The Viking Helmet (Part 7)

PART 7. Where I realize too late that sanding is a time-consuming and pretty much useless endeavor.

It's interesting how quickly we learn (even at the ripe ol' age of 44) when we just start doing things. by the fourth panel I had the hammering pretty much figured out. I learned that the technique that worked best for me was to start in the middle and slowly work out with the ball peen hammer in an ever expanding circle, mashing out the folds as I went. The last panel was a breeze and looked the best. I might have to make a helmet for my kid, just because it seems like a shame not to make another one, now that I know how to do it! Besides, what kid doesn't want a viking helmet!?

After I completed the panels I made the mistake of going back to the internet. I saw this picture of this helmet with a mirror shine.

Please don't look at this picture. 

http://www.arador.com/armour/how-to-make-a-spangenhelm-2/

It made me want to have a shiny helmet too! So. I removed a panel and started sanding it. This was a mistake!. It didn't make it worse or mess it up, it just took forever and it didn't make my helmet cooler. It did however, make that panel look different. . Not better, mind you, just different. . so. . I had to sand the other three panels to match!. .Basically, I did a lot of work for not much gain. Oh well.

I may try to polish them up with a wheel and some polishing compound. This will be quick and, while it won't remove the bumpy texture, it should remove the brushed-nickel look. Besides, the frame has sharpie marks all over it that need to be buffed out.

When I was done with the sanding I put the panels back in and started screwing the helmet together.
I decided to screw the entire helmet together starting at the top and moving downward in a spiral. This way I would hopefully avoid having the helmet lose its shape as I tightened it up.

Here it is with all four panels complete and inserted

The inside view

The long-sword I found by a dumpster

Tightening the screws, starting at the top and working my way down. 

I did end up unscrewing the bottom screws and letting the straps expand down as I screwed the panels in. I had to re-drill new holes at the bottom and the rivets will be uneven. . Oh well. Report me to the guild. 

The video