The Armour Archive

Cap'n Atli

Past Camp Fenby now; so I'm bumping this to (hopefully) reply tonight or tomorrow.

Cap'n Atli

Bare feet are not a bad thought, depending on the social class depicted. It would certainly be appropriate if you were depicting a spear carrier.

(My mind just doesn't normally run in that direction, between blacksmithing and deck splinters and anchors and...

)

Cap'n Atli

Observation on Corner Braces: I am pretty much convinced that the corner braces seen on so many of these chests are vital to the overall security. Without them, it is usually pretty easy to subtly pry loose one panel of a chest to gain access while bypassing the lock. This is very handy for the snea...

Cap'n Atli

Nice useful chest! I assumed you used modern mild steel and not wrought iron? And remember for the next one that red oak is not very like the european oaks, white oak is a closer match. Master Thomas; it's the 21st century! We're lucky folks care enough to use wood and steel, and not plastic and al...

Cap'n Atli

One of our longship crew is associated with Old Millstone Forge: http://oldmillstoneforge.org/

If that looks like it would be useful to you, I could put you in touch with her.

Cap'n Atli

Varnishing the mast and cutting the grass! (Not as the same operation!)

Cap'n Atli

"Ya gotta have thigh-high leather boots and they gotta be, like, black! And they gotta have stacked heels to make you taller, 'cause the Scotts were tall dudes, and lots of metal studs and spikes sticking out, cause that is really rad! And remember not to get your blue woad face paint on it; like wh...

Cap'n Atli

And how were threaded bolts used in fireworks? I can see siege equipment, or other engines and mills, or early firearms of various sorts, but fireworks is a little surprising to me.

(Cap'n Atli prepares for another head-slapping "of course" moment.

)

Cap'n Atli

No, Blankenshit insisted EVERY SINGLE EDGE OF EVERY SINGLE PIECE must be rolled, which made his suits look like a steroidal bag of assholes. There's no doubt rolled edges were used, in several different ways, some roped, some not, both for decoration and function. But not EVERY bloody edge in the s...

Cap'n Atli

a customer of mine got a gas forge and it cost him about 25 uk pounds in gas for using it for a couple of hours, thats about $37.50, at a recent event I had a coke forge going for 2 days, maybe 16 hours in total and it used less than 1 bag of coke costing 9.75 uk pounds ( about $14 ) >>>SNIP<<< But...

Cap'n Atli

Well, Snoopy's doghouse didn't have windows, either. :D Still, you might be able to install some small windows or potholes or hatches between the framing studs. You're going to want lots of ventilation as well as light. Also, if you do it soon, you can plan shelving, storage and work areas around it...

Cap'n Atli

Anneal the steel? (Sorry; just the common blacksmith's solution; it may not be applicable to your situation.)

Cap'n Atli

Yep; a lot of work can take place in the "workyard." You can even put fold-down work benches on some of the outside walls for light-weight work that needs more light.

Speaking of which... do you have windows on the other two sides?

Cap'n Atli

De Re Metallica has a *LOT* of pictures of renaissance wheelbarrows in it and plans for building them; so her's a thought---go *period* Yep; what Master Thomas said. 1556, but applicable to earlier ('cause they didn't invent it all in 1556!) Lots of good illustrations, and it's either in your publi...

Cap'n Atli

Ranif's Cart: Cart wheels of this construction were used in New Mexico well into the 19th century. As for the cost of a pair of wheels; spoked wheels look simple, until you start to make them. Then it gets messy. :oops: I do have a pair of stacked grindstones (the traditional platform) outside the f...

Cap'n Atli

Lovely!

Cap'n Atli

Money muddles everything. There's a big difference between doing it for love, and doing it for money.

Meanwhile: the book! At first I thought I had it in my collection (due to very familiar drawings in the first part); but the other information (splices, &c.) is really nice.

Cap'n Atli

Our summer session is Friday through Sunday, June 28 - 30. A laid-back arts and crafts campout with an emphasis on medieval technology. We're giving the longship's woodwork a thorough going-over, so she won't be in the water yet; but there are a lot of other things to keep folks busy. Camp Fenby Yah...

Cap'n Atli

She's just about the same size as the Sæ Hrafn. Same length and same estimated number of oars. (However, there is a debate in the LSCo about whether you can make such an assumption for the overall vessel since only the bottom rivet lines seem to be preserved.) At any rate, glad to see something in o...

Cap'n Atli

Knotwolf should be there with our old ship, the Fyrdraca.

Cap'n Atli

I've read of sawdust being used and experimented with it in a tumbler with a sample. It seemed to work slowly, but gently. I would suppose that hardwood sawdust would be better than pine; but it was a while back. (Hmmm, maybe it's time to repeat the experiment with better controls.)

Cap'n Atli

I use old scrap metal from around the farm for some of my projects ( not armor); and it takes years to get that texture. It's the sort of stuff I drag out of the woods or the swamp. He may have various methods for various effects, but I think that some of it is that he has a good eye for old metal a...

Cap'n Atli

I've always wanted to emulate C.S. Forrester with the novel: Lord Lieutenant Governor Admiral Sir Horatio Bornhower and the HMS Priapus vs. le Impotens

Cap'n Atli

I have had some success with holly. It's dense and white and takes a wonderful smooth finish when you sand it. I seems to work best if it's not too dry; it can be a little brittle to work then. Combs, knife handles and scales, tool handles, tooth picks, chop sticks... (Historic note: there are medie...

Cap'n Atli

Kayak Camping: Yep, a "bedraggled sea-bum" is about what everybody looks like come day two or three. Proliferating Ironwork: We have spent some time keeping the cooking gear down by polling who was bringing what so that a logical "camp kit" could be assembled for events. One exception was, when we w...

Cap'n Atli

But they don't stack well. Cap'n First Warlord? First Warlord Cap'n? First Cap'n Warlord? :? Meanwhile, in the civilian world: One of my friends was with an NGO during the Russian invasion in Afghanistan, and the locals titled him "Dr. Engineer." I think my favorite civilian stacking is our Episcopa...

Cap'n Atli

Matthew Amt wrote:
Mac wrote:Oh Golly! This has got to be the most roundabout and unlikely way imaginable.
>>>SNIP<<<

Like the glued linen "linothorax"...

Matthew

OMG! What am I gonna do w/ all that Tightbond III for my peltast impression!

Cap'n Atli

Anybody seen a well made modern reproduction of this particular helmet from that set? http://img.gawkerassets.com/img/18pegqu24csuqjpg/ku-xlarge.jpg Its just about the most intimidating helm I've ever seen in my life. With a few small adjustments it could be the setup for a medieval Hannibal Lecter...

Cap'n Atli

I'm just the humble First Warlord.

Cap'n Atli

I didn't do most of the grunt work, but I directed and assisted one of my padawans on the ironwork for his chest and his seax. Twisted horse-stirrup handles and Mastermyr-style hinges.

Cap'n Atli

Have you considered the Isle of Man? Plopped in the middle of the Irish Sea, a gaelic population with a Norse nobility, political divisions based upon ship crews, etc. It's a fascinating microcosm. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Isle_of_Man (Yes, I know Wikipedia is "cheating" but the L...

Cap'n Atli

Two advantages of a ship are that: 1) It allows you to travel "heavy" as long as you can keep the clutter factor down. Heavy stuff can just be positioned low, as ballast. 2) Items from the ship can also be used as part of the encampment. Sails, oars, spare rigging, &c. are all handy for camping purp...

Cap'n Atli

One of my wooden bowls has little nicks where the mice gnawed on it. You can't buy that sort of authenticity! It can only come through use.

Cap'n Atli

Chef makes several excellent points, above. However, I do think the traditional view of reliance on coasting is exaggerated, at least as it applies to the northern explorations. If you're island hopping from Scandinavia to Iceland via the Shetland and Faroe Islands it has been noted that your seldom...

Cap'n Atli

I immediately thought of the painting by Pieter Bruegel the Elder: The Triumph of Death.

Detail:
http://www.wga.hu/art/b/bruegel/pieter_e/05/04death.jpg

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