FYI: the last midterm assignment that was similar to this project:

Students founds images, references, photos of a medieval helmet or headdress, which was actually in existence in that era. They modeled it as closely as possible, yet simplified where necessary. Then they added new elements and/or details, which can only have come from our own age. They used of Color, reflectivity, texture and bump mapping is encouraged full description and specs for that assignment, see past student examples of that assignment