Dragon Headdress

I drew out some templates from thicker construction paper and taped those together to check the fit. Then, I traced that onto the 6mm foam and held it together with sewing pins, making adjustments along the way.

The final test before using contact cement.

Good ole barge was used to hold it all together. I also smoothed out some of the ridges with a dremel and sandpaper. I wasn’t concerned with clean seams since this would all be covered with scales.

Snaps for lower ridges were punched through a small piece of 3mm foam, then glued to the inside. This allows them to have some flexibility.

I created a template for the scales on a rigid piece of Sintra (expanded PVC foam), then traced out all the scales.

Lines drawn on to help keep the scales in formation.

But it was also SUPER satisfying to see it come together.

Done by attacking the scales at random with the edge of a Dremel sanding drum bit.

Almost there! The parts around the eyes and upper ridges were tricky: I had to cut a lot of the scales in half or more. Some larger scales were also used to cover more area and add a varied look.

Done with the scales! The nose was created by carving a large piece of insulation foam into the shape I wanted, then laying paper onto it and drawing where the edges would come together. This was then traced onto the foam and cemented together. Since scales wouldn’t cover this part, I filled in the imperfections in the seams with spot putty.

I used the inside of a cheap hardhat and attached it using more snaps. Secure and comfy!

This was after silver rubber automotive spray was used to both seal the foam and add a metallic undertone. Thin layers to prevent beading.

Here you can see where I cut out spaces for the horns added masking tape so they would be glued right onto the foam.

More masking tape for the teeth. I used watered down acrylic paint instead of store-bought paint specifically for airbrushing, and I didn’t quite get the mix right. However, the texture it created ended up working well for the roof of the mouth.

This is where the airbrush really shined over a rattlecan. I experimented a lot during this with different nozzles and distances.

All done! The eyes came from Amazon, and fit right in!

Unfortunately these are the first pictures of the teeth and horns I have. They started as small BB sized plastic pellets. Once dropped in hot water, they can be clumped together and shaped. As they solidify, the surface forms into a film that can be used to create unique textures.

This was done with white spray paint, then covering with layers of watered down black, brown, and yellow acrylic paint. Once pretty much the whole thing was covered in the paint, I used sponges and paper towels to soak up most of the paint. This leaves the paint in the cracks, bringing out the texture and depth.

Unfortunately, dental care for dragons just isn’t what it should be. I used the airbrush again to added texture to the mouth.

Grrrrrrrrrr