OK. I'll post some of my helmets here that are not already shown and am willing to discuss differences between my repaints (aka fakes) and original helmets. Did this on GHW for a while until the mods decided the thread had run its course. Same may happen here. Not an issue for me.
Here's my approach to forum discussion - I'll post pictures and answer questions about my repaints. But I won't respond to personal insults. I don't make time for that. Also, I won't get into long, circular ethical arguments about the impacts of what I do.
There may be times when I seem absent or unresponsive. It's because sometimes I lose interest.
On GHW I've already discussed ad-nauseam the matter of how I mark my repaints. When I sell on ebay I use white paint on the interior. I admit that NOT ALL my repaints are marked. What I will say is that I have never nor will I ever sell one of my repaints as real. Of course that doesn't prevent someone else from doing so. I'll call out anyone I know of that does. I don't claim to be an angel. It is what it is. Almost nobody in this hobby is without sin.
I've been doing repaints for about 13 years. My technique has evolved over time but is not yet perfect. Perfection is always the goal, be it attainable or not. It's possible for the trained eye to spot my work. (To clear up an issue, my repaints are done on shells that have already been post-war painted. They are repaints both inside and out. I do not alter helmets with original paint unless the paint is so far gone as to be worthless).
I do it because:
I'm pretty good (not perfect) at it
It allows people who can't afford an expensive helmet to have what looks like one for much less
It keeps the price of original camos from going through the roof
It fills a niche for the person who considers collecting camos too much of a risk and would rather have what he KNOWS is a repaint.
For those new to this hobby -
Know that it is and has been a minefield for a long, long time. Just a sampling of threads on this or other forums and you'll know what I mean. Almost everyone, including me, has been ripped-off at some point. The importance is to learn from it so that it seldom happens.
In addition to fake and real helmets, decal hoaxes, and dealer reputations, the hobby is full of personal egos. Beware of the know-it-alls and hot-heads who claim divine knowledge, righteous authority, or moral superiority because they're self-appointed members of some exclusive collector's club. The savy collector will be objective, cool-headed, courteous, and above all, educated in the hobby.
Rex
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I predict we'll devote a sticky thread for your use, commentary, pics, etc. Again, good to have you.