Daft Punk Helmet + Gloves + Suit
Introduction: Daft Punk Helmet + Gloves + Suit
For this project I aimed to create an accurate <PERSON> <PERSON> helmet, gloves and suit for a fancy dress social. The rules for the fancy dress were pretty relaxed, and I also am a semi-fan of the band - so I decided to go in a Daft Punk Suit! I spent way too much time looking for a good way to make a great helmet without using tricky stuff like casting, molding and electronics, and I wish I had a guide like this to creating a helmet with (relatively) inexpensive stuff - hence why I am making this.
I didn't want to mess around with electronics or casting as I only had 4 or 5 weeks to complete it (it might seem like a long time - but I procrastinate!).
Time to get lucky.
Supplies
HELMET
* A skating helmet (I found one from Kmart but any that fits the profile/shape of the original will do)
* A couple Cardstock papers (Basically more thicker paper. Look for anything around 600 gsm paper)
* Two large soft drink/beer cans - they have to be at least 6 cm or 2.3 inches in diameter
* Wall plaster filler (I used multi-purpose plaster)
* A mannequin head or something else to keep the helmet off the ground while you're working
GLOVES
* Leather or fabric gloves (tight-ish fitting is best)
* Cardstock
SUIT
* Leather or equivalent motorcycle jacket (check with official photos for the right fitting)
* OPTIONAL: Black suit with sequins if you want to go with the later, more formal dress
* Black pants (if you really want you can go with motorcycle jackets)
* Black motorcycle boots (I found some old Army boots that kinda look like motorcycle boots)
* OPTIONAL: EL (electroluminescent) wiring
TOOLS NEEDED
* Scissors - or even better a Stanley or Exacto knife
* Masking tape to see if prototypes fit on the helmet and gloves
* Electrical Tape or comfortable padding around the cut edge of the soft drink cans
* Chrome Spray paint
* Primer for paint (IF NEEDED)
* Black plastic tinter (spray paint)
* Hot glue and hot glue gun
* Pencils or pens for marking out templates
Step 1: Experimenting With Helmet Shells
The helmet shape should fit the general dome shape of the <PERSON> helmet. A blueprint by Volpin Props was used to match the chosen helmet with the original helmet.
(The first and second option requires a lot of plastering/bondo to make it smooth) The first prototype was a paper-mache shell that was formed around a balloon. I tried to make it as smooth as possible by using tissues, but it didn't work out. The second option is a cardboard template that was bent into a dome shape.
The third and (thankfully) last option was the skating/cycling helmet. I used a skating helmet because it was much easier to make it smooth than the other options. Despite there being holes in the helmet, I found you could easily plaster the holes up (Do note that you should put something in the holes so that the plaster doesn't fall through!).
Step 2: Getting the Right Template for the Faceplate
For the people who will ask if I can give them the template for the helmet...I don't really have a template that I always used. I will, however, try to give you as much as I can from what I used.
1.
I based my helmet faceplate off of two templates. 348
The first one I used was made by an internet user called <PERSON> who made the helmet out of cardboard and paper (kinda like mine). You have to purchase the correct sizing off of him for an A4 size, but I bypassed this by opening Microsoft Word and cropping and resizing each individual part for the (mostly) correct size. (You can find the template through this: https://dali-lomo.blogspot.com/2014/09/daft-punk-thomas-helmet-diy-template.html). This was the main template I used to get the general shape. I then sketched the pieces on paper and experimented with the face until it matched the blueprint and the official photos of <PERSON>.
2.
The second template I used was by someone called LuchoFunk. You can find the template here. The link brings you to a mediafire download page. I only used this template for the mouthpiece, but I'm sure you can use it for most of the helmet anyway. Also I'm pretty sure that the PDF files have the correct sizing. 276