Attic Helmet
Roman Officer's Hellenistic style
helmet, such as the one without cheek guards, worn by General
General Germanicus Caesar (15 B.C.–A.D. 19 brother of Claudius & father of
Caligula) as he addresses Emperor Tiberius.
Attic helmets in Roman sculpture
Roman attic helmet making a roman attic helmet fabrication
roman officer's attic helmet roman officer
Roman Attic helmet how to make a roman
attic helmet roman helmet fabrication Roman army
Although I never did anything like this
before... I was fairly confident I could cut a Roman
Attic Helmet out of something like this Corinthian design (below) although I'll have to customize the
cheek guards, & fabricate the crest, and visor. When my new Corinthian helmet arrived
it fit well, not bad for $37.00... I think it's time
to get ready to cut it up into a Roman Attic Helmet!
Roman attic helmet making a roman attic helmet fabrication
roman officer's attic helmet
Cutting it Up
After laying out the pattern using auto pin stripe tape, I scored all the way around with my Dremel. It took over two hours to finally cut through the 18 gauge steel. I originally planned to cut the helmet brow straight across but, I liked the way the eyebrows looked so, I followed the existing pattern instead.
Roman attic helmet making a roman attic helmet fabrication
roman officer's attic helmet
The cheek guards are a little too long but again, I can always trim them a little shorter. Anyways... I cut out a paper visor to get the general idea of its placement, it took a few times but, once ready... it was time to trace out the pattern onto an 18 gauge sheet of brass ($26.00 on EBay) and get back to scoring and cutting again!
Making the Visor from 18g Brass
Roman attic helmet making a roman attic helmet fabrication
roman officer's attic helmet
Well, I switched to an angle grinder with a metal blade... it cuts like butter! I should have used this when I started this project. I used relief cuts to get around the visor circles.
Roman attic helmet making a roman attic helmet fabrication
roman officer's attic helmet
I rolled the helmet back and forth several times, very slowly, over the brass... each time bending the brass just a little bit more. It took several times but, once the visor was curved, I taped it in place so it would keep the bend. Lastly, I placed the cheek guards against the helmet to see how things are progressing.
The visor would not keeps it's shape and kept pulling away from the helmet so I laminated the visor to the helmet with cold wielding (JB Wield $4.00 which is Epoxy Steel & a hardener) and taped it in place while it set. I'm planning on reinforcing the cold wielding with brass rivets later.
Roman attic helmet making a roman attic helmet fabrication roman officer's attic helmet
Roman attic helmet making a roman attic helmet fabrication
roman officer's attic helmet
I guess it's starting to look like an
attic helmet... sort of!
Roman attic helmet making a roman attic helmet fabrication
roman officer's attic helmet
Embossing the Cheek Guards
Roman attic helmet making a roman attic helmet
fabrication roman officer's attic helmet
Next it was time to emboss the cheek guards. I chose to use a Roman thunderbolt (lightening bolt) as on the helmet's cheek guards below and based the details on this original Mainz thunderbolt design; also below.
I used K&S 12"x30" .005 36 gauge embossing brass ($15.50 online) cut it out, etched in the border, flipped over the brass and drew thunderbolts. I used the ball-pen tools to emboss the thin 36 gauge brass.
Here you can see the difference in thickness between the 18 gauge brass I made the visor out of and the thinner 36 gauge embossing brass I'm going to laminate over it.
Roman attic helmet making a roman attic helmet fabrication
roman officer's attic helmet
Roman attic helmet making a roman attic helmet fabrication
roman officer's attic helmet
Once complete... I mixed up and spread out a thin layer of cold wielding and laminated the embossed design to the 18 gauge steel, folded over the brass, and backed the cheek guards with some leather.
Roman attic helmet making a roman attic helmet fabrication
roman officer's attic helmet Roman attic helmet making a roman attic helmet
fabrication roman officer's attic helmet
Roman attic helmet making a roman attic helmet fabrication
roman officer's attic helmet
Embossing the Visor with
Roman Motif
Roman attic helmet making a roman attic helmet
fabrication roman officer's attic helmet
Next it was time for the visor... this was without a doubt the most enjoyable and satisfying part of the project!
I wanted to use actual Roman motif with real symbolism, as opposed to just a bunch of fancy lines or ornamental shapes.
I began by cutting out a sheet of thin embossing brass, laying it over the 18g brass visor, and tracing the edges. I was sure to leave about an extra half inch so I could fold it over.
Roman attic helmet making a roman attic helmet fabrication
roman officer's attic helmet
The Eagle
Roman attic helmet making a roman attic helmet
fabrication roman officer's attic helmet
After the edging work, I based an eagle, the Roman symbol of their supreme god Jupiter, on the one worn on Emperor Marcus Aurelius' armor (later than my impression's time period I know but, it is an authentic Roman Eagle); first drawing it with a Sharpe, edging it out with the small embossing tool, embossing the feathers, then adding details and more details.
Roman attic helmet making a roman attic helmet fabrication
roman officer's attic helmet
Roman attic helmet making a roman attic helmet fabrication
roman officer's attic helmet
The Standards
Roman attic helmet making a roman attic helmet
fabrication roman officer's attic helmet
Flanking the Eagle I embossed Roman Pole Standards, such as those found on Trajan's column.
Roman attic helmet making a roman attic helmet fabrication
roman officer's attic helmet
Roman attic helmet making a roman attic helmet fabrication
roman officer's attic helmet
Acanthus Motif
Roman attic helmet making a roman attic helmet
fabrication roman officer's attic helmet
I added Roman style acanthus motif vines and decorated the disks of the visor as well
Roman attic helmet making a roman attic helmet fabrication
roman officer's attic helmet
Victory Laurel Wreaths
Roman attic helmet making a roman attic helmet
fabrication roman officer's attic helmet
I then added Roman victory laurel
wreaths, such as those found on Roman coins and the Augustus statue platform
below which reads "VICT AVG" (Victory Augustus) however; for my impression "VICT
MAR" (Victory Gaius Marius) & "VICT CAE" (Victory Julius Caesar) seemed more
fitting. Lastly, I added more vines around the eagle and Roman shield
thunderbolts above the laurels. I used cold wielding to laminate the thin
embossed brass to the 18 gauge brass visor by spreading out the JB Wield evenly
over the back with an old credit card. I was sure to fill in all the embossed
indentations so that the visor would be strong.
Roman attic helmet making a roman attic helmet
fabrication roman officer's attic helmet
Roman attic helmet making a roman attic helmet fabrication
roman officer's attic helmet
Roman attic helmet making a roman attic helmet fabrication
roman officer's attic helmet
Roman attic helmet making a roman attic helmet fabrication
roman officer's attic helmet
The Trim
Roman attic helmet making a roman attic helmet
fabrication roman officer's attic helmet
This was the single most challenging and
difficult aspect of the whole project. After trying it
several different ways (and failing), in the end what worked was to cut out a
rectangular sheet of brass, and tape it in place.
Roman attic helmet making a roman attic helmet fabrication
roman officer's attic helmet
Then I drew around the edge following the
outline of the helmet but leaving about an extra 1/8th of an inch of space so I
could fold over the trim later, and then cut it out.
Roman attic helmet making a roman attic helmet fabrication
roman officer's attic helmet
Then I measured up another 1/2 inch and cut
that part out so I had the shape of the brow.
Roman attic helmet making a roman attic helmet fabrication
roman officer's attic helmet
After embossing some details on the trim, I spread out JB Wield, laminated the
trim on the front helmet leaving about an 1/8th of an inch hanging down, and
once it set... folded over that 1/8th of an inch to finish off the trim.
Roman attic helmet making a roman attic helmet fabrication
roman officer's attic helmet
I did the same around the back but, around the ear I had to make notches to
bend over the metal; again I used cold wielding to hold the trim in place.
Roman attic helmet making a roman attic helmet
fabrication roman officer's attic helmet
Roman attic helmet making a roman attic helmet fabrication
roman officer's attic helmet
Okay, now it's starting to look like an attic helmet!
Roman attic helmet making a roman attic helmet fabrication
roman officer's attic helmet
The Crest Block
Roman attic helmet making a roman attic helmet
fabrication roman officer's attic helmet
Next came the crest block; which I cut out from a 2x4 ($2.00). First I used a contour gauge to get the shape of the helmet, transferred it to the 2x4 and cut it out.
Roman attic helmet making a roman attic helmet fabrication
roman officer's attic helmet
Next I measured up 2", cut that out too, and cut the ends on an angle. Lastly I used my Dremel to cut out the curve so that the crest block would better fit the rounded helmet.
Roman attic helmet making a roman attic helmet fabrication
roman officer's attic helmet
Appliqués
I picked up three different packages of brass appliqués (small brass charms sold on EBay total $11.00) in order to replicate the laurel crown worn on this original helmet...
Roman attic helmet making a roman attic helmet fabrication
roman officer's attic helmet
I used thin tape to line up the curve around the crest block and marked several reference points with additional tape to make sure everything was straight.
Roman attic helmet making a roman attic helmet fabrication
roman officer's attic helmet
I whipped up some more cold wielding (another $4.00) to attach the large leaves to the helmet, overlapping each leaf on top of the previous one, and used duck tape to temporally hold everything in place while it set.
Roman attic helmet making a roman attic helmet fabrication
roman officer's attic helmet
Then I just pulled off the tape and I had a laurel wreath
Roman attic helmet making a roman attic helmet fabrication
roman officer's attic helmet
Next I added a group of three roses at the spot above the cheek guards; similar to the decoration on original example below.
Roman attic helmet making a roman attic helmet fabrication
roman officer's attic helmet
Then, based on of one of the attic helmets at the louver (which has a single wreath on the back), I planned out three wreathes for mine using the smaller double leaves. I wanted it as straight as possible so I did quite a bit of tapping off.
Roman attic helmet making a roman attic helmet
fabrication roman officer's attic helmet
I used the Dremel to cut the little
circular hoop off each brass leaf and rose. I mixed up and poured the JB wield into a
cheap oral syringe so that I could better place the cold wielding onto the small
leaves. I used a teasers to place each leaf around the paper cut out.
Roman attic helmet making a roman attic helmet
fabrication roman officer's attic helmet
Roman attic helmet making a roman attic helmet fabrication
roman officer's attic helmet
The JB Wield takes about an hour to begin to set so, I was able to make many small adjustments of each leaf to get them to all line up.
Roman attic helmet making a roman attic helmet fabrication
roman officer's attic helmet
To finish up the laurel wreaths I placed
a group of three roses in the center of each; matching the group over the cheek
guards
Roman attic helmet making a roman attic helmet
fabrication roman officer's attic helmet
Roman attic helmet making a roman attic helmet fabrication
roman officer's attic helmet
Crest embossing
Roman attic helmet making a roman attic helmet
fabrication roman officer's attic helmet
Then it was time to emboss the plates for the crest. Here again I wanted to use more Roman motif with actual symbolism so....
For the front of the Crest I chose a bust of the Roman Goddess Fortuna (the Goddess of luck and good fortune)
Roman attic helmet making a roman attic helmet fabrication
roman officer's attic helmet
For the back, I chose the Temple of
Jupiter based on the reverse of this Petillius Capitolinus, AR Denarius coin,
minted in 43BC in Rome
Roman attic helmet making a roman attic helmet
fabrication roman officer's attic helmet
Roman attic helmet making a roman attic helmet fabrication
roman officer's attic helmet
Then I began on the sides by first
outlining the crest block, I completed the edge work, and then sketched out the
Roman motif for my crest; duplicating the images on for both sides.
Roman attic helmet making a roman attic helmet
fabrication roman officer's attic helmet
Roman attic helmet making a roman attic helmet fabrication
roman officer's attic helmet
I started with Fortuna's primary symbol... her Cornucopia (horn of plenty).
Roman attic helmet making a roman attic helmet fabrication
roman officer's attic helmet
I followed the Cornucopia with a
simpulum,
sprinkler, axe, and
apex which were the emblems of the pontificate
Julius Caesar as evidenced on reverse of his Elephant Denarius coin minted
between 49 & 48 BC. I also added vines and copied the stars from the Mainz
Gladius example above to fill in the blank spots.
Roman attic helmet making a roman attic helmet
fabrication roman officer's attic helmet
Roman attic helmet making a roman attic helmet fabrication
roman officer's attic helmet
Next, I based the two standards and
legionary eagle on the ones from Marc Anthony's Battle of Actium coin minted in
31 BC as payment to his legions. I added
four victory wreaths to fill in the blank spots afterwards.
Roman attic helmet making a roman attic helmet
fabrication roman officer's attic helmet
Roman attic helmet making a roman attic helmet fabrication
roman officer's attic helmet
Lastly, I added a Roman War Ship but, I
decided not to use Antony's, instead I choose this 1st Century BC Roman Galleon
with it's mast and sails extended; note Fortune is guiding the ship to victory.
Roman attic helmet making a roman attic helmet
fabrication roman officer's attic helmet
Roman attic helmet making a roman attic helmet fabrication
roman officer's attic helmet
Roman attic helmet making a roman attic helmet fabrication
roman officer's attic helmet
Crest Plates
Roman attic helmet making a roman attic helmet
fabrication roman officer's attic helmet
Next it was time to cut out the crest
plates and attach all the
embossed brass work, using cold wielding, to the wooden crest block
Roman attic helmet making a roman attic helmet
fabrication roman officer's attic helmet
Roman attic helmet making a roman attic helmet fabrication
roman officer's attic helmet
Next, I attached the cheek guards... now it's really looking like an attic helmet!
Roman attic helmet making a roman attic helmet fabrication
roman officer's attic helmet
After that, it was time to drill the
holes to attach the crest. Note, I placed duct tape over the helmet just incase
I slipped while drilling.
Roman attic helmet making a roman attic helmet
fabrication roman officer's attic helmet
Roman attic helmet making a roman attic helmet fabrication
roman officer's attic helmet
Padding
Roman attic helmet making a roman attic helmet
fabrication roman officer's attic helmet
Along with my arming-cap I needed some extra padding, especially in the front where the brow was digging into my head so, I used so more JB Wield to hold the leather and linen in place.
Roman attic helmet making a roman attic helmet fabrication
roman officer's attic helmet
I also need extra padding in the center
to make the helmet fit better and to cover the 'historically inaccurate' screws
that I used to hold the crest on. I wanted to insure that I could get to the
screws in case I ever had to remove the crest so, I used tape down the center of
the strip of leather to keep the JB Wield off the screws.
Roman attic helmet making a roman attic helmet
fabrication roman officer's attic helmet
Crest Ostrich Plumes
Roman attic helmet making a roman attic helmet
fabrication roman officer's attic helmet
I picked up white Ostrich Plumes
on EBay for $22.99 to finish off the crest
Roman attic helmet making a roman attic helmet
fabrication roman officer's attic helmet
Roman attic helmet making a roman attic helmet fabrication roman officer's attic helmet
Total cost in materials $123.39
Roman attic helmet making a roman attic helmet fabrication roman officer's attic helmet
Montages of the images above for the
Roman Army Talk forum
Roman attic helmet making a roman attic helmet
fabrication roman officer's attic helmet
Roman attic helmet making a roman attic helmet fabrication
roman officer's attic helmet