My New Helmet.

dkaardal · Post by **dkaardal** » Mon Mar 12, 2001 7:40 am

hehe... it was an expensive weekend.

My biggest problem with armour is that it takes SO long to have it made, and I am DEFINATLEY a product of out "instant gratification" oriented society... That, and the fact that for most armourers, you really don't know what your going to get until you'd already paid for it and waited 12 months. The web is great for armourers - it allows them to show examples of their work to a larger audience - BUT, you still don't really know what you're getting until you've gotten it.

now with THAT ramble done with - I dropped by a local armourers shop on saturday. He's got a website that had a helmet on it that I've lusted after since the moment I saw it...
When I came by, he actaully HAD it. For whatever reason, the helmet was available, and it fit me perfectly.
here it is:
http://www.thakblacksmith.com/html/gallery003.html

no, one question for y'all...

how do I put padding into it?

I'll take more pics when I set up my digicam tonight or tomorrow.

Harold the Bear · Post by **Harold the Bear** » Mon Mar 12, 2001 8:06 am

OMG! WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Have Zwei will Travel
HtB

Brandr hinn Rusli · Post by **Brandr hinn Rusli** » Mon Mar 12, 2001 9:45 am

You planning on fighting in it?

Where you located?
If you want a face to face opinion of how to pad the helm, you are welcome to swing by my shop almost any evening and we can figure out how to fit it on your noodle.

Brandr hinn Rusli.

dkaardal · Post by **dkaardal** » Mon Mar 12, 2001 10:07 am

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>Originally posted by Brandr hinn Rusli:
You planning on fighting in it?

Where you located?
If you want a face to face opinion of how to pad the helm, you are welcome to swing by my shop almost any evening and we can figure out how to fit it on your noodle.

Brandr hinn Rusli.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I'm in Toronto, Canada...

The entire skull faceplate swings up and locks into a a 90degree position, so I've got to make sure the padding fits me pretty well - the weight of the faceplate would tend to make the helmet want to fall forward.

The jaw is hinged too - so when I talk, the jaw moves. Great for those battlecries.

and yeah, I'll be fighting in it.

Vladimir · Post by **Vladimir** » Mon Mar 12, 2001 10:13 am

a movable jaw? wow

is this for SCA, display, larps, or what?

dkaardal · Post by **dkaardal** » Mon Mar 12, 2001 10:18 am

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>Originally posted by Vladimir:
a movable jaw? wow

is this for SCA, display, larps, or what?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

initially, it's for a LARP. But I've been looking into what styles of fighting that would suit me best... SCA, AAEMA, etc...

the funny thing is, I got into armour and whatnot because of a game called NERO - and in NERO, the more armour you wear the LESS effective you are in combat.

NERO combat is about speed - they use weapons that are a light as a flyrod, and a hit can be just a light tap. So wearing steel armour...

heh.. even dollar I spend on armour brings me that much closer to getting my butt handed to me.

Mad Matt · Post by **Mad Matt** » Mon Mar 12, 2001 10:38 am

Hey you didn't happen to invite him to the armourers gathering did you?

I think I'll drop him an e-mail.

Anyway on to padding your helmet.

I've got a bunch of black closed cell foam you could use if you bring it when you come over.

The other and cooler way to do it would be to make an arming cap. Basically a quilted padded hat that goes underneath of the helmet. I think there's instructions somewhere on the archive. If not look for Dwarlock's site he's made about 100 of em and IIRC he's got instructions on his site.

Or if you're free tonight the cookstown sca group meeting will be taking place. I can bring the book with the sabatons I might attempt for ya. I'll be there and one of the guys will be dooin a class on ancient metalworking (he's a smith). The meeting is at the cookstown curling club at 7:00. If ya wanna come hang out that would be cool. It is free afterall.

Lemme know if you wanna come and I'll give you better directions.

I can't wait to see that helm in person. I think I'm gonna have to go look at a map and find out where elmira is.

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The budding mid 14th century German Transitional guy.
Mad Matt's Armory

Ned Chaney · Post by **Ned Chaney** » Mon Mar 12, 2001 12:49 pm

I use 1/4" closed cell foam and build it up in layers. Start with the layer that fits right onto your melon. Make a hat using whatever pattern you can come up with that fits you snugly. Then add layers over that repeating the hat pattern you came up with until the helm fits snugly.

dkaardal · Post by **dkaardal** » Mon Mar 12, 2001 12:55 pm

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>Originally posted by Mad Matt:
Hey you didn't happen to invite him to the armourers gathering did you?
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Sure did.

:-)

I won't be able to make it tonight, but I'd love your help this weekend... I need to make it so that the liner also looks good, for when the visor is raised, and you can see into the helmet a bit.

hmmm.. don't you have to attack the lining to the helm? If you just had a thick cloth cap, wouldnt the helm slide around?

Mad Matt · Post by **Mad Matt** » Mon Mar 12, 2001 1:18 pm

Well you don't HAVE to attack

it to the helm. But it does help. To attach a cloth liner you basically punch a whole pile of evenly spaced little holes along the bottom and then sew through those holes and into the helmet lining which is different from an arming cap and is actually adjustable. Can be done with leather too. There's pics and instructions for dooin this in brian price's book which you can see if I'm not too busy this weekend.

Did Thack show any interest in commin to the gathering?

I just found out there's Nero stuff happenin during the weekend of June 8-10 (the tentative date for the gathering). Issat gonna throw a wrench into your comming?

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The budding mid 14th century German Transitional guy.
Mad Matt's Armory

dkaardal · Post by **dkaardal** » Mon Mar 12, 2001 1:24 pm

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>Originally posted by Mad Matt:
To attach a cloth liner you basically punch a whole pile of evenly spaced little holes along the bottom and then sew through those

Did Thack show any interest in commin to the gathering?

I just found out there's Nero stuff happenin during the weekend of June 8-10 (the tentative date for the gathering). Issat gonna throw a wrench into your comming?

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Hmm.. don't know if I wanna punch holes in my new lid.

As for Thak, I dunno. He seemed interested - just send him an e-mail.

and Nero.. well, I'll skip that weekend if I have to - I really want to go to the gathering. I'd like to do BOTH, but...
worse comes to worst, I'll just go to NERO friday night and hit the gathering saturday early afternoon.

I got a globose from Ron Simmons that I wanna make into high gothic fluted armour.

hmmm... or maybe I should just try and attaching straps to it as a first armouring project. Waddayah think?

Ned Chaney · Post by **Ned Chaney** » Mon Mar 12, 2001 1:25 pm

Mine doesn't slide around. I just shove the whole thing in there and it stays pretty stable. It has to be a very snug fit. That's why I recommend doing it in layers. Make a layer, try the fit, add a layer, try the fit etc.

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They call me Ned

Robert Clark Carruth · Mon Mar 12, 2001 1:26 pm

Do you realize how often your opponents are going to be forced to say. "I have THE POWER!!!" before engaging you in combat?

Seriously, that is very, very sweet. I'd be worried about it being SCA legal with the jaw moving when your mouth moves. If you let your jaw hang open for breath during a long combat and somebody pops your jaw, it seems like they could make your teeth slam together. You could end up biting the tip of your tongue off or worse. I'd check it with a marshal ASAP just to be sure.

Robert

Mad Matt · Post by **Mad Matt** » Mon Mar 12, 2001 1:34 pm

Not everyone does SCA. Like he said Dkaardal is a Nero kinda guy. Boffers IIRC.

The gathering will be on friday saturday and sunday.

A ron simmons globosse will never become gothic. It's the entire wrong shape.

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The budding mid 14th century German Transitional guy.
Mad Matt's Armory

Morgan · Post by **Morgan** » Mon Mar 12, 2001 1:40 pm

Matt....he DID mention that he was interested in SCA combat, and Robert was merely addressing that issue.

dkaardal · Post by **dkaardal** » Mon Mar 12, 2001 1:42 pm

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>Originally posted by Robert de Carruthers:
Do you realize how often your opponents are going to be forced to say. "I have THE POWER!!!" before engaging you in combat?

Seriously, that is very, very sweet. I'd be worried about it being SCA legal with the jaw moving when your mouth moves. If you let your jaw hang open for breath during a long combat and somebody pops your jaw, it seems like they could make your teeth slam together. You could end up biting the tip of your tongue off or worse. I'd check it with a marshal ASAP just to be sure.

Robert<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

It's hinged with a pretty good spring setup - it takes a bit of effort to talk in it - it's just a neat little thing.

dkaardal · Post by **dkaardal** » Mon Mar 12, 2001 1:43 pm

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>Originally posted by Mad Matt:

A ron simmons globosse will never become gothic. It's the entire wrong shape.

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Heh - I was kidding.

dkaardal · Post by **dkaardal** » Mon Mar 12, 2001 1:47 pm

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>Originally posted by Morgan:
Matt....he DID mention that he was interested in SCA combat, and Robert was merely addressing that issue.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Even if I got into the SCA fighting and the jaw was an issue, I'm sure Thak could put a removable locking pin on it to lock it shut in combat. It WAS originally made for a fighter in the SCA.

As I recall, there were periods in history where fantastic helms were used... were they not?

Robert Clark Carruth · Mon Mar 12, 2001 1:59 pm

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>Originally posted by dkaardal:
 Even if I got into the SCA fighting and the jaw was an issue, I'm sure Thak could put a removable locking pin on it to lock it shut in combat. It WAS originally made for a fighter in the SCA.

As I recall, there were periods in history where fantastic helms were used... were they not?

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Yeah, that should do it if it's well constructed. SCA marshals are notoriously finicky though. Just thought I'd warn ya. As far as fantastic helms go, it depends what you consider fantastic(Maximillian close helm? The work of Negroli?). Most of the really wild stuff never saw actual combat.

Robert

dkaardal · Post by **dkaardal** » Mon Mar 12, 2001 2:04 pm

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>Originally posted by Robert de Carruthers:
 Yeah, that should do it if it's well constructed. SCA marshals are notoriously finicky though. Just thought I'd warn ya. As far as fantastic helms go, it depends what you consider fantastic(Maximillian close helm? The work of Negroli?). Most of the really wild stuff never saw actual combat.

Robert<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

True - but as long as it was a style that was MADE back then, even if it wasnt really used much, I've got ammo to use to let me use it on the field... unless I feel that it's disturbing people, that is.

The Lost Scott · Post by **The Lost Scott** » Mon Mar 12, 2001 2:10 pm

Unless it's disturbing people? why that's an even better reason to use it.
The better your harness the more picky the marshals seem to be.

dkaardal · Post by **dkaardal** » Mon Mar 12, 2001 2:12 pm

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>Originally posted by The Lost Scott:
Unless it's disturbing people? why that's an even better reason to use it.
The better your harness the more picky the marshals seem to be.

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

well, if it was disturbing people I LIKED, I'd consider using it less.

[This message has been edited by dkaardal (edited 03-12-2001).]

Murdock · Post by **Murdock** » Mon Mar 12, 2001 2:58 pm

"The better your harness the more picky the marshals seem to be."

Seems that way at times

Walking pile of sh!t, yeah sure go fight. Man your tough.

Oh full Maximillian plate? You have tp put a kidney belt on under it and wear a hockey elbow under your cop. Oh and that spear is almost as long ad our incredibly accurate chalk line on the ground so we have to cut 5 inches off.

This seems to esp the case if the marshal is not form your kingdom. Most Meridian marshalls aren't bad. Haven't had to get a rectal exam at inspection in over a year.

But man i've got more inspection horror stories than i could ever post. And almost every time from a non-fighter marshall.

BTW that helm rocks!!!