The Armour Archive

Lords and Ladies,

This is my 1st helm and I would like to see what kind of constructive information you might have for other projects later on.

<a href="http://s132.photobucket.com/albums/q21/Lord_UFO/?action=view&current=100_3562.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q21/Lord_UFO/100_3562.jpg" border="0" alt="On my head"></a>

This is me wearing it on my head.

<a href="http://s132.photobucket.com/albums/q21/Lord_UFO/?action=view&current=100_3560.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q21/Lord_UFO/100_3560.jpg" border="0" alt="Full Front Laying Down"></a>

Full Front Laying down

<a href="http://s132.photobucket.com/albums/q21/Lord_UFO/?action=view&current=100_3558.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q21/Lord_UFO/100_3558.jpg" border="0" alt="Left Side standing up"></a>

Left Side standing up

<a href="http://s132.photobucket.com/albums/q21/Lord_UFO/?action=view&current=100_3561.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q21/Lord_UFO/100_3561.jpg" border="0" alt="Right Side laying down"></a>

Right side laying down

<a href="http://s132.photobucket.com/albums/q21/Lord_UFO/?action=view&current=100_3557.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q21/Lord_UFO/100_3557.jpg" border="0" alt="The Back (with my cat in the background)"></a>

The back (with my cat in the background)

<a href="http://s132.photobucket.com/albums/q21/Lord_UFO/?action=view&current=100_3563.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q21/Lord_UFO/100_3563.jpg" border="0" alt="The Inside"></a>

tThe inside, I went with closed cell foam padding and a football chin strap.

Any type of constructive criticism you have would be appreciated.

Good looking helm. It should prove to be serviceable.

I would go over it with a green scrubby and 3-in-one oil to smooth out the finish.
It will give it a nice satin frosty appearance and be maintenance friendly.

For a first helm I will have to give it a two thumbs up.
However I am partial to spangens.

Thanks for the pics.

Hal

Thank you so very much for thinking so, but there are 2 things I was remised in saying in my original introduction.

1. I owe a great deal of Gratitude to Jackie for helping me make the helm, he gave a great bit of advice (the best of which I sophomorically didn't listen to).

2. With the laws mandated by my wife, I am to apologize for the mess in the back of the cat photo (I had just finished up and snapped the photos before cleaning up). My cat is also unhappy about being upstaged by the helm (she feels the spotlight is only for her).

Thanks for looking,

Nice transitional period spangen. Good job.

Yeah, I reallly like it also. Nice work! the drape is great too. Maybe my favorite part!! Thanks for the post.

ETC

Looks sweet man .. gonna be HOT I think but very good looking =)

Welcome and well come to the Archive, Tom! May your stay with us be long and profit you much.

It's a fine first outing you've made; many people's first projects are neither this ambitious nor this handsome.

TomSaucer wrote:Lords and Ladies,
This is my 1st helm and I would like to see what kind of constructive information you might have for other projects later on.
...
Any type of constructive criticism you have would be appreciated.

Well and neatly done. Good work.
Reminds me of the proto-Topfhelms

With that in mind, my only comments are on aesthetics --
1) The bowl looks substantialy shorter than it should be. Next one - make it much deeper, kinda half-egg shaped.
2) This is largely just my own prejudice but you can be more faithful to the period masks for this -- make real eye slits and you don't need the modern bar stock on the face.

Exellent looking helm! And the drape makes me envious.

Domnall, ETC, Setric, Konstantin the Red, Norman, and Swete,

Thank you all for your comments.

Hal, there is just something special about a nice Spang.

Setric, since I am just down the road we will have to see. Our wx is similar here in East TN, but then again, I was raised in South West Texas, and tend to like to cold.

ETC and Swete, I love the drape myself. It seemed to be a period (looking) perfect way to hide my gorget.

Norman, wise words indeed and I will take them into account the next time I attempt a helm. I looked at the making just eye slits and was half torn on it. The bigger eye would give a much larger field of vision and vent on the cheeks, but as you pointed out it takes a lot from the period appearance of the helm.

Thank you all for commenting, and if possible, keep them rolling.

What can I say that hasn't been said already. Great job! The lines are clean and that drape is just freakin' sweet. And don't worry about the mess. We ALL have a mess. And cats are good for moral support.

Welcome to the Archive Tom. Great job!! Your next one will be even better. How about sharing what tools you did or didn't have.

Richard

Well it shows that you have not meet my cat, she keeps ME around for moral support (and food).

ok, I can give ya'll the run down:

It was made in a full functioning armourer shop, so I had a lot of tools available (most of which was a hammer)

The spangs are made for 12 ga mild steel. I started with a dishing block and a hammer, then once my hand went numb, I went to the hydro press. The Slats in the back and nose guard are 12 ga as well. The bands are 16 ga, and the faceplate is 14 ga. The extra piece across the eyes is 1/4 in square; everything is mild steel.

Everything else was pretty much done between a hammer, a vice, and anvil, a dishing bowl, and a welder. I used every combination over each piece till I found what worked the best (or I ended up beating the crap out of it till it worked).

The leather was bought on eBay (a close out deal) and attached with a super epoxy. Other than that it was a modified pattern to make it sit.

Any other questions I will be happy to answer.

TomSaucer wrote:ok, I can give ya'll the run down:

It was made in a full functioning armourer shop, so I had a lot of tools available (most of which was a hammer)

The spangs are made for 12 ga mild steel. I started with a dishing block and a hammer, then once my hand went numb, I went to the hydro press. The Slats in the back and nose guard are 12 ga as well. The bands are 16 ga, and the faceplate is 14 ga. The extra piece across the eyes is 1/4 in square; everything is mild steel.

Everything else was pretty much done between a hammer, a vice, and anvil, a dishing bowl, and a welder. I used every combination over each piece till I found what worked the best (or I ended up beating the crap out of it till it worked).

The leather was bought on eBay (a close out deal) and attached with a super epoxy. Other than that it was a modified pattern to make it sit.

Any other questions I will be happy to answer.

The slats in the back are 13 gauge stainless and the bands on the top are 14 gauge mild. You for got to say that I ran out of propane for the heater and you froze at on time with snot running out your nose oh what fun.

Jackie

shamrockarmoury wrote:The slats in the back are 13 gauge stainless and the bands on the top are 14 gauge mild. You for got to say that I ran out of propane for the heater and you froze at on time with snot running out your nose oh what fun.

Jackie

I thought the slats looked stainless ...or I need my eyes checked

"You for got to say that I ran out of propane for the heater and you froze at on time with snot running out your nose oh what fun. - Jackie"

I thought that was mentioned with: "attached with a super epoxy"

My brain seems to have frozen a few times in the shop, or the grining dust blanketed my glasses; so a few of my numbers were off, but they were close enough to pass the marshalls.

Well done!