The Armour Archive

How does one articulate plastic legs and elbows?

Grendal.

It can be done much in the same way that metal articulations are achieved in.

If you can form the plastic with a great deal of accuracy, you might be able to form shell articulations.

However, floating strap articulation will probably be a better route to go down.

What you should consider is, how do you intend to form the cop in plastic?

How does floating strap articulation work?

Grendal

Its a strap (usually two, one on each side) that connects the parts together.

You looking to avoid gaps opening between the parts when the joint is fully extended, you'll find that you will need to create quite a deep bowl in the cop. otherwise the articulation is probably not going to work (well).

The trick, as with any articulations, is to get a really good dish on your knee/ elbow. Then, you face the same problems as with steel. I form my elbows and knees with clamps and a positive and negative form. My pauldrons are floating articulations, and are much easier to do than a knee or elbow, I suggest you start with something like that.