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Question: I need an advise on crafting cardboard!.!?
I am making a life-size replica of Leonidas' helmet from 300!. I know many have done it before and I am well aware about how to do it!.

As I am done with the helmet skull phase (I mean the cardboard shaping is done!.), I am about to start the second principal step: reinforcement!.

I watched down the whole net to find out to or three methods!.

As I prefer to use light weight spackling past, I was wondering if it is long or hard to shape and harden anything from sculptures to walls, etc!.

Any advise on the paste can be useful!. also, if you consider any method better, except fiberglass as I am not going to use it in my house, nor outdoor at -25!.

I have seen results from glue, fiberglass, any drywall paste and papier maché (glued newspaper pieces placed to shape)!.

All works pretty well, but I need advise to avoid troubles before they get in!. I'm really great and experienced as sanding to shape, so it's not a matter of finishing, but of applying and putting it even and stuff like that!.

--->It seems not to be too heavy!. Many have tried and to go further, a brass helmet would weight about 5 to 7 pounds!. The cardboard and glue barely it one or two!. So, with small layers, weight won'T be a problem!.Www@QuestionHome@Com


Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
You might do best to do a combination of paper mache and spackle!.
First use the paper mache to get the basic shape!. After it dries, go over it with a thin coat of spackle to get a smoother, more detailed finish!.

Paper Mache- make sure your sculpture is well supported before applying the paper mache, the water will make the mask weaker until it dries, then it will be stronger

Spackle- Be careful of applying it too thick!. This will cause it to crack and not dry evenly!. I would also suggest applying a coat of acrylic paint to finish, because the spackle will chip easily without some sort of coating!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Well if you are using paper mac-he I say that if the ingredients for it are too thin maybe try adding more flour and try adding some Elmer's Glue to the ingredients, because I have tried it and it works for many things!.Www@QuestionHome@Com