The Armour Archive

wcallen

The one we had for comparison was this one made by Per for Toby. It includes arms that aren't pictured: http://www.allenantiques.com/images/mini-R-37.jpg More pictures here: http://www.allenantiques.com/R-37.html Wade It is better known (well, based on a couple of better known ones). Much "bigger" a...

wcallen

I do not know whether the armourer came forward. I did get to see the cuirass last weekend and talk with the owner. It is a gloriously skinny thing with wonderful rolls and nice shape. We had it lying next to the cuirass I just bought from Toby (which I had just picked up the day before). It was a f...

wcallen

Yes, I think that is a simple way to think about my neutral position.

Wade

wcallen

I think this is a prime example of where what we see as "the right way to do something" because it will minimize gaps in movement or optimize performance just doesn't match up with the way they thought. Apparently, slots parallel to the length of the piece work well enough for many cases. Yes, I hav...

wcallen

I played with the breastplate a little this morning before work to get you an idea of the roll size. I think that the old measurements were probably done using a gauge all the way through to the interior. Not sure. That would make sense given that the only tool I have to make decimal measurements is...

wcallen

I tend to start at the neutral position. then work from there to get the movement I want. Both methods described attempt to actually optimize the slots. I have many slots in real pieces that just go straight. Some on faulds, many on gauntlets. This doesn't optimize the prettiness of the results, but...

wcallen

... Wade, ... Thank you for making your collection available. If it were convenient I would love to know the dimensions of the widest part of the facets of the turned edges of A66. ... -Adair Some information is on the site: Height of upper roll at the center - .66. Max height of right arm roll - ....

wcallen

I really like your drawing. It has a good quality to it. Nice volume. I have 2 vaguely applicable breastplates: http://www.allenantiques.com/A-66.html http://www.allenantiques.com/A-239.html I think both of my side views are a little close, and a little angled so they accentuate the depth in the top...

wcallen

To end up with a centered seam on the outside you want to extend one side (the side that will go inside) more than the one that ends up on the outside. You build something that looks like a tab that sticks under the outside layer.

Wade

wcallen

Yes.
As I remember our pattern had a little curve on the inside of the join to minimize dishing.
I think it also had a bit of a "tab" on one side so that we had a seam down the center and material underlapping it on the other side.

But, yes, that is the idea.

Wade

wcallen

That shape isn't all that bad. Artificial rules to prevent perceived damage to weapons are always annoying. They lead to odd armour shapes. Honestly, any riveted, rolled up form is by its nature going to have a point unless you work really, really hard. That is the nature of rolling up a cone. I exp...

wcallen

I have made several different patterns of seamed elbows. Welded and riveted. I expect that it is probably easiest to re-work the pattern and make a new one if you are doing a riveted one without heat. When we did a similar cop, we ran the seam down the back. That pattern looks like it has the seam d...

wcallen

And, a question you didn't ask. This happens to all of us, many times. Your drawing shows a straight piece that rises to a crease in the middle with bent down ends and you ask how to bend down the ends. The picture you are starting with doesn't show that. Yes, the ends are bent down aggressively, bu...

wcallen

the link is cool.

They seem to have picked a really bad day to do that tour. Many of the cool 15th c. armours aren't there....

It does seem to show that the KHM is a lot more dynamic than many collections.

Wade

wcallen

How you use the construction holes depends on how you work. If you are really good at forming plates to match each other, you could just use them to test fit. Personally, I tend to bang on the plates a little bit when they are bolted or temporarily riveted to help build a nice "flow" in the plates. ...

wcallen

I think you will be very happy with them. Yes, they aren't 100% authentic... but they are a really good looking compromise for the games a lot of us play. And they look right to almost everyone. The wrist decoration is a really nice touch that doesn't show up that often. And I expect that they will ...

wcallen

Mac has, as usual done a fine job of answering your questions. The leathers in my gorget are a little suspect, so I do like to minimize the amount I mess with them. I expect that if we could get me and John together we could get a video of how his copy of my gorget moves as it is opened, closed and ...

wcallen

I think, for us, that the wear on the minds was dealing with deadlines and past due deadlines. Designing a new project and thinking about where the metal would go was the fun part. But, like most others, I am no longer a professional armourer. If I ever make a piece for money again, it won't be beca...

wcallen

Yes, that one.

As he described, the "un-named armourer" did the forming of all of the pieces, then it was handed off for finishing.

Wade

wcallen

I expect you could price those gauntlets as new and sell them pretty quickly. These things aren't that easy to come by, esp. without waiting. I clicked on the link to the sculptor. He.... does some really good stuff. He should be able to do the harness justice. And let's see some pictures of the oth...

wcallen

Josh,

So, where's the picture of you two standing together? Or fighting?
No picture, it didn't happen.

Wade

wcallen

Sorry we missed each other. It is always nice to talk.

We should be there next year as usual.

Wade

P.S. I wish it weren't on the same weekend as MTA..... argh....

wcallen

When I'm seaching for an armour image or inspiration on Google, I tell it "-pinterest" to filter out stuff that generally has no further information other than a picture. Lately I just look through Wade's stuff :D Cool. Glad it does some good for somebody. To show how "un-facebook-like" I am, I don...

wcallen

I use an O/A rig. The other thing that seems to be a big winner for many people is an "Eric Thing" forge. http://www.anvilfire.com/article.php?bodyName=/plans/ething_forge/sheet_metal_forge.htm If you google that term you get lots of hits. It is a propane driven "forge" designed for working on helme...

wcallen

I have never used a TS8000 Bernsomatic torch, but the ones I see show a small torch head designed to sit on one of the little propane or Mapp gas tanks. With Mapp it will probably work better than the standard propane torch on a little bottle... but you probably want to aim a little higher if you wa...

wcallen

And Mac is right. Stare at those two pictures and you will see where the depth went. Mac says it can be fixed.... with heat. Yes, it can. But you will get to decide if it is worth the work. Next time you want to try to have the volume you want to end up with before you roll/crease/flute and flair th...

wcallen

I looked back at the history because I guessed like Mac did that you lost the dept at the crease. But, his second guess was better. You lost the depth between these two images: https://puu.sh/zUMmi/5702171197.png https://puu.sh/zWbu6/22d6d2b57f.png My opinion is that much of the dept in both plates ...

wcallen

Mac wrote:
It looks like you need more fire.

Mac

Always! MORE FIRE!!!!!!

That is why I still use O/A. Heat is good.

Wade

wcallen

This isn't the best picture, but it gives a good idea of the shape of the bottom of a backplate: http://www.allenantiques.com/images/A-21-from-bottom.jpg The edges actually extend past their and curve in some more. Another one: http://www.allenantiques.com/images/A-75a-bottom-flair.jpg This isn't th...

wcallen

The mystery armourer is a real talent. The customer did well to get him/her/it to do work for them.
A fine piece of work, and a fine interpretation of the intended original.

Wade

wcallen

I have seen one piece backs from the appropriate time period... But the 2 piece seems more typical. I expect you would rather end up with the 2 piece. So go for it that way. Mac has various discussions on the fit of backs and breasts... the first easy thing to start with is generally the back curves...

wcallen

Before you get a lot farther re-read Mac's order of things. Note, you need to have a backplate to do step #2. Note that step #2 comes BEFORE trimming and rolling. So, if you want to have a backplate go with this breastplate, start the back now. If you want your backplate to go with your next breastp...

wcallen

Earlier, I mentioned the idea of making stakes out of jackhammer bits. In fact, I bought several. https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/SprmdUu4q1VY0YZiQjQOvCCDqDocMNqYjeakmCi6qT2yS3swUbPimO3nmmyqWVSVIgC7HtIXYVAsDXcWTUNukSZ_HqJh6zKITL6LoPN4Ikm-tv7G1R8O2K-trK8EOmRZ4BAnjMDZaNmWUT1hhONd9onmSgjnZVUJHTHbTTh...

wcallen

Mac,

I like that book. A nice combination of "how you work will affect the result" practicality and general methods that assume perfection. And he (I assume it was a he at the time) tells you why something should work.

Very nice.

Wade

wcallen

What thickness you should start with and what size the material should be are both functions of how you end up working the metal. Realistically, it is best to think of the first time you try to raise a "big" piece like a helmet skull as a learning exercise. Yes, start with material that should yield...

Re: New Italian suit

Re: New Italian suit

Re: Sliding Rivets

Re: Sliding Rivets

Re: Late 15th Century one piece breastplate

Re: Sliding Rivets

Re: Late 15th Century one piece breastplate

Re: Late 15th Century one piece breastplate

Re: Making a pointy, rolled elbow less sharp.

Re: Making a pointy, rolled elbow less sharp.

Re: Making a pointy, rolled elbow less sharp.

Re: Making a pointy, rolled elbow less sharp.

Re: Technique for making this part of a mitten gauntlet?

Re: Gauntlets without gloves

Re: Gorget Articulation - Resources? Tips?

Re: 14th C hourglass sport mitten gauntlets

Re: Gorget Articulation - Resources? Tips?

Re: Armouring As A Career

Re: New Italian suit

Re: Mac's blog

Re: New Italian suit

Re: Once again, time to attend the Baltimore Arms Fair - 201

Re: Ludicrous Fakes

Re: Milanese Gauntlets + Harness Patterning

Re: Milanese Gauntlets + Harness Patterning

Re: Milanese Gauntlets + Harness Patterning

Re: Milanese Gauntlets + Harness Patterning

Re: Milanese Gauntlets + Harness Patterning

Re: Milanese Gauntlets + Harness Patterning

Re: New Italian suit

Re: Milanese Gauntlets + Harness Patterning

Re: Milanese Gauntlets + Harness Patterning

Re: Mac's blog

Re: Help designing patterns for a helmet

Re: Help designing patterns for a helmet