Vashta Nerada Helmet/cosplay Help

TheOnlyShape

New Member
Hello there!
I'm looking for some possible help with creating a Vashta Nerada helmet (from Doctor Who).

I could most likely make this myself with no issues, but I'd like a bit of insight on what type of materials to use and whatnot... and possibly wanted some help finding a base I can modify to create this beauty.
Here's a picture:
vash.jpg
The blue LEDs on the actual inside of the unit are no problem, and neither is the skull mask or suit, but the helmet is proving to be an issue. I think I MAY have found a good base, but I'm not so sure... check it out HERE: Kids Childrens Spaceman Space Astronaut Helmet Costume Accessory Halloween | eBay

My plan as of right now is to purchase this helmet, modify it by removing the visor, replacing it with a new inner visor like the actual helmet has, and grooving down the hole to give it that curve, while making the actual visor hole a bit larger on the top and such.

What would you guys suggest I do for the bottom part though? It'll all be connected some how (I want the blue LEDs to be ran from one switch.)

Thanks!

 
Hey! I did a Vashta Nerada last year for DragonCon, and it turned out ok. It was my first real foray into fabricating, so I want to eventually remake it from scratch to something I'm really happy with. And knowing what I know now, I'd probably go on a whole different route to make it than I originally did. So hopefully I can be of any help so you don't make the same mistakes I did.

But anyway, I've seen it done before the pepakura route. Scifidiety has a great thread up on his build here: http://www.therpf.com/f24/my-doctor...-heavy-194393/?highlight=helmet+vashta+nerada.

When I first started on my Vashta helmet, I didn't know about pepakura so I just built the base from insulation and expanding foam and roughly carved out the shapes. I did the same for the collar piece after I drew and cut out a pattern from cardboard. I tried looking for actual helmets for bases like you did, but actual helmets were way too expensive or not the shape I wanted and also I've got a big noggin' so that's another reason I went the 'from scratch' route.

After I had the shape of the helmet and collar carved out, I laid a layer of Wonderflex over it to give it some support and a smoothness. After that, I covered both the helmet and collar with Bondo, and I sanded it down forever. I used a Dremel to carve in the grooves in the front of the helmet and where all the holes should be. And that's the basic gist of the build: lots of foam (mostly expanding foam for the collar), Wonderflex and Bondo.

Next time I try to rebuild it, I might actually just sculpt the whole thing out of clay and make a mold and cast it. If I would go the foam route again, I would not build up so much foam for the base like I did the first time because after adding the wonderflex and bondo, it made my helmet look way too big for my body.

Hopefully some of that was helpful! Good luck on the build!
 
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