<< Pepakura Helmet Tips That I Wish I Had When I Built This One

This instructable is three years old and, due to the pepakura experience I've acquired since then, obsolete. I can't delete it (since I entered it in some papercraft contest) so I'm redoing the entire thing to reflect how I build my helmets now.

Step 1: The Files

For a Halo cosplay, all files can be found at the 405th. Here are some of the more rudimentary files, great for if you're starting out your first cosplay or if you're strained for time.

Step 2: The Build

Tip 1: It's usually best to start from the bottom up, although this is ultimately up to you and what you feel comfortable doing. Make sure you're using a very sturdy paper. I always use 110 pound cardstock that I pick up at Walmart. It makes sturdy builds that are still easy to fold.

Tip 2: Make sure to score your folds with something like an awl or the back of your hobby knife. It makes your folds clean and easy (when I did this project three years ago, I did not do that, so the helmet shown in this instructable very blatantly reflect that.)

Tip 3: NO GLUE STICKS! Always use a permanent glue, like superglue or contact cement. I prefer using gel superglue, since it has a tendency not to drip.

Tip 4: Always use the extra supports. The photo up there of the Halo helmet is from my first prototype. I didn't include the paper visor, or any other support, thus dooming the first project before it had even started.

Tip 5: NO TEST FITS! I know you're itching to try on that radical new helmet, but you're only risking its destruction, which can lead to a lot of frustration- wait until you've finished resin and bondo. Beforehand, always make sure you've scaled your helmet to fit your cranium size; you can find a guide for that here.

Step 3: Mistakes Were Made

As I said, this instructable is pretty much obsolete, although I do hope it helped some people who were starting out cosplay with no clear instruction, as I did. Just know this- mistakes will be made. That's fine. I tried that helmet three times before I was satisfied. I got a lot of experience out of this project.

So, what's the moral of this story?

If you're obsessive compulsive, as I am, and you want to keep your Instructables dashboard clean of any unwanted instructables such as this one ("Obstructables", as I call them,) make sure you know what you're doing before you make one and enter it in some contest.