The Armour Archive

RalphS

One of the more important tools to use when moving metal around is localised heat. A metal bowl is pretty stiff by itself, with the exception of compression into something narrower and longer, or vice versa. If you heat a small spot somewhere away from the edge, the cooler metal around it will resis...

RalphS

Thomas, you're so right! One of the best things with forging is that you can easily make a 10 cm diameter round hole in a piece of 3 cm wide stock. Try to do that with stock removal And of course, it's fun to play with fire, much more fun than playing with powerful machines that can strip the flesh ...

RalphS

Ralph, would you say these helmets do not look correct becasue of the fact that they were welded? I do not know Roberts reasons but i can assume that since he does indeed raise helmets yet chose to make these welded that there must be a good reason, like ease of construction or possibly speed of co...

RalphS

As already said, heat treating is so much more important than how you shape the metal! But taking a step back, and trying to see the whole picture (including raised vs welded armour), I've over the years found the following. Depending on your chosen construction method, you can take some shortcuts. ...

RalphS

I just got back from the States, after staying a couple of days extra after the conference. Everything was more than worth the trip, we all had a great time! Thank you Brian, Doug, Tasha and all others for a conference which exceeded my high expectations. And a very special thanks to Otto, Ingrid an...

RalphS

Any update on the dvd? The helmet should be done about now, and I know there's lots of footage of a bunch of sweating guys swinging big hammers at unyielding blocks of steel

Or with other words:

RalphS

Bring your armour?

AFAIK, Brian has already proposed that "everybody who wishes to should meet in the hotel lobby or bar at 7 PM for an impromptu evening of events" on Friday.

http://www.armourresearchsociety.org/attendees_info.htm

RalphS

Getting really close now! I'll be on my way early Thursday morning, and arrive in Chicago Thursday late afternoon. For those already there by then, let's get together and say hi, perhaps get a bite to eat or a drink or so. I'll be staying at the Palmer House Hilton Hotel by then, we could meet there...

RalphS

Just a wild guess: upcoming ARS conference and raffle sallet perhaps?

RalphS

also what is THE typical head size? so if i make a helm just to test a design, i have better chance to see it go afterward;P Even if there would be a typical head size , there's still the shape to play with. I've seen too many different heads to conclude that there is something inflexible which wou...

RalphS

Me too!

RalphS

That was actually not a sallet/bevor combination, but more something of a close helm, with a sallet tail riveted on. Here's one done by Lorenz Helmschmied: [img]http://www.rustning.se/uploads/photos/341.jpg[/img] As for additional neck protection, I've seen the following on display in Nuremberg, but...

RalphS

When exactly is the draw? Will there be some kind of ceremony-thingy perhaps?

I want to buy a bunch more tickets, pay cash and get the tickets right away, so give me a chance to do that before the draw!

RalphS

I'll arrive the 20th, and check in to the hotel for two nights. After that I'm up for grabs

The flight back is the 25th, so there are a couple of days to spend there, I'd love to hang out with some locals!

RalphS

2-3 cm, that sounds like a lot! A typical head is about 17-18 cm wide, adding 2-3 cm (on each side I presume?) would make the width inside the helmet 21-24 cm. Add to that metal thickness, and any increase in width due to shape (bell shape, flare, etc), and one ends up with quite a big overall width...

RalphS

Well, for what it's worth:
http://www.astro.lu.se/~ralph/pics/tmp_ ... age050.jpg
http://www.astro.lu.se/~ralph/pics/tmp_ ... age051.jpg

From MÃƒÂ¼nchen, Bayerisches Nationalmuseum.

RalphS

I'm coming too, arriving on the 20th and leaving the 25th.

Are there any plans for a gettogether on the 20th and/or 21st?

RalphS

I have a question to those people actually using helmets with period liners. I make helmets myself, but don't use them in combat. Since I normally take custom orders, the helmets are made to closely fit the circumference of the customer's head. The question: how close would you like to have a helmet...

RalphS

With oil blackening I keep on seeing motor oil mentioned. Why? It's about the worst choice of oil you can make for blackening a piece of armour! Motor oil is specifically designed not to burn (blacken) at high temperatures, not to goo up and solidify. This is exactly what you don't want in your engi...

RalphS

One more thing: is a "grosse Schaller" the same as a black sallet? It translates to "big sallet"...

RalphS

Here's a black schaller I made a while back. Never imagined someone would ask me for one. Nice! Looks almost like the real thing, with the big difference that it shows that you spent time to make this one look good. Not a single crack in the edge, that just feels wrong Will it be covered with cloth?

RalphS

Great suggestion! It's a book with the most beautiful pictures, I paid a lot more for it many years ago, and it's well worth the money. Another option, along the same lines, but with much more describing text, is the armour catalog of the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna: m (if this links works ok...

RalphS

I just happened to run into something here, while looking for something else: In the "Leib Ruest Camer I" catalogue of the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna, the A3 "grosse Schaller" description mentions a checkered pattern in red and white, with a 6-pointed star in each square. The bottom edge has...

RalphS

Yup - I call that stuff HVAC armour. Very tubular and too machined. Thaden brought up a point at the las MAG - people forged out of billed made into sheet, not huge machine rolled sheets. I don'e know if it neccesarily has to have 'sexy womanly curves' but if it doesn't look like a living thing, I ...

RalphS

Patrick did the ground one, I did the black one, but there Patrick did some of the work on the brow and neck pieces, since I didn't quite get to finish them before I had to leave.

RalphS

Anime?

RalphS

Note: Current Lifetime Members are not eligible for this offer as they do not have recurring dues. Aaaawwwww! If there are any tickets left on the 20th or 21st, I'll buy 6 more. I guess you'll bring the remainder to the conference? Please, can't I get an extension on my membership anyway?

RalphS

Well, to be frank, we watched a video together; said "hey, let's see if we can do that too!"; leafed through some books for a good type of helmet to match our blanks; and had a lot of mountain dew. Other than that, I'd say it's mostly a feel for the right shape, knowing which shape you're working to...

RalphS

How much it can boost my skills? I managed to make a sallet, almost done, in half the time it would have taken me at home. Patrick had finished his by the time I was maybe 80-90% done. Now, I don't think it's just the mountain dew, but it may very well have been a contributing factor. The black one...

RalphS

At 108 degrees outside temperature, and waaaay hotter inside the workshop, with the 5 gallon water cooler empty, it's not that bad an alternative, actually

RalphS

just wondering with my feeble armoring mind, why the difference in gauntlent construction? its still insanely cool though. That's the way it was done back then. The left gauntlet was used for holding the reins, and was likely to be struck by the opponents lance in a joust. That's why it was made in...

RalphS

Not particularly evil, but not nice either.

RalphS

standin on the tank of my ducati going about 60 doing a crucifix...gust of wind cathes me throws me off balance....BASICALLY fall off my $8000 motorcycle at 60 mph... Nailing your balls to your leg is one thing, but that is just ASKING for it! Of course you weren't wearing any protective gear eithe...

RalphS

I want one!!! If only I could make one like that!

But seriously, I had a great time making these with you, thanks Patrick!!! Gotta do it again some time, make a bunch of german sallets instead!

RalphS

6 more tickets ordered here! Better get yours while they last!