How to Make a War Helmet

In real war situations, a soldier's helmet provides both cover and protection. In a costume, the goal is mostly aesthetic, and there is no need for a helmet in a soldier costume to provide as much protection as the real thing. Because of this, making a helmet out of basic household items is a fairly easy and inexpensive project, and there are a lot of different options for design and materials. By using construction paper or cardboard, as well as a little creativity, you can make a war helmet at home, adding a level of visual appeal to any costume.

Construction Paper

Creating a war helmet out of construction paper is one of the most popular options. Before starting this project, be sure to have a few basic tools on hand, such as tape, glue, and scissors. If you do not plan on painting or coloring the helmet, be sure to make the helmet out of appropriately colored construction paper.

Start by cutting the construction paper into a series of strips that are an inch wide. Then glue two to three strips together, end to end, to create one long strip to wrap around the wearer's head. Glue it at a snug size, cutting away the excess paper. Then, take another strip of paper and wrap it across the top of the head, gluing or taping it to the previous strip. This gives you the correct shape of the helmet. Continue to lay down strips across the top of the head, filling in all of the gaps, until your basic helmet is complete. You can then paint or decorate the helmet as desired.

Cardboard

Making a war helmet out of cardboard is similar to creating one out of paper, but it is stiffer and stronger than its paper counterpart. Before making a cardboard helmet, however, you should consider what type of cardboard to use.

Type of Cardboard

There are multiple types of cardboard available, and each one offers different features. Your goal should be selecting a cardboard that offers stability while also maintaining its pliability.

Depending on the complexity of the helmet you would like to create, you may find ways to use each of these types of cardboard for different parts of the helmet.

Cutting the Cardboard

Start by cutting a long, inch-thick strip of cardboard. This strip wraps around the head to create the base of the helmet, so thin cardboard would be best. If you use corrugated cardboard, cut perpendicular to the corrugated lines to aid in pliability. Use a stapler to hold the strip together, and make sure the staples are facing out.

Once you have this basic shape, take another square of cardboard and cut it into an oval that is at least twice as large as your base. Then, cut inch-wide strips towards the center of the oval around the circumference; take great care to stop about an inch from the center.

Assembling the Cardboard

Place the base of the helmet on the wearer's head, and place the cut oval on top. Fold the strips down and glue them to the base. Once you have several glued to each side, you can take the helmet off and glue the rest of the strips down, attempting to fill as many gaps as possible.

Once you have this done, you should have a basic dome and shape for your helmet. You can add additional pieces of cardboard to fill in gaps or create different shapes and features before painting it to match your costume. You can also use the cardboard base as a mold for paper mache, which allows you to further sculpt and customize the design of the helmet.