Skyrim Dovahkhiin/Iron Helmet Replica - General

I'm all done! I will probably be touching up the paint from now 'till doomsday, but for now, I'm happy. I will be uploading a tutorial to Instructables once I write it, with plenty more pictures than I have shown here, plus more detailed instructions. [img_thumb]http://filesmelt.com/dl/DSC_2728.JPG[/img_thumb] [img_thumb]http://filesmelt.com/dl/DSC_2730.JPG[/img_thumb] Ok, so I'm making this: [img]http://manatank.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/dovahkiin.jpg[/img] And how shall I make this you say? How shall I build this sturdy, metal, battle-worn helmet? Out of paper. Duh. First, I got a papercraft model of the helmet, and built that. Thank you z8-0! [url]http://z8-0.deviantart.com/[/url] [img_thumb]http://filesmelt.com/dl/DSC_2587.JPG[/img_thumb] After filling the horns with duct tape to make sure they don't crush, I got this: [img_thumb]http://filesmelt.com/dl/DSC_2625.JPG[/img_thumb] Pretty good for one afternoon of work, eh? Now that the easy (if tedious) part is done, I had to make the thing a little bit stronger than card-stock paper and glue. How shall I do that? How shall I turn mere paper into a helmet fit for the head of the dragonborn? More paper. Duh. To be precise, paper-mache. [img_thumb]http://filesmelt.com/dl/DSC_2631.JPG[/img_thumb] This is what it looked like after two layers of paper-mache. By this point I also had some temporary cardboard infrastructure inside it, so it got pretty strong. So to make it look like metal I used spackle to smooth it out and give it a more solid kind of look. Here it is after two layers, sanding, and some sealing spray. [img_thumb]http://filesmelt.com/dl/DSC_2639.JPG[/img_thumb] Looking good. Now to make the horns look more like horns. I used some string and more paper-mache to give it ridges, which I then spackled over and sealed again. [img_thumb]http://filesmelt.com/dl/DSC_2644.JPG[/img_thumb] Then I primed it with black spray paint on the metal part, and white on the horns. Now it looks really bad, but that's ok, it's just the priming and the paint is still wet. Also, due to the blackness of the helmet, I had to use my flash so the picture sucks. [img_thumb]http://filesmelt.com/dl/DSC_2652.JPG[/img_thumb] That's all I have for now, I'm going to pick up some spray foam tomorrow to make it really rigid, and paper-mache the inside and all that. I'll have to do another coat of sealer and paint for the inside, but ah well.

I cant wait to see it finished!

That's really impressive for 1 afternoon of work. That would of taken me a lot longer.

Brilliant!

[img_thumb]http://filesmelt.com/dl/DSC_2669.JPG[/img_thumb] Update time! I went to Lowes today and bought some stuff, including that spray foam I needed. I coated the inside of the helmet and put duct tape on it to make sure it keeps it shape, as I had to take out the cardboard I had been using previously. Once this cures (8 hours, so I'll do this tomorrow) I'll sand it down and paper mache the inside, and paint it. You would be surprised how much thickening the inside that is exposed (the neck part, as the helmet is a bit large for my non-dragonborn head) makes the rest look stronger. I want to do more, but that's all I can do today. Stupid foam, slowing my productivity.

[QUOTE=Farm;34085514][img_thumb]http://filesmelt.com/dl/DSC_2669.JPG[/img_thumb] Stupid foam, slowing my productivity.[/QUOTE] IF you sprinkle water on it, it will be dry in a few hours.

[QUOTE=Serj22;34086133]IF you sprinkle water on it, it will be dry in a few hours.[/QUOTE] Really? I'll try that, thanks.

[QUOTE=Farm;34086891]Really? I'll try that, thanks.[/QUOTE] Learned taht from using that stuff forever to make molds. It's printed on the can I believe.

All right, another update! After filling the helmet with foam, I sanded it down and smoothed it out, then covered the inside with duct tape so the paper mache would stick better. [img_thumb]http://filesmelt.com/dl/DSC_2678.JPG[/img_thumb] [img_thumb]http://filesmelt.com/dl/DSC_2683.JPG[/img_thumb] Then, like the outside, I coated the inside with spackle, sanded, sealed, and painted. [img_thumb]http://filesmelt.com/dl/DSC_2689.JPG[/img_thumb] [img_thumb]http://filesmelt.com/dl/DSC_2694.JPG[/img_thumb] After the paint dries, I can start on the fake rivets and do the final coat of paint. Whoo!

Ok, so I used some mini brads with the tails pulled off as rivets, and glued them on. [img_thumb]http://filesmelt.com/dl/DSC_2714.JPG[/img_thumb] [img_thumb]http://filesmelt.com/dl/DSC_2716.JPG[/img_thumb] [img_thumb]http://filesmelt.com/dl/DSC_2717.JPG[/img_thumb] Then I stood a few feet back and started a light coat of silver spray paint, and smeared it on to the edges so that I can make it look weathered. [img_thumb]http://filesmelt.com/dl/DSC_2721.JPG[/img_thumb] When that is done I do the detailing and make the metal a little more convincing. Then the horns and rust and all that. I found that the helmet sits a bit too high up now because of the foam, but oh well. The back already looks like crap on a person, this was meant more as a display than a prop, though I have plans for the latter.

You should've drybrushed silver paint on instead of using spray paint.

Ok, it looks like I'm all done. I will probably be touching up the paint from now 'till doomsday [sp]late December[/sp], but for now, I'm happy. I will be uploading a tutorial to Instructables once I write it, with plenty more pictures than I have shown here, plus more detailed instructions. [img_thumb]http://filesmelt.com/dl/DSC_2728.JPG[/img_thumb] [img_thumb]http://filesmelt.com/dl/DSC_2730.JPG[/img_thumb] [editline]9th January 2012[/editline] [QUOTE=coco911231;34120044]You should've drybrushed silver paint on instead of using spray paint.[/QUOTE] Using spray paint and standing a couple feet back makes it speckly, like pig iron, which is what I wanted. I brushed it on for the edges.

Cool. You should make a stormcloak/guard helmet next. I thought their helmets were really badass.

[QUOTE=Farm;34121317]I will be uploading a tutorial to Instructables once I write it, with plenty more pictures than I have shown here, plus more detailed instructions. [/QUOTE] Looking forward to that

win!

I am starting work on an iron sword to go with