Helmet Tutorial (leather greathelm--IMAGE HEAVY)

[debuenzo]

What you will need-- Posterboard, brass brads, scissors, pen/ sharpie, leather, leather dye, foam brush, gloves, hammer, anvil (i use weights), rivets, washers, rivet setter, utility knife, and drill

Steps--
1. Think of what you want to make:

2. Decide:

3. Trace helmet onto posterboard:

4. Cut it out:


5. Clearly label all pieces:

6. Use brass brads to hold it together:

7. If the helmet fits, transfer the pattern to leather:

8. Cut out the leather:


9. Use a utility blade for details and such:


10. Use a drill for the holes:


11. Dye the leather, using whatever dye and color you like (using gloves will keep your hands clean):


12. Use rivets to put the helmet together:

13. Put the post through the two holes from each piece:

14. Then put a washer on and tamp down, using the rivet setter(hole part):


15. Cut off the excess post:


16. Again using the rivet setter (rounded out area), pound the post over the washer:

17. Continue until the helmet is finished:

[Nish]

Take any opportunity you can to post yourself shirtless, eh Debuenzo?


Neat Tutorial Thanks for posting it.

[varadin]

Nice work

Did you do any padding on the inside or chin strap or is it rather tight fitting on your head?

[debuenzo]

w/ some simple blue foam padding, it fits rather nicely.

and i post it for you, Nish

[Aslaug]

The pics definitely help for steps 1-2. The expressions are crucial to the idea formation process

[Judas]

I always get bored after step one and scrap my projects.

[Sir Roland]

looks good. going to add any other details or leave it all black?

Side Note: If anybody quotes that I will kill your whole family. I mean it. Pain in the * enough for it to load once

[Arrakis]

Are those...

Those are snaps! You aren't planning on attaching a ... shrubbery, are you?

But srsly, nice "tutorial". A fine helm, too.

[debuenzo]

plan to paint a silver cross on the front

using the snaps, i intend to put wings on the helm ala:

and horns (when not fighting)

[Arrakis]

AWWWWESOOOOOOOME.

[Solusar]

That's awesome **** man.

[Calarn the Black]

You now win for reproducing Oblivion armor.

[kree]

im making one, nuff said

[Thomas MacFinn]

I especially like step 5. Nothing quite like finding out that one piece of the leather you just cut doesn't fit with the rest of the project unless its wrongside out because you laid down the pattern wrong.

[D-9-13]

Anyone have any good suggestions on painting leather to look like metal? specific dyes, colors that have worked, paints? Etc?
Beautiful helm by the way Debuenzo...how did you form such a perfect shape across the faceplate?

[Derian]

The only way I've found to get leather to look even a bit like metal is going to be with metallic paints. Cheap acrylic paints work alright, though can be prone to flaking off, so you need to be ready to reapply every so often depending on the piece.

[D-9-13]

The only way I've found to get leather to look even a bit like metal is going to be with metallic paints. Cheap acrylic paints work alright, though can be prone to flaking off, so you need to be ready to reapply every so often depending on the piece.

Thanks Derian, I'll try that, maybe just better to go with a solid ...

[Derian]

Oh, I didn't mean to imply that it looks bad. In fact, it usually does look really good, it just doesn't scream 'metal' when you look at it.

[debuenzo]

Beautiful helm by the way Debuenzo...how did you form such a perfect shape across the faceplate?

Thanks!
I folded the pattern in half and set a 20 lb. weight on the lower half of it (plate weight) and let it sit for a couple days. That and hand shaping/ pinching....really nothing fancy whatsoever.

[D-9-13]

Beautiful helm by the way Debuenzo...how did you form such a perfect shape across the faceplate?

Thanks!
I folded the pattern in half and set a 20 lb. weight on the lower half of it (plate weight) and let it sit for a couple days. That and hand shaping/ pinching....really nothing fancy whatsoever.

Awesome, thank you! I'll give that a try. the shaping is nice and clean, really gives it a finished metal look. fantastic tutorial as well, much appreciated. Although I must admit, after viewing it a few times, I do suddenly feel the need to focus some additional time on upper body physique training, those shirtless pics are making me feel a bit on the scrawny side...good motivation though!

[Ingvar Ironside]

This helm rules. I'm definitely keeping some of the technique in mine when I start to put together my own.

Show some pics when you make whatever you're snapping on the sides!

And less clothing!

[debuenzo]

UPDATE:
some photos w/ the wings and chain (working on the horns)

[Arrakis]

Lookin' hot; pants could use a little work, though...

[debuenzo]

lol, yea...that and roman soldiers don't wear wrist watches*

[Cib]

Oh wow, that kit is looking beautiful!

[Dacian]

Porno....

sexy as usual.

good lookin' ****, ya got there. Hope to see it at Rag!

[Solusar]

Looked good at Rag.

[Ard Ri Cade]

Sorry to rez the thread, but just out of curiosity, the stain you used, was it a sealant as well? Or was it strictly just a black stain.

[Sir_Mel]

Hey debuenzo, where'd you pull the pattern from?

[Mercer]

Judging from the first pics, either his noodle or his * (that first pic COULD be constipation...)

[debuenzo]

lol...i used posterboard for the pattern...which is based on a crusader style great helm
for the circumference, i made a blue headband that would be the inner padding and measured around that

and i think it is just dye

[Sir_Mel]

I meant more did you just make the pattern up or did you pull it off a website somewhere?

[debuenzo]

I made it up, but I looked at many online templates to get an idea.

[debuenzo]

Insane Necrothread for Helmet Update:



I was finally able to make my horns. They are made out of cardboard templates with spray foam insulation that I carved to shape and wrapped with white athletic tape. I then DAPed and taped them to leather discs with the snaps in them to snap onto the helm.

[Sir Thurat]

Neat. So, I didn't quite catch it: are the horns molded spray foam, or are they cardboard with spray foam on the outside?

I'm sure you've said it somewhere in an earlier post, but I don't fancy myself much of a time traveler :<

[debuenzo]

I was finally able to make my horns. They are made out of cardboard templates with spray foam insulation that I carved to shape and wrapped with white athletic tape. I then DAPed and taped them to leather discs with the snaps in them to snap onto the helm.