Today we propose to understand the meaning of the tattoo with the image of the helm. Thanks to this device it is possible to control some kind of a swimming vehicle or a flying apparatus. If we talk about the classic hand wheel, it is a small-sized wheel with a crank, which is connected by drives of various designs.
The hand wheel appeared at the end of the fourteenth century, namely in the year one thousand five hundred and ninety-five. This thing is of Dutch origin. This can be guessed from the name of the steering wheel, which is translated as "rudder" and "wheel. It is interesting that in the past it was customary to use a long lever to steer a large ship. On small ships, the tiller was used exclusively.
Earlier tattoos in the form of such a thing as a steering wheel were done exclusively by sailors. Their life was not so easy, and they believed that such a body painting would help them to find the right path, to return home.
Nowadays, such a picture is not considered a professional tattoo. Such a tattoo is called purely male, because it can tell about the leadership qualities of its owner.
What does the tattoo with the image of a helm mean?
To make a tattoo in the form of such an original thing as a helm often asks the masters of men and women of different ages. Especially effectively such a drawing looks in the style of realism. Such an image will tell that a man can be responsible for his actions and at the same time is ready for everything in life.
If there is a helm in combination with ropes and an anchor, such a drawing will mean that the person wants to stick to the chosen goals.
And this despite the difficult circumstances in life. In this case, it does not matter at all what image of the helm you choose. This tattoo will represent freedom, the desire to be a leader in life.
In addition, such a thing as the helm is a typical symbol of the sea. He is responsible for choosing the right path in life. It is not uncommon for all those people whose lives are associated with the sea to use a helm. Belief tells about the fact that the helm tattoo was a kind of amulet of sailors.
How to make a paper helm from a sailing ship
Before you start, it is worth looking at photos of real old steering wheels to understand their structure and design style and come up with the name of the ship, which can be written on the rim of the steering wheel. If the toy has to move, you need to think in advance about its mechanism: a bearing, a metal or wooden axle.
Depending on the purpose of the craft, instead of the name of the ship, you can use the name of the child, the family motto, the name of the company or a short humorous greeting to the birthday boy.
Materials and tools required
Materials for creating a vintage ship's helm:
- heavy cardboard;
- car bearing;
- hot glue;
- old newspaper;
- PVA glue;
- stain;
- Rope or twine;
- light colored duct tape or mounting tape;
- Matte black and brown spray paint.
Tools for the job:
- glue gun;
- drill;
- fine sandpaper;
- jigsaw;
- penknife;
- band saw;
- wood glue.
Step-by-step assembly with drawings and dimensions
Making with our own hands the helm of the pirate ship:
- Start by creating blanks for the spokes of the steering wheel. Two sheets of heavy cardboard are glued together and left to dry for about 12 hours under the press (thick books can be used for this).
- When the workpiece dries, cut it into strips about 1.2 cm wide.
- The ring of heavy cardboard cut into 4 thin rings of equal width - this will be the basis of the helm of the ship (for the work you need 2 parts, the rest leave "in stock" if something does not turn out the first time).
- From one of the rings cut off a piece and glued so that the workpiece is smaller in diameter. Additional Information. If you do not have at hand a wide cardboard ring blanks, you can glue parts of the two-layer cardboard strips (as in steps 1-2).
- Six spokes should go through the wheel of the steering wheel made of paper, so that they can be inserted, in the prepared rings cut at an equal distance the appropriate number of holes. The easiest way is to first drill regular round holes (about 1.2 cm in diameter), and then with a jigsaw give them a square shape.
- Put the rings one inside the other and insert the holes in the spokes. To avoid warping, it is best to assemble the rudder of the ship on a flat and clean surface.
- Place the bearing in the center of the workpiece.
- From heavy cardboard cut out a circle with a hole, which will be the rudder body. The piece should exactly match the distance between the large and small rings.
- Glue the circle at the appropriate place (as in the photo).
- All edges of the workpiece are carefully trimmed and sanded. Before starting work, you should carefully read the assembly plan to understand the scheme of the ship's helm and the principle of its creation.
- With the help of paint and stain the part so that it becomes similar to the old ship's helm.
- Wrap the edges of the future handles with masking tape or masking tape and shape them into the desired shape. To save time and material, you can put tightly crumpled pieces of newspaper inside the handles.
- Once again, gather all the pieces together on a flat surface to make sure they all fit together.
- Since spray paint will not stick to the tape, the handles are pasted with a thin layer of paper in the papier-mâché technique from small pieces of soaked newspaper in a solution of PVA glue. Note! Before proceeding to each next step, all glued parts must be well dried.
- Paint the handles with brown acrylic paint (for imitation of old salted wood, the color "nutmeg" is best).
- Lightly spray the handles with black paint to give structure.
- Install the bearing in its place in the center of the rudder and glue the inner ends of the spokes with wood glue.
- Fix the connection with hot melt glue.
- Cut six pieces of brown twine or hemp rope one meter long.
- Spokes one by one are smeared with glue and tightly wrapped with rope.
- To write the name of the ship on the rudder, make a cardboard blank of several layers glued together (approximately as in step 1).
- When the resulting multilayer sheet dries, cut out the letters according to the prepared stencil.
- Glue the inscription in place and paint. The finished handicraft can be coated with furniture varnish.
Before cutting out cardboard letters, you should first try on how the paper cutouts will fit on the plane of the steering wheel.
The steering wheel of the captain of the ship is ready.
Design options
The finished handicraft can be decorated in different ways:
A simplified version for children's rooms or photo shoots.
Mediterranean-style steering wheel for interior decoration.
Movable game composition for the youngest.
Decorating the wall of a cafe or restaurant with realistic layouts.
Children's room for the little adventurer.
Decorating a wedding reception in the nautical style.
Steering wheel chandelier like in real old taverns.
A light fixture in a more modern style.
Photo of a real wooden rudder of an antique ship - for inspiration.
Video master classes
Detailed video master class how to make a helm from cardboard or paper:
You can make a spinning rudder using a simpler technique (only it will look less like a real one). To do this, transfer a favorite template of the helm of the ship on heavy paper, cut out, paint and strengthen it on the axle.
If you need to make a large-sized steering wheel, you can draw a pencil sketch of the template on a larger area of cardboard. (Large boxes from TV, washing machine, refrigerator, furniture, and other large packing containers will work).
The inner parts of the wheel can be cut with a sharp cutter or the pointed end of a knife.
Do not entrust sharp objects to a child, so do it together, or do it yourself.
What does the tattoo mean for men?
This tattoo can be called exclusively male. For members of the stronger sex, such a body image will mean:
- confidence in their powers
- desire to stick to the chosen path
- freedom-loving
- dominance
- love of wandering, adventure
- tendency to change places
A beautiful body image with a helm can tell about a confident man.
Such a representative of the strong sex is freedom-loving and loves to dominate. A man with such a tattoo always wants to stick to his chosen path in life. Also, such a tattoo is often done by all those men who love to travel and tend to change places.
Sometimes men choose a steering wheel tattoo for the reason that it looks very spectacular.
History of the emergence of the steering wheel
A steering wheel is a device that can be used to steer a ship, an airplane or a combine. The term originated from two Dutch words that translate as "rudder" and "wheel." The object first appeared at the end of the 16th century in the province of North Holland. There, a sailing transport vessel called the "flute" was invented, equipped with a steering wheel. Before that time ships had been steered by a kolderstroke, that is, a long lever. In the XIX century the helm was modernized and reduced in size, and in the XX century it was replaced by electronics.
The helm tattoo used to be exclusive to sailors. Their life was full of dangers and adventures, so the tattoo served as a talisman that protected them from trouble and trouble while traveling. Today, the image has become widespread in tattoo art, but the symbol has still remained masculine.
What does the tattoo mean for women?
Not so often women choose a tattoo in the form of a helm. For them, such a body drawing means:
- freedom
- desire to dominate
- love of wandering
- confidence
Original body art with the image of a helm will tell about the freedom-loving character of its owner.
Such a woman loves to dominate and at the same time is confident in herself.
Often tattoo with the image of the helm lady choose because of the originality of the image.
