The Armour Archive

Mike F

I'm coming.

And if you mean Aaron Toman, he's closer to me than Cad now, but he's usually pretty busy. I'd love to see him there, though.

This is gonna be so much fun!

Mike F

I'll be 23. And I'm still a sophomore at MSOE. *sigh* Never screw around in college.

Mike F

A few weeks ago (a busy few weeks) I recieved a wooden greatsword I ordered from Purpleheart Armoury and I've been nothing but impressed by the waster and the company itself. Shipping was on time (and quick) and it is exactly as it appeared, smoothed, stained, and looking like something well worth w...

Mike F

I'd like to crash there Friday night, and while I'll probably be returning home Saturday night, if I can't, could I crash there Saturday, too? Send me a PM with any specifics. You want me to bring anything? Food? Beer? Sweet. Hey, Chris, it'll be good to see you again. You, me, Cad and Gruber have g...

Mike F

I'm coming. Hey, Otto, your offfer to me still stand, or are you full up? Hey, Archie, if you have anything you've done, bring pictures. I'd love to see what you're doing. Plus I can shoot the breeze with you about that gas contaption you want to make and just general working stuff. Plus I'll help y...

Mike F

Dunno if this is what you were looking for, but I love the Notre Dame Heraldry page.

http://www.rarebooks.nd.edu/digital/heraldry/

Mike F

We don't have any fighters except myself (and I'm not even authorized yet) but I shall talk to our Shire and see if they're interested. I think we could get a few people interested if we had the gear. Plus with Caer Anterth so close, we could always send them down there with our own loaner gear. Do ...

Mike F

Heavily gamboised cloth cuisses work as well. Not rigid like plastic, but worlds better than getting hit on bare flesh (or one layer of cloth)

Mike F

Ah! That's part of it. It doesn't sit well because it looks like the front juts out like a motorcycle helmet or a paintball mask. Maybe try it on a person? Otherwise I'd say maybe tighten the near the nose to get more of a "dished" effect over the chin.

Mike F

Maille Ninja! Perhaps you should try putting a conical helmet on it and seeing how that looks. I think it'd look pretty good, but I also agree with Steve that I usually see them a little more fitted. I want to make sure it wasn't in a movie before I go any further in specifics, though. I tend to stu...

Mike F

As far as weight goes, there's a lot of 14th and 15th century bits that can be done with covered plastic or even simply cloth. If I wanted a really light kit (and I think it'd hurt a bit more than I wanted) I'd do knees, cloth cuisses, a full gamboised jack with elbows hidden underneath, and some mi...

Mike F

Very nice, Hal. It's the attention to detail which makes a piece.

I'd think it was a bit heavy, myself, but it's really personal preference.

If I ever want a Spangenhelm, I'm coming to you.

Mike F

Words have been eaten. Thanks.

Is that the one with the square opening at the end of the nose? If not, then there's at least one more. I remembered that when I saw this one.

Mike F

The rounder nose, sure. I think I can find some modern pictures, but from what I've seen the centerhinge visors flip up 180 degrees when they open. That's be awkward at least for a hounskull.

If I'm wrong, I'd love to hear about it, I'm a big fan of the visors.

Mike F

The nose on the helm is very deep. If you give it a shot, keep us informed. A small torch seems good for small work, but it cools too rapidly. However, 16 ga or heavier can stay workable for a few seconds using a MAPP torch. I'd avoid it, however. An automatic center punch is like an automatic hamme...

Mike F

BdeB has a point. There are covered corizana kits made of plastic, and those look very cool when they're done. You can just glue and rivet cloth on and it's look great.

But I'd say black would work just as well as silver, so long as you consider a black oxidation finish on armor.

Mike F

And if, by chance, the object of the prank did keep at it long enough to get something forged, you'd have the fun of seeing a air-quench steel quenched in water. Heh. BWA HA HA, oh MAN! I can only imagine. Hope he didn't spend too much time on it, eh? Thanks, I appreciate the heads up. Plus I'll se...

Mike F

Okay, you metallurgical people, let us peons in on the steel joke.

I only know the SAE carbon steel system, and even that I have to look up beyond the 10xx series.

Mike F

I want to be an R, but it's a long road. I've never been a fan of sports, honestly, so to approach this like a sport makes me moderately . . . less interested. Please, hear me out here. To swing swords and to do battle is a thrill and a rush. If we kept score, I don't think I'd play. If you stripped...

Mike F

Lloyd, I want to apologize. I couldn't make it back and still make it down to school. Congratulations, and spend some time enjoying all your joints working (mostly) right.

Mike F

Bah, we had some scriptkiddie hit GetMedieval a while back, simply leaving the message "Poooned" We had a laugh riot shouting "Pooned!" at each other for a while, updated the server, took some measures. *ahem* and now we're 99% safe from THAT style of attack, even if there's a hole in PHP. In short,...

Mike F

You cannot dish that deep. You can, however, raise it using a forge/torch, but if you work it too cold it'll crack. Trust me. Best option is to weld down the bottom and raise down from there. If you want to raise from a flat sheet, I'd love to see the results. I'd like to do so myself, but I have ne...

Mike F

Be careful. I used a bit like that, and it cut much of my work, as it's so hard. Just be gentle and careful and all will be well.

Mike F

I bought too many, but I'm glad to help. Plus I may own said piece when all is said and done.

Mike F

I have a ticket, but I want to meet all of you! Come on!

Hey . . . How should I dress? My suit's conservative for the 1920's.

Oh, Doug, while I'm down there, can I look at that hounskull you made? I need help with dimensions.

Mike F

Be Tasha.

I said it elsewhere, but thank you. I look forward to the journal. Are you going to be at the conference? I'd enjoy meeting you in person.

Mike F

Sean: I'm an engineering student and I read that a half dozen times before I figured it out. Chalk it up to miles to go before I sleep.

I think you pegged it, however. I particularly like the "curves like a woman" bit. Hot-raising is a beautiful thing.

Mike F

Not to leech bandwidth from Doug, but . . .

THIS is how a visor is supposed to look.
[img]http://talbotsfineaccessories.com/armour/forgot-something2.JPG[/img]

(If you add the vision slits, you goofs)

Mike F

Regardless of manufacture, Lowrider, I was looking more for specifics in the design. I mean, mine looked similar . . . Until I raised it for a while. Rymic: It's not even that. It just seems too . . . broad. Look at a few (dozen) authentic visors and you'll pick it out immediately. Alcyoneus: Yea, t...

Mike F

For reference: http://wholesalearmor.com/MEDIEVALhelmets.html What's wrong with this and many modern repros? I can't put my finger on it. Is the muzzle just too conical? Is the bottom down too low? Is the muzzle too short? I've been trying to figure out how to make mine all nice and dandy, but it's ...

Mike F

Now you owe me more tickets! GIMME!

So . . . I now have a 1.7% chance, +/- of winning.

Take THAT, everyone!

Mike F

Charles: A small loop attached to the handle which you put your fingers through. Works for retention instead of a lanyard, and I'd prefer it myself if I ever figured out how to do so. (I use a crossguard, not a basket)

Mike F

What that I could, Ralph.

I'm glad you did, though. I hear it helped a lot.

So . . . Why isn't it October yet?

Mike F

Egfroth wrote: In fact I think adding "-le" to the end of "mail" is just Frenchified ostentation

Personally, it's to prevent the US Mail system from getting into my conversations.

Hey . . . We need a US Maille System!

Mike F

I still have your addy for the gears. I shall mail you a check within the week.

Review: Purpleheart Armoury Greatsword

What's wrong with hounskulls / pigfaces?