So, oddly enough I am a high school student; I am obsessed with Greek and Roman history. I am looking for ideas on a project for my ancient history finals. I want to make a Chalcidian Helmet, unfortunately I know of no one in my area who partakes in metal working or leather working at this time. I was hoping someone could give me advice on how I may be able to accomplish this on a low budget and on my own. A few have suggested that I use aluminum foil on a plié wood structure then line it with cotton and spray paint it gold using imitation bristles for the black and red plume. Any thoughts or ideas are greatly appreciated.
It could be surprisingly easy to do with just sheet brass. You should contact Matt Amt of Legio XX in Maryland, he makes all of his incredible helmets out of stuff he found while dumpster diving.
When is your project due? Have you talked your idea over with your teacher yet?
I'd second Evan's suggestion about sheet metal, only if time is limited perhaps you could use a premade helmet bowl like from a costume shop and add metal fittings. If you do a Roman Attic helm, you could add a brow piece, hinged cheek guards and a crest. A little embossing would be a really nice touch.
Dan D'Silva
Far beyond the rising sun
I ride the winds of fate
Prepared to go where my heart belongs,
Back to the past again.
-- Gamma Ray
Well, I'm tough, rough, ready and I'm able
To pick myself up from under this table...
-- Thin Lizzy
you do not mention how financial you are
or how good you are with craft/ metal craft.
All the ideas listed here are good.
However
Look for a metal bowl for starters
It is not too hard to make a kids helmet out of a "planter" pot or bowl which look like brass but are mistly copper (and thus soft and thin to work with).
Otherwise the stainless bowls from the supermarket or similar if they are big enough to fit your head.
Ideally an old or repro coal scuttle from a second hand shop/ opportunity shop sometimes are perfect(ish) for such projects.
After that you have to make up cardboard templates ( I favour frozen pizza boxes and large cereal packets) and cut out sheet metal, This could come from any tin that is big enough from your groceries (olive oil containers for example. I have recently roofed a pagoda with "degraded" aluminium for $16 per sheet if you can afford it.
Having said that I have made muscled cuirasses with high school students out of 1mm sheet steel and find that it is a vey do-able project.
with folk your age. Good luck. Have fun
