Hanging helmet on tanks, how ?

Modeling Subjects Armor
1

Hi guys/gals.

For a while I’m puzzled on how they hang those helmets on the exterior. See pic below

http://perso.orange.fr/did.panzer/silhouette%20pz/marderIII-0.jpg

If image not shown use the link above.

I know that on the picture above, there are hinges behind them helmets, but how ? Were there like a hook to attach them or do you loose the helmet’s straps then slipped into the hinges ?

Thanks,

Ben

2

Hang 'em by the chin strap. Just remember that the real vehicle would bounce around a bit in the field, so make sure that it would be a logical point to hang something from (if you hit a “bump” it shouldn’t fly off the vehicle). You can also use the “Field Expedient Method”. Crews are know to hang extra rope/bungees/straps etc. to hold all the extra stuff they bring to the field.

Hope this helps.

-John

3

Hang em by the chin strap eh ? Sounds like half and half to me, but… oh well.

I wonder if there is a picture showing how it is done.

Thanks John,

Ben

4

Now that I think of it, I guess just about every kind of helmet has some kind of liner or suspension system in it. Keeps the “bucket” on your brain -so to speak. I think that if whatever fitting you chose to hang your helmet from was “deep” enough to grab the liner/suspension that that would work on most any helmet. I can only really speak of my own experience with the old US “steel pot” which had a liner and web suspension. I just had to be sure and buckle the chinstrap before I hung it something - the outer steel shell and camo liner could work themselves off.

-John

5

The Marder III-H shown has “foliage loops” welded on the side of the crew shields, that’s why the spacing and location is so uniform for them…these are definitely solid enough to support a helmet strap or two…the chin straps are pretty heavy duty items, meant to keep the helmet on when hit by shrapnel/debris after all if properly fastened…so staying in place on a moving vehicle wouldn’t be an issue if cinched down via the strap. [;)]

6

Thanks for the input and info there wbill. Definately makes thing a little bit more clear now. [;)]

Ben

7

I’m wanting to remember that the German helmets used a leather chin strap and a leather suspension system, both riveted soundly to the helmet body.

8

Yep, I just made a chin strap out of lead foil, and hung it:

This seems to be more of an early war trait in the photo record, later war pics don’t seem to show many helmets on the outside of the German AFV’s.?

Steve

9

…are you kidding with this question? hang the thing by the strap! remember, helmets were not standard issue to tank crews after mid-'43…although some crews still retained them…

10

I think the question should be,‘what are the helmet straps hanging from’-- eh – manstein?- T[(-D]

11

Eric,

Yes that those helmets are not standard issue, but the tank crews find them very usefull; as a drinking bucket, for shaving, and even to take a dump. I’m sure they have use it for other stuff too.

Ben

12

Hey Ben,

Even though I wasn’t a German soldier, I was an Army tanker, and we did get issued helmets…and…I can guarantee you no one would EVER take a dump in his own steel pot.

EVER. [^]

13

Ok, let’s scratch that word dump [:D]

Ben

14

I think the helmets are not hanging from the strap but rather are hung from a hook or bracket. I’d think if hung by the chin strap - they would tilt forward unless you adjust the chin strap which wouldnt make sense if you may need the helmet on your head in a hurry.

I dont think they would keep the helmets like that when the vehicle is on the move. We would get “dumped” on by our DI when we left our helmets laying around somewhere.