Movie-style Pyramid Head - Finished!

Patattack

I figure this is more of a project-in-progress than a show-off, so I won't take over anyone else's Pyramid Head thread! But, anyway! I want to have this done by Halloween, so I made sure to get a good head-start on the helmet. I've made a mock-up out of corrugated cardboard, using stills from the movie (and one extremely helpful profile shot of the screen-used helmet from Tom Spina's display gallery), and I think I've got the proportions pretty close.

I'm happy with my progress so far, but this is little more than a proof-of-concept. My measurements and cuts were hasty, so things are a bit asymmetrical here and there. Plus, I'd like something more durable than cardboard and packing tape! However, I've never really built anything before, and I don't know how to proceed. For material, I was thinking some kind of thin particle board, like the kind that most clipboards are made out of? I've seen big sheets of similar material at the hardware store. Then perhaps cut the raised portions from a thin sheet of that pink insulation foam that everyone seems to love.

Another problem is that, as a poor recent-college-grad, I don't have any sort of workshop or power tools. I've got rulers, yardsticks, protractors, scissors, exacto knives, and a basic toolbox, but no saws or drills or benches or what-have-you. My dad is a big DIY guy, so if need be I could probably drive back home and use his tools, but that's something I'd have to plan in advance and would basically take up a full day.

Here are a few things about the construction that are stumping me at the moment. If anyone can offer any advice, I would be ever so thankful! I don't mean to sound like a leech...I just want to learn!

-What materials do you recommend, given my limitations?
-How do I build up the "lip" on the bottom edge to give it thickness? I was considering cutting it out of the same insulation foam, but then I realized that it thickens considerably as it goes towards the back.
-A couple of raised portions of the two front panels meet each other at the seam running down the front - what would be the easiest way to bevel those so that they meet flush with each other to make a sharp angle?
-And, of course, if some of my proportions look off to your eyes, please let me know! I can certainly use more perspectives on this. For instance, I'm not entirely certain that the aforementioned lip sticks out far enough from the main panels...

Thanks!

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Patattack

Oh, and I also made a template for the Great Knife using that promotional picture that very conveniently has him holding the blade almost straight out to his side.

I'd like the knife to have some real heft to it, so I don't want to carve it completely out of foam. But it might be a bit too unwieldy if I just cut it out of wood like I was planning...

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AdamGareth

Hello again. Answering the question from the other thread (we may aswell move in to this one). The mat I used really was quite tough, I didnt ever concider the possibility of it being ripped an issue. I cant however vouch for the link I posted for ebay. It looks the same but the quality may not be up to par. I'd take a trip to a hardware store if I were you.

Your initial model looks great! Loving the details you've sketched out on it. It should look awesome when its done.

andyface

Great work on the helmet, just thought may be able to help with the knife, that promo photograph was taken from a magazine so the distortion caused by the fold in the pages makes it look different to how it actually was.

Only know this as am currently making a 14" Red Pyramid so been scouring the interwebs for reference. Just done a quick paintbrush doodle of the movie knife if you wanted to use it, hope it helps



http://img202.imageshack.us/i/25738200.jpg/

Patattack

Thanks guys!

Ah, hey man, no need to abandon your thread in favor of this one. But thanks for the details! I will be planning a hardware store run soon, so we'll see what I can come up with.

Hmmmm...I've seen behind-the-scenes pictures (like these: http://i.imgur.com/F376l.png ; http://i.imgur.com/h787N.png) that show a style of knife similar to your sketch. I had been working under the impression that there were multiple props made, and that one knife appeared in some shots while the other appeared in others. It had never even occurred to me that it was just a distorted version of the behind-the-scenes knife I saw, because the shape of it is so, so different. I still wanted to get hold of the movie itself to take a closer look at the scene. Have you visually confirmed this version in the movie itself?

In any case, I actually think I prefer the minimalist design in that "warped" promo shot, so I might end up going with that one anyway.

Your Pyramid figure looks amazing, by the way! Clearly you've done a lot of research - do you think my helmet proportions look right? I can get the measurements up here tomorrow if that would help...

Patattack

After that early cardboard mock-up, I tweaked my measurements a bit and created a new cardboard version that was more carefully cut with straight-edges and protractors rather than just eyeballin'. After constructing the cardboard helmet, I bondo'd all of the edges and sanded them flat, so that none of the seams or corrugation were visible. The side panels (aka eye holes) are reclaimed window screen, backed with see-through black fabric, and the screws in the panels are actually wooden pegs with a line sawn down the middle to complete the screw look. Detail bits are PVC pipe, ribbed tubing, reclaimed bits from local thrift stores and industrial scrap shops. Lacking an airbrush, I was lucky enough to find a rattlecan spraypaint at Lowes that (a) contained particles to simulate grit, which I wanted to make it look older, and (b) was just about the right color to emulate rusted-and-oiled metal.

The sword is simply a plank of ash that I had lying around - plenty of heft to it! - that I cut to shape with a jigsaw and painted with a "hammered steel" rattlecan and a light overspray of the "rust" paint from before. For the human-flesh apron, I got lucky and found a roll of beige pleather at the aforementioned industrial scrap dealer. I made some straps, cut it to shape, tore up the bottom edge, and sewed in some big ugly stitches. After that, I carefully painted the whole thing to look aged and dirty. On top of all that, I built myself some boots that gave me an additional several inches in height, putting me around 6' 5". The overall effect was pretty imposing, if I do say so myself!

Unfortunately, I had no working digital camera for most of the build process, so I wasn't able to get a good WIP documentation going on...but I've got some nice shots of the final costume, by my professional photographer girlfriend! Hope everyone enjoys.





Also, I hope it is not too forward to mention that I am in the RPF Costume Contest, so if you like the costume, please feel free to toss a vote my way! (#25)

Patattack

Just realized I never edited the thread title. Fixed!

StevenRogers84

Thats pretty cool.