How to Make an Iranian Turban Helmet
The Iranian turban helmet is a metal helmet worn to protect soldiers from both desert sun and injury during war. Popularized by the "Prince of Persia" movie, the turban helmet features a metal helmet wrapped with a decorative turban. The helmet makes a great addition to a Halloween costume or a prop for plays and other productions. You can make your own helmet turban by creating a papier mache helmet. Decorate your helmet with a matching turban to complete the look.
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Things You'll Need
- Balloon
- Measuring tape
- Marker
- Scissors
- Newspaper
- Flour
- Water
- Plastic bowl
- Poster board
- Tape
- Silver paint
- Paint brush
- Turban
Instructions
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Make the helmet by blowing up the balloon until it is the same size as your head. You can measure the circumference of your head and that of the balloon to ensure that you have made your helmet the correct size.
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2
Measure the space from the top of your head down to where you would like the helmet to be. Draw a line on the balloon with the marker that is the same distance from the top of the balloon. This will ensure that the helmet is not too shallow or deep for your head.
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3
Cut the newspaper into strips about an inch wide and 4 inches long. Make a glue by mixing one part flour with one part water in the plastic bowl.
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4
Start by dipping the newspaper in your flour-and-water glue and then placing it over the top of the balloon. Try to stay above the marker line. This will form the base of your helmet. Once the papier mache is dry, pop the balloon. Drying times will differ greatly depending on how much glue you have used, how thick your papier mache is and what the humidity level is. Test for dryness by sticking a fingernail into the papier mache. If it goes in easily, the papier mache is still wet. If you can't stick your fingernail in easily, leave it a little longer.
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5
Roll your poster board into a cone shape that is as high as you would like your helmet to be. Tape the cone in place and tape it to the top of the helmet.
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6
Use the cone as a base to hold the papier mache as your shape your helmet. Refer to pictures from the Internet or from books to shape the helmet any way you like by continuing to lay strips of dipped newspaper in the configurations of your choice.
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7
Leave the helmet to dry when the shaping is done. Ensure that the helmet is properly dry before painting with silver paint. Use the fingernail test to make sure the papier mache is dry. Allow paint to dry.
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Fold the turban in half so that it forms a triangle. Roll up the turban from the long straight end so that it looks like a long croissant. Wrap it around the bottom of the helmet and tie it at the back. Leave the ends to trail down the back or tuck them in on the sides. If you don't have a turban, use a piece of fabric that is 3 feet long and 3 feet wide. A square scarf will work well too.
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References
- Photo Credit Thinkstock Images/Comstock/Getty Images
