Visor/shield technical assistance and helmet sizing

[shadowyeti032]

Hey all. Working on my first build and I run into a small issue with my visor. I also have a quick sizing question.

I am working with clay as that is what I am good with and have the means to do. Pic1 is my duel visor going on with pressure from multiple books. Pic2 it the reference of the 2 visors when not on pressure. They are very wide. My issues is that they are way to wide and will not conform to the shape I need. I am doing this with one for the time being for less pressure on the clay but the shield breaks through ever time. Pic3 shows where my helmet was prior to the shield and pic4 shows the rough area where the shield will need to be placed in order to accommodate everything. Also, I have a sizing opinion request. The foam head I am using is just a hair smaller than my head so no isses. I am trying to decide if my helmet is going into a to big or to small realm or if it is just right. Just need some opinion so I can proceed. My two issues again are:

A) is there a better way to get the shield to conform to the shape I need?
B) Sizing of the helmet; to big, to small, just right?

More picture can be taken and put up if better reference points are needed. Just ask.
I thank everyone for there help in this matter

 

[TheRabbit]

I'm confused when you say you're working with clay. Are you planning on wearing the clay when you're done, or are you going to make it into a mold?

 

[shadowyeti032]

I'm confused when you say you're working with clay. Are you planning on wearing the clay when you're done, or are you going to make it into a mold?

I can see were that can be confusing. No, I am going to make a mold and cast of the finished detailed helmet later. It will be a plastic helmet but instead of going through the traditional resin and bondo everyone likes doing I am using clay. I can mess up as many times as I want and reapply the clay as I see fit.

 

[Carpathia]

With the visor issue, people usually install the visor form the inside, holding it in place and shape with bolts or adhesives. From what I gather, it sounds like you're trying to install it from the outside and hoping it will maintain its shape. We'll need to know a few more details about how you intend to finish the helmet itself before we can offer much more advice. I'm going to assume that you're not planning on wearing the clay itself, but planning on molding and casting.

As for the size, without any information or picture of your head next to the model, I cannot tell you for certain whether the size of the helmet will work for you. It seems to be about the right size for the foam head, but, honestly, I've seen these heads for sale and they're tiny (at least compared to my own head). You mentioned that it's only marginally smaller than your own head, and if that's the case, you'll probably be fine on the size, but like I said, without a picture or any more info, I can't say for sure.

So, long story short, we'll need a little more info. Personally, I'm not a sculptor, so my advice is based on my experience.

Edit: Ok, you're planning on casting like I thought. That being said, you may have to wait to even think about the visor until it's casted. Install it from the inside of the casted helmet and it will conform and, once secured, maintain its shape.

 

[shadowyeti032]

With the visor issue, people usually install the visor form the inside, holding it in place and shape with bolts or adhesives. From what I gather, it sounds like you're trying to install it from the outside and hoping it will maintain its shape. We'll need to know a few more details about how you intend to finish the helmet itself before we can offer much more advice. I'm going to assume that you're not planning on wearing the clay itself, but planning on molding and casting.

As for the size, without any information or picture of your head next to the model, I cannot tell you for certain whether the size of the helmet will work for you. It seems to be about the right size for the foam head, but, honestly, I've seen these heads for sale and they're tiny (at least compared to my own head). You mentioned that it's only marginally smaller than your own head, and if that's the case, you'll probably be fine on the size, but like I said, without a picture or any more info, I can't say for sure.

So, long story short, we'll need a little more info. Personally, I'm not a sculptor, so my advice is based on my experience.

Edit: Ok, you're planning on casting like I thought. That being said, you may have to wait to even think about the visor until it's casted. Install it from the inside of the casted helmet and it will conform and, once secured, maintain its shape.

Full intending on mounting from the inside with bolts, screws, etc. I shall construct a clay visor in the intended size until the cast is created. What kind of pictures or info would you need for my sizing wonder?

 

[Carpathia]

What kind of pictures or info would you need for my sizing wonder?

Your head height and the rough height of the helmet you're building would be a good start. You could also take a picture of your head next to the helmet for a side-by-side comparison, that would help too.

 

[TheRabbit]

Just make the clay visor for the mold, and once you have a cast force the real visor in there. It's a lot easier to push the visor in from the inside than to try and hold it on the way you're doing it. As long as the helmet is sufficiently strong there won't be any issues. You can also run a heatgun over the visor while it's being held together by those books, but it's very possible that will mess up the metallic coating.

 

[Carpathia]

I would avoid the heat gun to the visor. The heat could affect the mirror coating. These type of visors have a lot of flexure, so you'll have no problem getting it into the helmet.

 

[shadowyeti032]

Your head height and the rough height of the helmet you're building would be a good start. You could also take a picture of your head next to the helmet for a side-by-side comparison, that would help too.

Getting a picture with a tablet when your the only person that can take the picture can be quite the task. Thank God for the countdown timers. Anyway, keep in mind my hair is a bit more puffy than most so it adds about a half an inch. The height of my head from the jaw bone pivot point is the tip top of my head is 8" and the helmet is sitting at 9.5". The circumference of my head is 22" and the helmet is 25". Just looking at it and comparing the sizes I believe I need to build up both the superior and post-superior portions of the cranium.

 

[Carpathia]

Looks pretty close. It may be a bit of a tight fit, so you may want to bulk it up a tiny bit, but it's close.

 

[shadowyeti032]

Looks pretty close. It may be a bit of a tight fit, so you may want to bulk it up a tiny bit, but it's close.

Top and back portion was what I was thinking. Agreed?

 

[Carpathia]

Top and back portion was what I was thinking. Agreed?

Yeah, just a bit though. It does not look like it needs much. But like I mentioned, I've never sculpted, so I'm just shooting in the dark as far as that is concerned.

 

[shadowyeti032]

Yeah, just a bit though. It does not look like it needs much.

Excellent! Thank you so much carpathiavh99 for your assistance in this matter.

And thank you to all others. Any other input anyone may throw in as well could be helpful as well :O)

 

[vargatom]

Try to do some quick cardboard version before you complete it, to test if you can actually put it on

I'd increase the size by 4-5% just to make sure.