4 Ways to Make an Astronaut Helmet

2024 Author: Samantha Chapman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 09:13

Give "space" to the imagination! Build a space helmet with your own hands, which you can show off at the next costume party. There are several simple ways to make a space helmet, using materials you can easily find around the house.

Steps

Method 1 of 4: Paper Helmet

Step 1. Draw a large circle on a paper bag wide enough to fit your head

The circle must be a little larger than your face.

To make sure the circle matches your face, put on the paper bag and ask another person to draw the circle on it, directly around your face

Step 2. Cut out the circle

Remove the bag from your head and cut out the circle with a pair of scissors.

• You can also cut a semicircle on either side of the bottom of the bag. It's not strictly necessary, but it might help keep the bag more balanced on your shoulders.

  

Step 3. Find two cylindrical jars, such as those used for infant formula, and two rolls of blotting paper (without the paper)

With a roll, draw a circle in the center of the lid of the jars, using a marker.

• Repeat with the lid of the second jar.
• You can keep the lids on the jars while you draw the circles if you want, but you'll need to take them off when you cut out the circles.

Step 4. Cut out the circles

Use the scissors to cut out the two circles from the lids. Then put the lids back on the jars.

Before you start cutting out the circles, you may need to make a hole with the tip of the scissors or a nail anywhere on the drawn line. Once you've done that, stick the scissors into the hole and start cutting along the track

Step 5. Attach the cylinders to the paper bag

Place the two jars on the underside of the uncut side of the bag, next to each other. Secure them with tape or staples.

• Make sure the sides with the lid are facing up.
• The bottom of the jars must extend beyond the paper bag.

Step 6. Insert the paper towel rolls into the jars

Slide part of the paper tube into the hole in the lid. Use duct tape or staples to attach the portion of the tube that remains outside to the bag.

• Repeat with the second roll and second jar.
• The rolls of absorbent paper represent the tubes of the oxygen cylinders and the jars represent the oxygen cylinders.

Step 7. Decorate the helmet to your liking

Use markers, crayons or gouache to draw and color the helmet however you like.

You could also add light decorations, such as stickers or aluminum foil templates

Step 8. Put on your astronaut helmet

Your space helmet is now ready to put on. Pass the bag over your head and arrange it so that your face is perfectly positioned in the circle, with the oxygen cylinders behind you.

Method 2 of 4: Paper mache helmet

Step 1. Inflate a balloon

Inflate a full-sized balloon so that when fully inflated it is slightly larger than your head. Close the balloon with a knot.

Step 2. Tear off some strips of newsprint

Take five pages of newspaper and tear them into strips about 5-7 cm wide.

Step 3. If you haven't already done so, now prepare the glue for the papier mache

Mix 1 liter of boiling water and 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of cornmeal in a saucepan until you get a doughy mixture

Step 4. Cover an area of the floor or table

Before you start putting the newspaper into the mixture and onto the balloon, you should create a space in which to work. This process can get all over the place, so spread a plastic sheet or old newspaper on the table or floor to avoid possible splashes.

Step 5. Glue the newspaper strips to the balloon

Dip a strip in the prepared glue and stick it along the surface of the balloon. Repeat for all the other strips, attaching them first vertically and then horizontally.

• When finished, the balloon should be covered with at least five layers of paper.

  

• Cover the entire balloon, except for a small area around the knot. You will need this free part later to take the balloon out of the papier mache structure.

Step 6. Let the balloon dry

Put it on a flat, dry surface. Let it dry for at least 24 hours, until it is completely dry to the touch.

• The paper must be completely dry in order to continue the work.
• Drying times will depend on the type of climate you are in. If you live in a humid area, it will take more than 24 hours for the papier mache to dry.

Step 7. Take out the balloon

Pierce the balloon with a pin in the part you left free. After it has deflated, gently pull the balloon out, passing it through the hole.

Step 8. Cut out the papier mache structure into a helmet shape

With scissors, cut off the base and then cut out a part for the face opening.

• Start at the bottom or the open part of the paper mache structure. Cut an opening in the bottom, large enough for the head and neck to enter.

  

• Starting again from the bottom, cut out a rectangle on the front of the structure. The rectangle should be as wide as the distance between the outer corners of your eyes, and as high as the distance from the bottom of your forehead to your chin.

Step 9. Paint the helmet

With paint and a brush, decorate the helmet as you wish. You can also embellish it with aluminum foil or stickers that recall spatial motifs.

You can also add two antennas. Make two small holes on the top of the helmet - one on the right side, the other on the left side. Thread a wire or pipe cleaner into each hole and secure them to the helmet with duct tape. You can stick two balls on each pipe cleaner to complete the antennas

Step 10. Put on your astronaut helmet

After you have decorated it with the motifs you like, the helmet is now ready to be worn at the next party.

Method 3 of 4: Plastic Helmet

Step 1. Draw an oval on top of a plastic basket

The oval should be approximately 18cm wide and 13cm high, or large enough to fit your face. Draw the oval with a pencil.

Make sure the face can be seen entirely in the cutout oval. To measure where to draw the oval, hold the basket upside down in front of you, the bottom of the basket must line up with the top of your head. Quickly mark the spot on the basket that lines up with your eyebrows and then the one that lines up with your lower lip. Draw the oval based on these marks

Step 2. Make a guide hole along the line

Place the tip of a nail on the trace of the oval and with a hammer push it into the plastic, until a hole is formed.

Remove the nail once the hole has been created

Step 3. Cut out the oval

Use wire cutters and cut carefully, following the line of the oval.

• Remove the cut piece of plastic.

  

• If the edge of the oval looks sharp and potentially dangerous, cover it with strips of masking tape.

Step 4. Make two rectangular braces for the helmet

With a ruler and pencil, draw two 5x23cm rectangles on a white Styrofoam sheet. Cut out the rectangles with a utility knife.

Use the utility knife to round the bottom corners of the rectangles

Step 5. Attach the rectangles to the basket

Use masking tape to adhere the top of each rectangle to the helmet.

The two rectangles must be positioned behind the helmet. When you put on your helmet, these two rectangles should stay just behind your shoulders. They will serve as shoulder straps to keep the helmet in a straight position when it is on your head

Step 6. Wrap a towel around your head

Take a normal towel, roll it up and wrap it around your head, creating a circle that you will close with tape.

• The rim must slide off the head easily.

  

Step 7. Attach the towel inside the helmet

Secure it to the bottom of the basket with duct tape. The center of the circle must match the center of the basket.

Step 8. Put on your space helmet

Slip on the helmet with the opening on your face. The towel should touch the head and the Styrofoam straps should remain behind the shoulders. If everything looks fine and the helmet is comfortable, then it's ready to put on.

Method 4 of 4: Transparent Plastic Helmet

Step 1. Build the antenna

The antenna consists of a short cylindrical wooden stick, three metal washers and a wooden ball. Use hot glue to attach the wooden ball to one end of the stick. Insert the three washers from the other end into the stick, starting to position them 5 cm from the ball and ending in the middle of the stick.

• The wooden stick should have a diameter of about 1 cm and a length of about 20 cm.

  

• The hole of the washers must be equal to the diameter of the stick. Once placed along the stick, the washers should not move. If necessary, apply a drop of glue to the inside of the washer.

  

• The diameter of the wooden ball should be about 2-2.5cm.

  

Step 2. Build the antenna base

Use a dome-shaped plastic lid, like the one in take-away smoothies. Find a small wooden circle that fits on top of the dome. Apply some glue over the dome and attach the circle, applying light pressure.

Step 3. Attach the antenna

When the base and antenna are completely dry, apply hot glue to the stick to fix it directly in the center of the wooden circle.

• Let the entire structure dry completely before continuing to the next step.

  

Step 4. Use the spray paint to color the structure

Choose a metallic gold or copper color. Paint the outside of the base and the antenna.

• Paint the structure in a ventilated area. Place newspaper under the antenna to avoid smudging the surface you work on.

  

• It is not necessary to paint the inside of the structure.
• Let the paint dry completely. It will take 12 to 24 hours depending on the type of paint and the climate.

Step 5. Attach the antenna frame to a plastic basket

Find a clear plastic container large enough to hold your head. Turn it so that the bottom is facing up. Glue the antenna to the center of the bottom.

A lightweight plastic waste paper bin might be fine. Whatever container you will use, you need to be able to slide it on and off easily and it must have a wide opening. If the helmet is too tight, it could get stuck on your head or prevent you from breathing normally

Step 6. Attach gold ribbon to the edge of the basket

Choose a metallic gold ribbon and cut it long enough to surround the entire edge of the basket.

Place the tape about 2.5cm from the container opening

Step 7. Cut a piece of hose to attach to the rim of the container

The tube must be as long as the diameter of the bin opening. Use sharp scissors or a knife to cut the tube.

Use a black hose about 2.5cm in diameter

Step 8. Attach the tube

Apply a generous amount of glue to the rim of the container. Glue the tube along the edge, making sure that the two ends touch each other.

Cut off the excess piece of pipe

Step 9. Put on your new space helmet

When all components are completely dry, your helmet will be ready to wear.