Retro, comicbook style Space Helmet (Lots of Pics)

I'm working on something like this for a retro-Sci-Fi film project... Matt Mercury and His Rocket Rangers! The only issue where I'm stumped is the 11" mailing tube. I can find 10" and 12", but 11" is really the best size. Could you say where you got it?
 
I was at a weekend campout at some friends cabin who had ordered one of those Sun Setter shades for their deck. The shipping tube was saved for me because they knew of my hobby. The thing was montrously long and I had to saw it in half to fit into my Jeep to it bring home where it sat in my garage until I came up with this project.

You may try to check out Mennards or some other constuction supplier that have concrete forms that come in a variety of diameters. I would suggest that this type of tube be beefed up by adding extra layers of cardstock to it to thicken the tube wall.
 
PVC drainage pipes would work for this, as well. I came across some older ones of the correct diameter at a construction materials storage yard, paid for the yard to cut them to the correct lengths, and in short order I had some neck rings (and wrist rings from the smaller diameter stock).

A bit heavier than the cardboard tube, however.
 
Love the design. How heavy is the final model? How does it feel after a while in your shoulders? Does it need some cushioning? Please post more pics of your work.
Thank You
 
PERFIT85 said:
Love the design. How heavy is the final model? How does it feel after a while in your shoulders? Does it need some cushioning? Please post more pics of your work.
Thank You
Click to expand...

Sorry for the length of time to reply, it's been a long wekend with the local comicbook convention we just had and a number of us local RPF members set up a "Propatorium" for conventioneers to check out our collection of props and costumes. Lots of new interest for this forum that we had talked about while we were at the con.

The helmet weight is just under a pound, so it really doesn't bother me to wear it for any length of time and doesn't require cushioning.

I have posted photos or links to photos of my work on other threads that can be found below-

http://www.therpf.com/f9/our-star-trek-party-rooms-88586/
http://www.therpf.com/f9/captain-proton-props-90560/
http://www.therpf.com/f9/marvin-martian-raygun-83387/
http://www.therpf.com/f9/my-cardboard-rocketeer-helmet-85689/
http://www.therpf.com/f24/jurassic-park-muldoon-famous-sailor-fun-pics-88518/
http://www.therpf.com/f9/paper-prop-83095/
http://www.therpf.com/f9/siver-age-comic-book-villian-gun-103195/

Please post any additional comments relating to these particular threads.
 
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Hello!
Thank you for answering about the weight question. I like the pic with the Captain Proton costume. But, could not find any other pics of your 50's style bubble helmet. I'm very curious about this particular creation. Can you take/post more detailed pics of it. Now that you have used it, any particular changes you would have made to it? Was it more hot/noisy than expected? Can you give more details about the fan/blower part, type used, etc.. Any speed control for the fan/blower? Have many questions about your creation. Please more details and pictures !!!
Thank you again...and have a good day!!!
 
PERFIT85 said:
Hello!
Thank you for answering about the weight question. I like the pic with the Captain Proton costume. But, could not find any other pics of your 50's style bubble helmet. I'm very curious about this particular creation. Can you take/post more detailed pics of it. Now that you have used it, any particular changes you would have made to it? Was it more hot/noisy than expected? Can you give more details about the fan/blower part, type used, etc.. Any speed control for the fan/blower? Have many questions about your creation. Please more details and pictures !!!
Thank you again...and have a good day!!!
Click to expand...

I'm not sure if I can get anymore detailed pics of the helmet other than than the progress build pics I have already posted without being redundant. But there is one more pic of two helmets here-

http://www.therpf.com/f24/mid-century-spaceman-costume-planning-stages-90481/index2.html#post1675378

While there are always ways to improve this, such as making the globe removable from the collar, or having a section of the globe slide up like a visor, I'm satisfied with the way it turned out. I'm also working on a planned budget to make this as inexpensive as possible, since I am making four of these for our group project at a con later this summer. The fans are common 12 volt d.c. computer fans I had found at a surplus store and only run at one speed – making it speed control wouldn't work in this case and it would have been more complicated than I'm willing to make it, where the store got them I haven't a clue. I haven't actually used it just yet other than the tests I had done wearing it around the house. Noise levels inside the helmet are as expected since my head is enclosed with the fans, so they are noticeable but not annoying. Speaking with the helmet on is another matter. Since I need to talk a bit louder for others to hear me more clearly, at my point of view the sound is amplified and re verbs a bit. It would be like putting a bucket over your head and trying to talk. We're working on getting radio devices with throat mic sets for communication to each other. Though the air flow is refreshing while the fans are running, the heat inside the helmet is relative to the heat in the room. Being outside on a sunny, humid day may be another matter, it's just unknown for now. Be patient, I will post more pics of us as we get our costumes made soon and after our convention as they become available since I will need to rely on others to get them to me because I won't be carrying a camera while in character.
 
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Well, someone actually found the original source that OB10 sent me years ago to create my retro spaceman cosume.

http://www.therpf.com/f24/technically-its-not-movie-prop-but-117109/


When he fisrt sent this me about seven years ago, I had said we must do this. But after thinking it through, this could only work for a child in size and not so well for an adult, so I decided to go for the classic bubble helmet comicbook style helmet and planned for a retro spacesuit-


It all started from this article.:lol
 
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And.... here's a pic from this weekend

I had to clean up some of the flash relections so we didn't all have these bright glows in our faces, and I also resized it so it wouldn't be ginormous, but here ya go:

I think it turned out pretty darn well. :D
 
Well, I didn't, but Blair did. :) There are 4 small brads running from the inside of the dome into the collar. There also looks to be a little silicone caulking sticking the dome to the collar, too. I'm sure he'll pipe up soon with better info.
 
Yep, piping in.

The brads Bob mentioned are four small screws added as an upgrade after my helmet globe - the first one- came loose after much handleing taking measurments to make the additional three helmets. I had used epoxy glue to hold the globe in place then added the screws to make sure the globe wouldn't pop loose at a critical moment, like during the convention. We took the helmets off consantly to communicate with each other -hearing was impossible since radios wern't available at the time- and save power for the battery. In fact we had a reserve battery in our pockets which came in handy when one of the crewmembers had to take off the helmet and change the battery when the fans failed at one point.

What was really fun since the theme of the con was "The Future through the Past" and most of the patrons took it to mean Steampunk. Which is quite alright. But I wanted to remind folks that Science Fiction comic books and films were very popular in the late
'40's and early '50's and we represented it well with the "AWSOME" comments that I could hear through the helmet.
 
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oh man that is totally awesome, I may have missed it scanning through the thread, but where did you get the globes?
 
always enjoyed 50's pulp scifi design, and this threads chock full of ideas! Thanks everyone for sharing!
 
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