All I can offer is how I've always approached layered things. Start at the bottom layer, get that paint right, and then move up. Nifty tidbit: American issue helmet netting was very coarse, about 3"(75mm) square. The US forces preferred to use the British netting, which was much tighter, about 1" (25mm). The British netting used a drawstring, which meant id could be better secured to the metal helmet shell of the US helmet, especially when separated from the inner liner. The American netting was meant to just be jammed between helmet and liner, so it came loose whenever the two were separated.

Hi, I can offer two alternatives for your figures. 1) You can use the gauze from a band aid to be glued onto the helmet as your helmet netting, or 2) you can go with an aftermarket product from Verlinden #VP3 048 Wire Mesh, which is used as helmet netting. I hope this helps you with your 1/35 figures.

Panty hose...

Hit up hobby lobby or Michael's over by the floral area find mesh that best fits the helmet. I did this then glue it on, work ok. Good luck

Remember that the vast majority of the 101st Airborne paratroopers at Normandy used a wider-mesh helmet netting than the 82nd, with maybe 1" squares (check the nets in the movies "Battleground" and "Kelly's Heroes" and the old TV show "Combat!").  The 82nd Airborne, who wore the 1"-squares nets in North Africa, Sicily and italy, wore much smaller-mesh British-made nets, with maybe 1/4" squares, in Normandy.

The difference between the two types of helmet nets worn by the two U.S. airborne divisions in Normandy was quite distinctive, born out by period photos.

By the time of the Holland jump, the majority of the 101st had switched to the British-made small-mesh, 82nd Airborne-type nets (which the 82nd still wore).   

Yeah, panty hose works well. I guess it would fit the British style better?

And wedding tulle from the craft store is good too, I guess it would look better for the American type?