M42 late war helmet?

[Terry 29]

Hello everyone!
I noticed something that it worries me , the helmet smells something like paint.Could it have been recently painted while there are rusts and scratches?
I took some close-up photos to make the paint details clearer.
Thank you!

[Terry 29]

[HoundsTooth]

Hi Terry,

So i asked around a few more people about the paint, as i know you were concerned about it as per our PM.
I had another 4-5 people all say they thought the paint looked original from the photos. It was commented that EF helmets often have a smoother finish than other M42s. It was also mentioned that the smell you talk of could be some sort of cleaning fluid?

The rust bleed and scratches - i've seen this on other helmets that definitely have not been painted, so i would not worry about that.
It maybe worth asking someone else if they can smell the same as you? (You haven't have the 'rona have you? - just kidding).

So with the comments here, and the email responses i had - the general consensus is paint is good
nick

[Terry 29]

Good morning!
Today a friend came who knows about paints and told me that it does not smell exactly like paint but like mold. He rubbed it a little with a wet piece of cotton and it turned black as if there was a layer of dirt on the helmet. If it was freshly painted he told me the cotton should be clean.