How to Make a Paper Iron Man Helmet by Yourself
Iron Man is the popular Marvel Comics superhero who wears an iron suit. Iron Man's suit conveys amazing powers of strength that he uses to fight evil super villains. Robert Downey Jr. portrays Iron Man in two blockbuster movies. You can create your own Iron Man helmet using papier mache and materials that are readily available from art supply stores and online.
Things You'll Need
- One heaping tablespoon corn flour
- Water
- Kettle
- Mixing bowl
- Large balloon
- Newspaper sheets
- Scissors
- Masking tape
- Pencil
- Utility knife
- Red, black and yellow paint
- Paintbrush
- Iron Man reference picture
Instructions
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1
Boil a liter of water (about 4 1/2 cups) in a kettle. Mix corn flour in a mixing bowl with a small amount of cold water until it becomes a creamy paste. Mix the boiled water into a paste gradually. Once the glue is cool to the touch, you can use it.
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2
Inflate a balloon until it is a little bigger than your head. Tear five or six sheets of newspaper into long, thin strips. Dip the strips into the papier mache glue and wrap them around the balloon. Lay the paper strips across the balloon both top to bottom and sideways until there are five or six layers of papier mache on the balloon. Leave a one-inch round hole by the knot of the balloon. Let the papier mache dry for at least 24 hours.
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3
Cut a hole at the bottom of the helmet with scissors once it is completely dry. Make the hole big enough to fit over your head. Remove the balloon. Reinforce the bottom edges of the helmet with masking tape. Put the helmet over your head and mark the spots for eye holes using a pencil. An adult can use a utility knife or scissors to cut eye holes one inch tall by two inches long.
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4
Check a reference picture of Iron Man and notice that his face is a yellow oval on the front. The top and sides of his head are red, with a widow's peak of red dipping into his forehead. Paint a yellow oval for the face and let it dry. Paint the red areas of the head, including the widow's peak of red on the forehead. Paint a thick, black, horizontal line for the mouth.
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Tips & Warnings
Newsprint is easiest to tear when you rip along the grain of the paper. Tear strips of paper from newspapers both vertically and horizontally to determine which way tears easier.
Work in a garage or basement area that can be cleaned with a mop. Papier mache can be messy.
The eye holes should be cut by an adult using a utility knife.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Kevin Winter/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images
