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!
Remove these ads by
Signing UpStep 1: Building the Papercraft
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.
-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.
Visit Our Store »
Go Pro Today »
then I took an arrow to the knee.
Other than that, love it!
DOVAAAHVIIIIIIIIIINNN!!!!!!!!!!
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.
"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 !
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 ??
from the first picture I can see you glued the pieces together and the lined the inside with duct tape.
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.
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!
I remember once thinking I invented using spackle for papercraft. Hahaha!
love this! it looks like metal!
Great work!
With that said, I like the helmet too.