Help with an SSH-36

[beeman]

I picked this Ssh36 shell up about 30 years ago. I never really paid much attention to it until recently, when i realized what a wealth of info exists out here in the internet. The little research that I did convinced me that it had been clumsily repainted by some prior owner(s). It had a hand painted coat of the light green over a spray painted coat of black over spray painted khaki-tan over a thick coat of a gloss gray. The front originally had a glued-on fabric star that had peeled off before I got it. Only the glue remained. When I finally got up the courage to try to strip off some of the layers of paint I found the remains of some English words hand painted in black on the interior of the right cheek piece. The only ones I could make out before they vanished in the stripping compound were "Russian WW II". Whoever had it (I think) may have put some kind of liner in it. (see the odd khaki stripes in the shell interior)

I have decided to try to restore it to some of its former glory. Just not sure how to do it in the best way possible. I am pretty sure it is a size 4. I would like to repaint it and add an appropriate liner and chin strap. I "think" some approximation of the Soviet B3 color is correct. I am just not sure of a few other things such as:

1) Leather liner or cloth/leather? ( I am trying to get one from Prairie Flower Leather)
2) Should the shell be stripped down to metal and then primed prior to the repaint? ( The primer coat on it now is very thick and hand painted. It has all sorts of drips and runs in it. I had hoped to strip it slowly to see if I could find any markings below but I doubt that will be successful)
3) Should the paint be flat finish or satin?
4) Do the stamped markings reveal anything other than the size and lot number? Maybe the manufacture year or location?
Is the B3 color correct for a per-war Ssh36? If so...does anyone out there actually produce a close copy of the Soviet B3 color?

Any input is greatly appreciated.

Brian

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[beeman]

Sorry...the interface here is a bit Odd...I see only one of my photos were attached...here are the others.(I hope)

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[beeman]

LOL...I still haven't got this right.

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[horsesoldier176]

The Model 36 helmet was issued with a leather liner, then re-issued with a canvas liner.

It was originally painted in a very dark, almost black green color, (the closest you can get generally speaking is a model RR paint named Brunswick Green, or Pennsylvania Railroad Dark Green Locomotive Enamel)

www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_odkw=Brunswick+Green+paint&_osacat=0&_from=R40&_trksid=p2045573.m570.l1313&_nkw=Brunswick+Green+paint&_sacat=0

(Most of these model RR paints are not quite dark enough, and should be mixed 1/3 black, and 2/3 Brunswick Green). One of them, and sorry, I do not recall which manufacturer it is, has it practically dead pecans, cashews and walnuts.

The shells were later (1940ish) refurbished, and repainted in the common (at that time) moss green.

www.ebay.com/itm/Soviet-WWII-Moss-Green-SPRAY-PAINT-For-Model-40-Helmet-/380230823872?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item588785efc0

It was this time period, when the replacement liners were installed, that most of the shells were repainted in the moss green.

The seller who offers the Moss green paint has that shade dead on. I am not employed by, nor am I the owner of that business, but it was one of my original shells that was used for the production of this paint.

The moss green was only used for two, to perhaps three years. By 1942, the Soviets had changed to a medium green, which 1944 Militaria (the seller of the moss green paint) is also planning to produce.

As far as the liners go, you can get either, or both versions as a custom order item from Prairie Flower Leathers: www.pflco.com/

They are not cheap, but they are correct. Again, made from my originals.

If you have any further questions, feel free to ask.

Boridin

[beeman]

Thank you so much for the reply. I appreciate the information immensely! Unfortunately Prairie Flower no longer makes the liners for these shells. However, Steffan has been extremely helpful in giving advice and assistance in my attempts to make my own liner. I will post ore pics when I have made some progress. I do have a few other questions to which you might know the answers. Did did the Soviets prime these shells before the final color was applied? I didn't see any evidence that this one had been primed but then again, the prior owner left almost no original paint. Also, how commonly were the stars applied to pre/early war shells? I know you see a lot of them but i am a little dubious about how many are original. And last...should the star be solid or the simple outline? Thank you again so much for the help.

Brian