The Armour Archive

Chris Gilman

Cool stuff. (and no, no critical observations....at this point...

)

Chris Gilman

Great for knocking pesky bees and wasps out of the air as well!

Chris Gilman

Chris, did you work with John Pearce at Old Tucson? I worked with him at Medieval Times outside of Chicago. Well knock me down with a feather! yes. He was the "adult" supervisor for the Explorer post at OT where I first started there. I eventually I got a job at Old Tucson (Thanks to Paul...

Chris Gilman

For those who would like a more detailed account on how this house was built, as well as other projects I'm working on, I have given in to the Blog temptation and have a new blog. Based on the original name of my props & costume company; Diligent Dwarves Effects Lab, the blog is called "Dil...

Chris Gilman

I like this helm. One day I want to make one like it.
Here is a version I saw in Denmark
[img]http://www.globaleffects.com/Temp/Vikingtrip%20(409).JPG[/img]

Chris Gilman

No, once used it is thrown away.

Thanks.

Chris Gilman

Great Idea, but with the number of potential interested parties, you might be better with a /raffle rather than an auction. 1-2k tickets at $1 each? You could also set it up well in advance, flogging them online. You'd sell a shitload. The only downside is the transactional administration cost. And...

Chris Gilman

The casa is as splendid as I hoped it would be. I have a question: how are the floor panels connected to each other, and how are the walls connected to the floor? Tracy The floor is "free floating" over a steel sub frame and the walls attach to the 4x4 uprights. These 4x4 upright are bolt...

Chris Gilman

It's kind of annoying when some people camp better than I live. It's a summer house, in no way is that camping.....it's much more awesome than that. That was precisely the idea I had when I built it. That is what it felt like to wake up, look past my feet and see that lake in the morning sun. (whic...

Chris Gilman

I helped a friend design a Viking house a number of years ago. He started it, then quit and never went back to it. I was disappointed as I thought it was going to be very cool. Being involved with many amusement park projects, I have samples of various "fake" building materials, one was th...

Chris Gilman

I would be interested, but the page link is not working for me.
working now

Chris Gilman

The box at the back of my shop has 600 amps of 440 3phase, if anybody needs some bring a battery, you can have all you want......

Chris Gilman

I'll go $80

Chris Gilman

Considering that the first floor is almost totally open, how do you secure it against weather, like rain blowing in? It seems that it would be very vulnerable if the open side is to windward. We had a number of storms and there was very little rain on the floor. I will make shutters to put in the o...

Chris Gilman

If there is no enclosure on the first floor -- what are the security protocols to prevent someone from walking by and snagging something day or night? ANd, on a related note, if it is being kept at Cooper's Lake, what are the provisions to close it up and keep critters (and squatters) out? Gaston, ...

Chris Gilman

How did you manage to get a full two stories and still be under the max height requirements? Christopher It is because the bottom floor is only 4" thick and the ceiling (second floor) is only 1" thick (not counting the beams) and the interior head room is slightly more than 7 ft. downstai...

Chris Gilman

Got back from Pennsic Tuesday night. Gerhard was a huge help, my thanks to him. Thanks to all the Archivers who came down Tuesday, it was great to meet you all. My apologies for not being able to spend more time with all of you, I seemed to be running here and there all night. As some may have heard...

Chris Gilman

Hey guys, we'll be running a bit late on Sunday! We'll most likely show up in the early afternoon so if you're interested in helping with the build plan on swinging by le casa after two or so to see if we're out there yet! It's proven to be a pretty involved process so all the hands we can get would...

Chris Gilman

Here is a peek at the downstairs ceiling.

Chris Gilman

What's the schedule of build? E.g. What day and time do you want volunteers to show up and where (land number location)? Besides work gloves and sturdy footwear are there any tools that would be beneficial to have extras-of on hand? Socket sets, Rubber mallets, screw drivers, drill-drivers, etc you...

Chris Gilman

Baron Conal- trust me, I understand. I've been working with my father and nephew designing a break down building that would simulate a viking hall. We've worked out all the design aspects for set up by 2 people with a minimum of tools. I honestly thought it was an awesome project. Than I seen this ...

Chris Gilman

*checks watch* Less than a week... Are you driving it out yourself or shipping? The logistics of it all must be interesting. This is my life. For the past 30 years I have built things on tight deadlines, and we always manage to get completed what needs to be completed. All the walls are textured an...

Chris Gilman

The roof is constructed with Coroplast (like corgated cardboard, but polypropolyne) with a layer of vacuformed teracotta tiles.
These are painted with just the base coat.

I have earth anchors to secure it to the ground.

Chris Gilman

Well, I'm into the final few days. 99% of construction is complete, now its paint and detailing. Here is a shot of the upstairs inside and out. (Please ignore the blue masking tape; this was used to attach the metal edging on the wall panels.) http://www.globaleffects.com/Temp/upstairs37.JPG http://...

Chris Gilman

The house is being designed as if it were built 500 years ago and will include elements from 1480 to 1520 Basically from when I joined the SCA to a couple of years from now. As it is in Casa Bardicci, it is mainly Italian, but it will include items from many places. The artwork in the house is a sur...

Chris Gilman

Looks like a great book. If I get it now, I'll just want to rip stuff out of the house and change it. So, I'll wait till after Pennsic.

Chris Gilman

Chris Gilman

Last week I got the roof beams completed, as well as the "keg cozy" and the jockey box. and of course, tested it many time to see if it worked properly. this weekend completed the second story floor. This week walls. Beams (Note: bed frame in the corner, scored at a movie prop auction) htt...

Chris Gilman

Just puttering around the house....

Chris Gilman

I make my shoes with very thick harness leather for the sole. If you soak the shoe thoroughly you can turn it without tearing it, but you need to make your stitching very tight and consistent. I do recall that the soles where thicker leather than the uppers, but I would have to go back and check tha...

Chris Gilman

Jeff, Nice stuff, I like the stools. I have a number of pieces for the house. The plan was to make some specifically for the house, since I have been building this pretty much single handed, I am a little behind schedule. (I also may have to film a commercial in Texas, the end of July, and that was ...

Chris Gilman

I put it in, because these are so common in paintings. The fireplace will have a cover like was used in period to cover the opening in summer, when not in use. Oo -- and then you can add one of those swing-arm candlesticks ... and a nice big settle with cushions ... YUP! I won't have time to make t...

Chris Gilman

No presents needed, just your presence.

Chris Gilman

Well actually, there is much more work in this than if I was just to build a onetime use or permanent structure. There has been a great deal of engineering and special consideration in the construction and material choices, so this can go up and come down quickly and be reused many years. Also, one ...

Chris Gilman

That is quite a remarkable house you are making! I am really impressed that you included a fire place as these are in so many medieval paintings. How will the fireplace work? I mean will it be just decorative or will there actually be some sort of fire in it and how can that be done safely? Thanks,...