add a tricolor. You may also notice that the liner band is a size 68 and two of the three split pins appear to have tan paint on them. All pins have the washers and don't look to have any signs of being tampered with and there is a ton of dust all around the shell between the liner band and the shell. Interesting stuff. And to top it off, a nice big and reasonably clear early post year marking ET dome stamp. And for dramatic effect, I added a few shots of this 70 next to an ET62 M35.

Heer, M40, ET70, #5083(?)

[MD Helmets]

Size comparison

[MD Helmets]

Like ducks in a row, sizes 62 to 70.

[KradSpam]

Man that is great! From your description in the PM I expected it to be really messed up with post war paint, but it looks pretty damn good actually, even with the vet added decals. Look at it next to that 62, it's ridicuolous lol.....

Agree the interior could be as used in wartime, it all does look untampered and I've seen the wrong size leather in helmets before plenty of times. If the huge liner was messed up somehow during the war, I can see this being re-linered with a (much more readily available) 68 liner and thrown back into depot stocks to wait for a smaller guy.

A great super rare shell!

[maximus71]

That one was worn by Herman the German!!!!!

[don_kihotis7]

Wow a huge lid for sure. You need one size 60 now to complete the ducks row.
Maybe it will sound weird but i prefer only to buy size 64 in helmets. I like them to look even when placed in a row on my shelves
Plus it's the best size for mannequins and i like them to wear the helmet not just hold it because it's a small size that wouldn't fit.

[ian]

odd thing i know but ,,i actualy think that hand painted addler is very well done ,it looks kind of pleasing, shame it, and the tricolour were put on this helmet ,but a good attempt all the same

[RZM]

That is one heck of a helmet Todd! I like your new avatar too

[MD Helmets]

@ Andy: indeed the painted decals are not THAT bad. I've seen worse. They are growing on me and I might be able to live with them.

@ don_kihotis7: I have been seeing a few 60's up for sale lately so I might have to grab one now. Gonna be much tougher to find a 72, but I might be putting the word out in search of one. I don't have any mannequins so size isn't a factor for that.

[relicz]

Cool find, nice bath tub - congratulations.