Retro, comicbook style Space Helmet (Lots of Pics)

BAK55 · 09-09-2010, 06:11 PM

OOPs!! I badly botched something here. Stand by while I attempt this again.

BAK55 · 09-09-2010, 06:51 PM

I'll try this again.

I started with a few shipping tubes in various diameters. The largest is 11 inches in diameter to fit over my head.

I refined the tubes by applying a veneer using poster board to hide seams and defects. The front assembly for the air intake waffle fan is glued onto the collar. I should mention the globe isn't glued on yet. It was the last thing that I did.

I had built a box for the "backpack" which houses the air outtake blower fan to ensure airflow through the helmet.

After much sanding and test fitting, I had brushed on a mixture of white glue and water to seal the collar and backpack before painting. I sparypainted on a couple of poyurethane coats to give the whole thing a tougher skin. I then painted both items with Valspar Metal paint and overcoated with a satin finish clearcoat. I then scapped away the cured paint and polyurethane down to the paper on the spots where I glued the backpack to the collar. A 1 1/2inch diameter flextube was fed through the backpack manifold and centered. A small screw was driven into the flextube from the inside of the box to hold it in place while I drilled a hole to feed wire through the flextube to the front waffle fan. Once the wires were soldered and insulated, I cemented the fans into place.

I completed the backpack assembly and epoxied the globe onto the collar.

Here is the result.

Both 12 volt fans run on a single 9 volt baatery. Enough air flows through to prevent fogging and remain cool inside the helmet.

Yellowjacket · 09-09-2010, 06:54 PM

That is really cool. I have to build two different space suits for separate projects, and this gives me some great ideas.

Zaxmon · 09-09-2010, 08:36 PM

Awesome. Let the 50s fan films begin!

Larry Young · 09-09-2010, 08:42 PM

Col. Macadam approves!

bak9799 · 09-09-2010, 08:47 PM

Wow!!!! That is Great. Nice work.

phase pistol · 09-09-2010, 09:02 PM

Wally Wood lives!

Wes R · 09-09-2010, 09:09 PM

Very cool. Funny thing is you can use this basic thing for modern sci-fi stuff too. There is a space suit somewhat like that in Fallout 3 that you have to wear. And i just added that comic to my amazon list thanks alot lol.

Sith Sheriff Brody · 09-09-2010, 09:09 PM

Awesome!

themanwoaname · 09-09-2010, 09:12 PM

i want. now.

BAK55 · 09-09-2010, 09:45 PM

Thank you for the kind words everybody.

Actually, the whole thing started here-

http://www.therpf.com/f24/mid-centur...-stages-90481/

I thought I'd start a new thread since I had gone beyond the planning stage.

I'm still working on my retro spacesuit design. And yes, Wally Wood has been an inspiration.

Funky Jedi · 09-09-2010, 10:16 PM

Nice job, sir!

nickytea · 09-09-2010, 10:25 PM

Awesome!
Great build.

wildabeast · 09-09-2010, 11:11 PM

Great build and use of recyclables....

CB2001 · 09-10-2010, 12:03 AM

Great job!

protokev · 09-10-2010, 12:08 AM

definitely awesome! Gonna have to get one of the globes for a similar project!

brimst0ne13 · 09-10-2010, 12:59 AM

looks just like the one from the space suited villain in the watchmen!

The-Clayster · 09-10-2010, 01:05 AM

Awesome!

Yutani Exec · 09-10-2010, 11:42 AM

retro-tastic! Liking the Dan Dare vibe and a lovely finish to the collar too.

agliarept · 09-10-2010, 12:20 PM

awesome awesome build i love a good pulp scifi helmet!!!! are those cardboard? tubes ahrd to come by? I was thinking doing something like this for my mars attacks collar as well. not sure if home depot caries them tho.

sirdaniel1975 · 09-10-2010, 02:34 PM

very nice, original idea!

BAK55 · 09-10-2010, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by agliarept

awesome awesome build i love a good pulp scifi helmet!!!! are those cardboard? tubes ahrd to come by? I was thinking doing something like this for my mars attacks collar as well. not sure if home depot caries them tho.

Large tubes are available at construction suppliers like Mennards. They are concrete forms and will have a plastic film liner in them. I have been successful in removing the liner for other projects I have done. They may need some extra layering to beef them up for a project such as this.

The tubes shown here are ones I have come by here and there, saving them for that one project I haven't thought of yet. Shipping and mailing suppliers will have tubes as well, but the largest I've seen in those places have only been 3in. dia. Just keep you eyes open for a discarded tube. You'll never know where you may find one.

rogue82 · 09-10-2010, 04:49 PM

That was totally wickid! Soon as I saw it I thought Dan Dare. Brilliant job.

Fizbin · 09-10-2010, 05:10 PM

That is just too damn cool for words to express!!! Fantastic work!

melw44 · 09-11-2010, 11:47 PM

Turned out nice! Keep up the good work.
Mel W.

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09-09-2010, 06:11 PM	#1
BAK55 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: St. Paul, MN Posts: 244 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Retro, comicbook style Space Helmet (Lots of Pics) OOPs!! I badly botched something here. Stand by while I attempt this again. Last edited by BAK55; 09-09-2010 at 06:23 PM.

09-09-2010, 06:51 PM	#2
BAK55 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: St. Paul, MN Posts: 244 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Retro, comicbook style Space Helmet (Lots of Pics) I'll try this again. I started with a few shipping tubes in various diameters. The largest is 11 inches in diameter to fit over my head. I refined the tubes by applying a veneer using poster board to hide seams and defects. The front assembly for the air intake waffle fan is glued onto the collar. I should mention the globe isn't glued on yet. It was the last thing that I did. I had built a box for the "backpack" which houses the air outtake blower fan to ensure airflow through the helmet. After much sanding and test fitting, I had brushed on a mixture of white glue and water to seal the collar and backpack before painting. I sparypainted on a couple of poyurethane coats to give the whole thing a tougher skin. I then painted both items with Valspar Metal paint and overcoated with a satin finish clearcoat. I then scapped away the cured paint and polyurethane down to the paper on the spots where I glued the backpack to the collar. A 1 1/2inch diameter flextube was fed through the backpack manifold and centered. A small screw was driven into the flextube from the inside of the box to hold it in place while I drilled a hole to feed wire through the flextube to the front waffle fan. Once the wires were soldered and insulated, I cemented the fans into place. I completed the backpack assembly and epoxied the globe onto the collar. Here is the result. Both 12 volt fans run on a single 9 volt baatery. Enough air flows through to prevent fogging and remain cool inside the helmet. Attached Thumbnails

09-09-2010, 06:54 PM	#3
Yellowjacket Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Logan, Utah Posts: 405 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Retro, comicbook style Space Helmet (Lots of Pics) That is really cool. I have to build two different space suits for separate projects, and this gives me some great ideas.

09-09-2010, 08:36 PM	#4
Zaxmon Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 261 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Retro, comicbook style Space Helmet (Lots of Pics) Awesome. Let the 50s fan films begin!

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09-09-2010, 08:42 PM	#5
Larry Young Banned Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: San Francisco Posts: 3,077 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Retro, comicbook style Space Helmet (Lots of Pics) Col. Macadam approves!

09-09-2010, 08:47 PM	#6
bak9799 Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 163 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Retro, comicbook style Space Helmet (Lots of Pics) Wow!!!! That is Great. Nice work.

09-09-2010, 09:02 PM	#7
phase pistol Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: New York Posts: 14,351 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Retro, comicbook style Space Helmet (Lots of Pics) Wally Wood lives!

09-09-2010, 09:09 PM	#8
Wes R Formerly cobalt crimson Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: PA Posts: 4,471 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Retro, comicbook style Space Helmet (Lots of Pics) Very cool. Funny thing is you can use this basic thing for modern sci-fi stuff too. There is a space suit somewhat like that in Fallout 3 that you have to wear. And i just added that comic to my amazon list thanks alot lol. Last edited by Wes R; 09-09-2010 at 09:16 PM.

09-09-2010, 09:09 PM	#9
Sith Sheriff Brody Please, call me Mike Join Date: Aug 1999 Location: St. Petersburg, FL Posts: 5,736 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Retro, comicbook style Space Helmet (Lots of Pics) Awesome!

09-09-2010, 09:12 PM	#10
themanwoaname Banned Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Florida Posts: 985 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Retro, comicbook style Space Helmet (Lots of Pics) i want. now.

09-09-2010, 09:45 PM	#11
BAK55 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: St. Paul, MN Posts: 244 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Retro, comicbook style Space Helmet (Lots of Pics) Thank you for the kind words everybody. Actually, the whole thing started here- http://www.therpf.com/f24/mid-centur...-stages-90481/ I thought I'd start a new thread since I had gone beyond the planning stage. I'm still working on my retro spacesuit design. And yes, Wally Wood has been an inspiration.

09-09-2010, 10:16 PM	#12
Funky Jedi Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Tulsa Okie-dokie Posts: 11,132 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Retro, comicbook style Space Helmet (Lots of Pics) Nice job, sir!

09-09-2010, 10:25 PM	#13
nickytea Twain-Clefter Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Sarasota, FL Posts: 2,960 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Retro, comicbook style Space Helmet (Lots of Pics) Awesome! Great build.

09-09-2010, 11:11 PM	#14
wildabeast All Matter is Relative Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Southern Alberta Posts: 99 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Retro, comicbook style Space Helmet (Lots of Pics) Great build and use of recyclables....

09-10-2010, 12:03 AM	#15
CB2001 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: North Florida Posts: 2,843 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Retro, comicbook style Space Helmet (Lots of Pics) Great job!

09-10-2010, 12:08 AM	#16
protokev Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 748 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Retro, comicbook style Space Helmet (Lots of Pics) definitely awesome! Gonna have to get one of the globes for a similar project!

09-10-2010, 12:59 AM	#17
brimst0ne13 Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 259 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Retro, comicbook style Space Helmet (Lots of Pics) looks just like the one from the space suited villain in the watchmen!

09-10-2010, 01:05 AM	#18
The-Clayster Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Laughlin, NV Posts: 259 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Retro, comicbook style Space Helmet (Lots of Pics) Awesome!

09-10-2010, 11:42 AM	#19
Yutani Exec Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Damp old Blighty Posts: 19 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Retro, comicbook style Space Helmet (Lots of Pics) retro-tastic! Liking the Dan Dare vibe and a lovely finish to the collar too.

09-10-2010, 12:20 PM	#20
agliarept Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: New Jersey Posts: 595 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Retro, comicbook style Space Helmet (Lots of Pics) awesome awesome build i love a good pulp scifi helmet!!!! are those cardboard? tubes ahrd to come by? I was thinking doing something like this for my mars attacks collar as well. not sure if home depot caries them tho.

09-10-2010, 02:34 PM	#21
sirdaniel1975 Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 21 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Retro, comicbook style Space Helmet (Lots of Pics) very nice, original idea!

09-10-2010, 04:49 PM	#23
rogue82 Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 3 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Retro, comicbook style Space Helmet (Lots of Pics) That was totally wickid! Soon as I saw it I thought Dan Dare. Brilliant job.

09-10-2010, 05:10 PM	#24
Fizbin Formerly alteregos Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: The final frontier Posts: 491 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Retro, comicbook style Space Helmet (Lots of Pics) That is just too damn cool for words to express!!! Fantastic work! Last edited by Fizbin; 09-10-2010 at 05:11 PM. Reason: typo

09-11-2010, 11:47 PM	#25
melw44 Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 21 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Retro, comicbook style Space Helmet (Lots of Pics) Turned out nice! Keep up the good work. Mel W.

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