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How to Make a Skyrim Iron Helmet (From Paper to Prop)

How to Make a Skyrim Iron Helmet (From Paper to Prop)
Hail Dovakhiin! This Instructable will teach you how to take a 3D model and turn it into a real, solid, sturdy prop. Specifically, I will be creating the iron helmet from Bethesda's The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim. As my entrance to the Make it Real challenge, this focuses on the person with minimal tools, materials, and budget. The easiest way to turn a digital 3D model into a tangible thing is by 3D printing or laser cutting, but not just anybody can do that. If you have paper,  glue, and a couple bucks you can follow this Instructable. This process involves finding (or making, if you know how. I don't) a papercraft of your model, building it, and turning that paper model into something a little more solid. You can use the concepts I will teach you here and apply them to a statue, a knife, a Pokemon or anything you can think of, not just this specific helmet. Let's get started!
 
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Step 1Building the Papercraft

Building the Papercraft
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So what is papercraft? http://Papercraftmuseum.com defines papercraft as "a hobby where computer images are printed, cut into pieces, and glued into a 3-dimensional model." I used z8-0's Iron Helmet Papercraft, which can be found at http://z8-0.deviantart.com/art/Iron-Helmet-Papercraft-DL-271112685. To assemble your model you will need:

-Card Stock Paper
-Scissors
-Exacto Knife
-Something sharp for scoring/the aforementioned exacto knife
-Tacky Glue


The glue must be tacky for good results! A glue stick won't cut it. Print your papercraft (this one is 13 pages long), and make sure you are using the version with the fold lines and edge numbers. Now build your model! If you want more precise directions, take a look at this (http://www.papercraftmuseum.com/beginner-tutorial/) beginner tutorial and this (http://www.papercraftmuseum.com/advanced-tutorial/) advanced tutorial and read both. I am going to assume you can build your model without my help. Make sure not to attach the horns yet, as they are far too likely to crush in the coming steps without a little extra help. Also, a more experience papercrafter might want to make certain parts of this model without creasing their folds, such as the horns and the dome of the head for a smoother look.
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27 comments
May 13, 2012. 12:56 AMCyclone1764 says:
I used to do papercraft like you,
then I took an arrow to the knee.
Apr 27, 2012. 5:45 AMimcmill says:
try to use foam without isocyanates. iso-cyanate is is carcinogen. there are ioscyanate free spray foams available. still not "healthy" but way less harmfull then isocy. .
May 9, 2012. 5:52 PMZaiik Kawaii says:
Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaay Thiis was what i was lookiing for TwT
Feb 29, 2012. 5:01 AMVoid Schism says:
It's a good idea not to use brand names, such as "Elmers", as these are often not available in other countries. It is better to use the type of glue (eg. "woodglue"), or the chemical name (eg. "PVA") to make your 'ible more globalised.

Other than that, love it!
DOVAAAHVIIIIIIIIIINNN!!!!!!!!!!
Mar 4, 2012. 8:50 AMjustjimAZ says:
I disagree, Void Schism. While it IS a good idea to know and mention generic terms like PVA glue or spray paint for plastic, it is valuable to be as specific as possible about brand names and product names.

This allows those in the same country to get the specific items if they choose, and also to find substitutes as close to the original as possible. If I walk into a store and ask for PVA glue, I may not get a useful response. If I say I need something like Elmer's Glue All, I am far more likely to get what I need. It is also easier to look up specs on the internet.

I would go so far as to say use specific product names like "Elmer's Glue All" or "Krylon Fusion Hammered Metal" or "Liquid Nails Heavy Duty", since a company may have several products that look similar but are not identical.
Apr 26, 2012. 1:24 PMimcmill says:
For other users outside the US of A it's hard to get a substitute for a specific brand name product series.
"Elmer's glue all" can be everything from cyano- to woodglue.
A specific product description of it's attributes and characteristics is the essential thing.

"a tacky non-transparent/transparent, viscous paper glue" is far more convicing then "get your Elmers XX Glue".

Brand names are not redundant but, no offence justjimAZ, googeling for the characteristics of some brand name product to find a substitute in other countries is often a pain.

anyways, awesome instructable !
Apr 25, 2012. 8:17 AMimcmill says:
how exactly did you do the duct tape lining inside the horns ?
did you first glued the paper pieces together and lined the inside as far as you could get it ?

or did you lined the duct tape on the inside-side of the paper pieces BEFORE you glued them together ??
Apr 25, 2012. 8:44 AMimcmill says:
ok.
from the first picture I can see you glued the pieces together and the lined the inside with duct tape.
Apr 26, 2012. 1:15 PMimcmill says:
ok so after glueing the first horn I had an idea how to make the duct tape process easier and tapeing the horn till the very tight tip.

I started from the tip of the horn glueing the first two pieces together.
after the glue had dried I lined the inner side with duct tape stripes.
Apr 11, 2012. 1:15 AMDusk Shadows says:
WHAT A DRAGON!?
Apr 11, 2012. 1:13 AMDusk Shadows says:
EPIC BRO MY BROTHERS AND ME LOVE SKYRIM I AM TOTALLY FOLLOWING YOU!!!!!!!
Apr 11, 2012. 1:12 AMDusk Shadows says:
Fus Ro Dah!!!!!!
Mar 9, 2012. 9:27 PMI am the Chosen 0n3 says:
SO E-PIC!

nuz aan zul, fent a lok! Fod fin vul, dovah nok! Fen kos nahlot, mahfaeraak, arhk ruz! Paaz Keizaal fen kos stin nol bein Alduin jot!
Dovahkiin, dovahkiin! Naal ok zin los vahriin, wah dein vokul, mahfaeraak ahst vaal! Ahrk fin norok paal graan fud nost hon zindro zaan! Dovahkiin, fah hin, kogaan mu draal!
Mar 5, 2012. 12:09 PMMalhecho says:
i was gonna post more instructables but then i took an arrow to the knee.
Mar 4, 2012. 8:28 PMZandoken says:
Does anyone have any idea why I can't print pages 10-14? The numbers print, but not the images?
Mar 4, 2012. 2:22 PMEvilminded1 says:
I love you...r helmet creation! I can not wait to be the dragonborne!!! Thank you!
Mar 4, 2012. 10:40 AMwyoming 35 says:
I do some paperkura helmets and I think the best way to finish them is to fiberglass it. You fiberglass the in side and resin the outside. Then to make smoothe I use bondo. Then I paint it. I think it is a lot easyer than paper mache and a lot faster to.
Mar 4, 2012. 8:53 AMjustjimAZ says:
This is a perfect example of being usefully specific about brand and product. If i am in India and want to reproduce your results, I could easily use this pic to find a close match.

I remember once thinking I invented using spackle for papercraft. Hahaha!
Mar 4, 2012. 7:42 AMnerd12 says:
I used to make helmets too, then i took a arrow to the knee. lol
love this! it looks like metal!
Feb 29, 2012. 10:47 AMmonsterlego says:
YAHHRR! FUS ROH DAHHHH!!!!!
Feb 29, 2012. 9:08 AMlafnbear says:
I don't play Skyrim so I don't have in-game reference to work from to compare (I've seen images online but I don't know if they're in-game shots or artist renderings), but I don't think the visible creases in the finished product take away at all- looks real to me!
Feb 28, 2012. 6:28 PMtocsik says:
I was going to make one of these helmets but then I took an arrow to the knee.

Great work!
Feb 28, 2012. 7:21 PMilpug says:
I hate that joke.

With that said, I like the helmet too.

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