to all,
Just to inform you I've received the Indian made DU42 black out masks.
For me it was just a test with Indian stuff.
I've tried them on my DU42 and here are the pictures;
The quality of the steelwork looks and feels good. Nuts and bolts need to be replaced of course and the masks need a repaint. The mask also fits perfect on the original shell with a click. A reflector also fits on the mask.
All 5 have been sold now. If there's any more interest let me know. Price is €40 now but I'll do my best to lower this.
Regards,
Sven 
email (option): snvosselman@gmail.com
I understood the Indian replicas were not identical and that Sven had them make some detail changes to the specification....Ian
email (option): ian@wright52.plus.com
No doubt incorporated into all future production now that Sven's done the hard work !
I can see that the ebay version includes the reinforced circular opening (partially hidden by the spring clip) which was used for the cast-mazac retainer used on post-war MU42s...and which were never of course part of the wartime masks...presumably included to allow fitment to the more common post-war shells.
Personally, I'm ever so glad that I can stick with 50p home-made black manilla masks !
I think the fit and accurate shape are the most important things when considering one of these masks.......and as can be seen from the images, they deliver on these points at a very reasonable price too...........
Until recent years where demand has seen copies now made, original masks were rather hard to source.......even 20 years ago they weren't easy to find and were expensive......chances were, if you found one it needed work such as dents bashing out, re-welding and the celluloid pilot-light window never aged very well either in many examples...........so these Indian examples offer a cost-effective and pretty accurate alternative........I wish they had been available back then !
As mentioned above, it seems only the screws need to be exchanged for small dome-headed BA types although the thread employed doesn't really matter........the pilot aperture too may need replacing by a disc of thick transparent plastic (originals were an opaque white-colour celluloid that yellows and cracks with age).......and re-finishing in a semi-matt "eggshell/satin" black as per most originals........
I can recall buying a pile of NOS rims very cheaply and following examination they appeared to have been formed from wartime masks with the centre cut-out and thrown away ! 