The Armour Archive

Well i actually completed a project! This is my first attempt at a helmet. The spagenhelm definately is riddled with alot of mistakes, but in sum the project went pretty well considering it was a first time job.

*Things i noticed or mistakes*
1. Cutting 50+ rivets with an end snipper hurt my hands real bad (in the future i will get bolt cutters)
2. It would have been much easier if a dished the bands before i assembled the frame.
3. The helmet should have been bigger and more pointier.
4. I need a rivet set
5. Its actually not fully completed, because i would have liked to put a second row of rivets along the bottom (which would have held the leather lining in place), but since it doesnt fit my gord, and i am not putting in a liner.
6. I have to learn how to polish correctly (since its not polished at all)
7. I should have assemlbled the 2 front quarters first, then did the back.
8. you can learn alot from reading....


Let me know what you guys think...
Thanks
Joe

[img]http://www.25senior.com/Finished_1.JPG[/img]
[img]http://www.25senior.com/Finished_back.JPG[/img]
[img]http://www.25senior.com/Finished_inside.JPG[/img]
[img]http://www.25senior.com/finished_side.JPG[/img]

show us the nasal in some better light, please. Looks nice, keep at it

Very nice Joe, you've got the panel forming down which is a lot harder than it looks. For your next one try for an oblong shape and you'll find it will fit better. To find out the shape you want, take a piece of small gauge wire and wrap it around your head at the browline and give it a couple of twists to hold that shape, thats what you want the helm shape to look like. Very nice and neat job.

------------------
The Artisan Formerly Known As Willing Pell.

Very nice, when I get the equipment to make steel armour I hope my stuff turns out as nice.

Halbard has competitition! Nice job.

looks great I was thinking about trying one myself.

Looks like a spang to me
Competition? Yes... At least we are on the same team.

Thanks for the pics.

Although it is very nice it is no competition for you Hal. Future competition maybe but not on the same level yet.

Pad

------------------
L'Armurerie du Roi
webmaster@armurerieduroi.com

Hi Pad
I guess we all have to start somewhere.
It took me quite awhile to get my panels to lay in spaced evenly.
My first ones were not dished in the bands also, big mistake.

I tried a few 2 piece helms; a salet and a basonet.
The spangen method is easier and has a lot of options.

It covers a wide range of history.
No welding and minimal tools.
A beginners good first project.
Too bad the spaulders; also a good beginners project, don't go with a spangen.
Now listen to me I, am beginning to sound like a commercial.

How is my bronze maile spangen drape coming along?
The stainless skull helm drape you made is holding up beautifully. Happy camper.

Happy metal pounding

Halberds

Very nicely done...

I would suggest, as an assembly aid... assemble the panels in the same way you are supposed to tighten lugs on a tire. Install each panel with only a couple of rivets to hold them tightly in place... then go around adding one rivet to each panel as you go. This helps keep the shape of the helm uniform. (unless, of course, you already did it this way, in which case, disregard this post)

I haven't tried a spangen yet, but I think yours looks pretty good.. much better looking than my first helm, which was an oddly shaped (though I did not intend it to be) greathelm. your dished panels look very smooth and well formed

Thanks alot for all the feedback! All the input has given me enough confidence to keep trying other projects. Honestly, i would not have been able to even do the slightest thing without all the help from everybody here.

Padrig- you are correct i am no competition for hal. Actually Hal's work is one of main reasons why i am trying to learn how to make helms. I have been studying his work and articles for a while in order to make my spagenhelm.

Hal- i definately am gonna use the oven next time to try darkening the quarters. I loved that look.


Thanks
Joe