How to Make Astronaut Heads
Many children dream of being an astronaut at some point. So dressing them up in space suits for Halloween or role playing games is sure to go down well, even though you aren't actually sending them into orbit. Don't let the kids have all the fun though; don the space suit yourself to become Neil Armstrong or Buzz Aldrin for the next costume party you attend. An astronaut's helmet is the most difficult section of the suit to get your hands on, but you can always make one yourself.
Things You'll Need
- 2 balloons
- Large, empty yogurt pot
- Newspaper
- White glue
- Water
- Sheet of black transparency paper
- Acrylic Paint in white, blue and red
Instructions
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1
Blow up a balloon so that the diameter is roughly 3 inches larger than the diameter of the wearer's head.
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2
Fill a bowl with a mixture that is three parts white glue and one part water.
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3
Rip off a piece of newspaper and dip it into the glue mixture before flattening it on the top of the balloon.
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4
Repeat this process until the top quarter of the balloon is covered with paper mache.
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5
Cut the top and bottom from the large yogurt pot. Cut one side open too.
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6
Dip sandpaper in water and use it to sand the cut edges on the pot. They need to be smooth or they could burst the balloon.
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7
Stretch the yogurt pot around balloon, underneath the paper.
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8
Add paper mache around all of the edges of the yogurt pot to hold it in place.
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9
Cover the balloon in paper mache, starting where the original paper stops and ending where the balloon starts to narrow.
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10
Leave the helmet to dry overnight.
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11
Pop the balloon inside the dried paper mache.
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12
Put the helmet on the wearer's head. Measure the distance between the bottom of the helmet to just above the shoulders. Note down this measurement.
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13
Blow up another balloon until it is large enough to fit in the rim of the helmet without being squeezed. It should also extend downward for about 3 inches without narrowing.
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14
Add more paper mache to the bottom of the helmet until the measurement you noted has been reached. Allow the helmet to dry for about four hours.
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15
Add extra paper mache to the rim of the helmet to smoothen and rough or sharp edges. Allow another four hours to dry.
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16
Paint the helmet white. Use red paint to write "NASA" on the bottom right section of the helmet.
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17
Paint the American flag on the opposite side. Leave the helmet overnight so the paint can dry.
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18
Cut the transparency paper so that it is the same shape and size as the visor. Glue this to the visor.
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