Last spring I had to make 12 or 15 helmets (can't
remember total now) for the production of "Pippin" at
my hubby's school. I used this basic helmet pattern:
http://www.clevelandart.org/educatn/kidsprojects/armor.html
Online project was created by Bob Dewey - for
Cleveland Museum of Art.
I used poster board to make them. It was easy to
adjust the pattern to fit a multitude of head sizes. I
basically had just three or four sizes and hoped they
would work (since I only had on small head and two big
ones to use for measure around here. Hubby has the
most smarts - but the smallest size head in this
house. Matt got to "test" the first ones made - Drats,
I missed another Kodak momment)
I came up with many ways to revise it so the helmets
were not all the same. I added a piece along the back
side to cover the head and neck on each one - and on
some added the piece coming down for the nose. Do a
search for helmet designs to get them started - there
are lots of images online. Everyone loved the helmets!
The boys wanted to keep them but the director saved
them for future use.
I have to say that I was just in AWE at the helmet
designs and armour designs on Lord of the Rings! They
had their won foundry/forge for making the props.
Watch it with your art teacher eyes and you will see
many lessons! Costumes - sets - and on and on.
Unbelievable amount of research had to go into the
costume designs. Think career education. Next time
I'll have to watch it to get the story (ha-ha).
Anyways.... I do think kids would get a kick out of
designing a helmet -- embellishing it with puffy
paints - or a bit of relief (using string, cardboard -
etc) - then spray painting them to look like metal. I
used silver, black and brown spray paint to give a
rich patina to each helmet.
