Helmet Stand Plans

[Darklen]

As I'm amassing a fair helmet collection, I was wondering if anyone has plans for display stands? Either desktop or wall mount. Prefer to make them out of wood rather than metal or plastic. Even pics of existing stands would be of help.

[Lord_Jeremiah]

Have you got a room dedicated to airsoft gear? The reason I ask, is because a helmet stand in the middle of your house may look a bit... psychotic to guests.

Anyways, you could try a simple wood post, with angled hooks similar to a coat rack. Then paint it olive drab after just for effect. I remember you saying you have around 5ish?

[Darklen]

All my gear is in my modeling shop, but it is in a dedicated, secured room. I want something that will either attach to the wall or sits on a shelf.

[Lerch]

Try getting manequin heads from a second-hand store. Or maybe just large wooden balls on a small post.

[Stonewall]

What kind of helmets do you collect? Curious. One helmet collector to another. Spoke to a guy once who had 400 helmets in his collection. Now that's a collection.

Mine covers WWI, WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Cold war, First Gulf War, OIF. All types. All countries. Even movie prop helmets. Also collect helmet covers; Vietnam, WWII, Current militaria. Like to find helmet covers from actual units that have been overseas. For example, US 3rd ID, 101st airborne and 4th Infantry division can be found. These units are constanly rotating troops back to the US and discharging old equipment as they bring in new equipment such as the MICH Helmet replacing the PASGT.

There are some very good websites out there. Excellent historical information, especially German.

You could get some basic wood materials from a place called "Michael's". An arts and craft type place.

If you go to ebay under "buy" and do a search for helmet stands chances you will come up with something. I did. However considering what I paid and the sturdiness of the stands I felt I could do better making them myself or finding alternatives. I am also using a white wire framed cubicle book case from Home Depot.

Good hunting.

Regards,

[Darklen]

I've only got 5 helmets so far, so it's not too much of a collection. Some are replicas I got just to display the helmet covers I have. I wanted to get some method of display going as I'm going to be adding to it over time.

IMO, the stuff at Micheals sucks and is horrifically over priced. And I have looked on ebay but haven't seen anything that turns my crank. I have a decent array of shop tools (table, scroll, mitre saws, router, etc) and wanted to do something is white oak or beech. I just wanted to know if anyone has or knows of woodworking plans or some interesting pics of wooden helmet/hat stands. I could just do my own, but why reinvent the wheel.

[philstructo]

I wish i had an army helmet

[Lerch]

Originally Posted by philstructo

I wish i had an army helmet

Go buy an M1 I've seen 'em for $20 in most places.

[philstructo]

i think i will get one when i go to the surplus store

[Coma]

A helmet stand wouldn't be too hard to make. I'm envisioning two pieces perpendicular to one another and joined with a half lap joint in the centre. Run a 1-1.5 inch dowel up from that joint as far as you feel like. Probably best to drill a hole up from the bottom, put the screw in and then plug said hole. It'd be hidden anyway, so plugging it is just an option. At the top either make a smaller version of the base that will support the helmet or as previously mentioned use a large wooden sphere. I'm guessing the helmets are fairly heavy, meaning it'd be best to either secure the bases down or weight them. Use the router to carve out a few channels and glue in weights. Lead would work well.

Woohoo for cabinetmaking classes!