Okay, folks, let’s dive into my little project from the other day – making an authentic Ohio State football helmet. I’m a huge Buckeyes fan, and I’ve always wanted a real helmet, not one of those cheap replicas.
First, I gotta find a helmet. Not just any helmet, mind you. I needed a Riddell VSR4, the old-school kind they actually wore back in the day. I scoured eBay, Craigslist, all those usual spots. Finally, I Found one, it’s kinda beat up, but hey, that adds character, right?
Stripping it Down
Next, I took everything apart. I mean everything. Face mask, chin strap, padding, even those little screws. I made a pile of parts. It looked like a helmet exploded. My wife walked by the room to shaking her head and muttering about my “projects.”
- Shell: The core of the operation. I used some heavy-duty stripper to get the old paint and decals off. It’s a messy job, so I wore gloves, used a respirator, opened all the windows. Gotta be careful with that stuff.
- Padding:The original padding in my helmet was pretty gross, So I tossed it. I ordered new padding, not quite.
- Face Mask: I wanted the classic gray facemask, just like the Buckeyes wear. The old one was some weird color, so I grabbed a can of gray spray paint and went to town.
- Chin Strap: This one was easy. I just cleaned up the original white chin strap. A little soap and water, good as new.
Paint Job
Now for the fun part, I painted it! I got some official “Buckeye Scarlet” paint from Sherwin-Williams. I’m pretty sure it’s the same stuff they use on the real helmets. Okay, maybe not, but it’s the same color, And it’s good enough for me. I did a few coats, letting each one dry completely before the next. Gotta be patient. And the paint fumes… whoa.
I put it all back together. New padding in, face mask screwed on, chin strap snapped into place. I looked like a real football helmet again, only way better. This is not a easy thing, It’s a lot of fun.
Finally, I added the decals. I got a set of authentic Buckeye leaf decals and the warning labels, stripe down the middle, the whole nine yards. I used some soapy water to make sure I could slide them around and get them in the perfect spot. Took my time, it’s all in the details, you know?
Bam! My very own, authentic-looking Ohio State football helmet. It’s sitting proudly on my shelf now. It might not be game-used, but it’s close enough for me. And hey, I made it myself. Go Bucks!
