The Armour Archive

I was wondering if there was anyone here that could make me this set of armor:

http://41.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m9wko ... 1_1280.jpg

obviously i don't want it so dingy, and I plan on wearing it as a cosplay item. Ideally it wouldn't have me get to hot through a whole day of wearing and it wouldn't hinder my ability to join in the fun of the convention. But I am more concerned with the apearance than I am of the daily functionality of everyday tasks.

I would also be interested in this set

http://darksouls.wikidot.com/local--fil ... ss-set.jpg

with this shield

http://darksouls.wikidot.com/local--fil ... onhand.jpg

A lot of people make cosplay armor out of foam and/or fiberglass and then just paint it awesome and stuff because metal, even thinner stuff, can really add up in weight as you get more extravagant and wearing 50+ pounds of metal wears most people down after a few hours (let alone a whole day).

And to be quite honest, well painted fiberglass or foam stuff can look damn near like metal in pictures.

Have you considered going that route?

It's also likely to be cheaper in fiberglass / foam than it is in metal.


These guys seem to do some cool fiberglass stuff, though I've never seen any of it in person:
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=166752&hilit=fiberglass

I definitely want metal lol, I'm really into it. I was military for 3 years so 50 pounds all day will be nothing to me. I'm used to 80

No offense but unless you've worn full metal and leather armor for long periods of time, I don't think you know what it really wears like. And you and I both know that you don't wear a full 80 pounds plus of battle rattle for 8-12 hours a day nonstop (I was infantry for 8 years myself, and an RTO for several of them to boot). If weight isn't a concern then metal should be fine; just offering some alternatives.

That being said, if you really do want metal just expect to pay a lot more for it. Metal by nature costs a lot more than fiberglass or similar things does. It also requires very specialized training and tools to shape properly (especially in extravagant shapes like cosplay armor)

It's also going to require a lot more care to keep from rusting etc. It is also unlikely to breathe as well as lighter materials.

Not a big deal if that's what you want; just go into it with your eyes open. I for one would love to see pictures of whatever you end up getting; cosplay armor always fascinates me.

Not trying to rain on your parade or anything, or say you're dumb or any of the other things that argumentative forum trolls usually start a conversation with ("I know better / more than you do blah blah blah", I hate those guys). Just trying to help by pointing out a few things you may or may not have thought of. Good luck with it man!

lol naw dude its ok. I was deployed for awhile and was on mission all the time, and we did where battle rattle for up to 10 hours a day. full combat load and everything. I was just a lowly mechanic in my time, but I was attached to an infantry platoon so I saw my share of combat.

On the note of armor, i really want to get into wearing it about, and i plan on getting into cosplay a lot in the near future. I think i will just get both sets of armor, fiberglass and metal. fiberglass for the short run and getting used to wearing armor, then upping to metal. How does that sound to you?

http://princearmory.com/ For sure, they can make it metal as well as leather, but the price is not going to be cheap since it's custom work. If you are going to wear metal make sure the fit is good also get a good padding beneath it, or else it will be very uncomfortable.

thanks a bunch man

Md02geist wrote:No offense but unless you've worn full metal and leather armor for long periods of time, I don't think you know what it really wears like. And you and I both know that you don't wear a full 80 pounds plus of battle rattle for 8-12 hours a day nonstop (I was infantry for 8 years myself, and an RTO for several of them to boot). If weight isn't a concern then metal should be fine; just offering some alternatives.

That being said, if you really do want metal just expect to pay a lot more for it. Metal by nature costs a lot more than fiberglass or similar things does. It also requires very specialized training and tools to shape properly (especially in extravagant shapes like cosplay armor)

It's also going to require a lot more care to keep from rusting etc. It is also unlikely to breathe as well as lighter materials.

Not a big deal if that's what you want; just go into it with your eyes open. I for one would love to see pictures of whatever you end up getting; cosplay armor always fascinates me.

Not trying to rain on your parade or anything, or say you're dumb or any of the other things that argumentative forum trolls usually start a conversation with ("I know better / more than you do blah blah blah", I hate those guys). Just trying to help by pointing out a few things you may or may not have thought of. Good luck with it man!

Bro as another Army guy here that has been in full plate the other part of my life. Full jousting grade armor is easier to wear and carry then a ruck, iba/iotv, ach, knee/elbow pads, and weapons, radios and ammo. So before you bash what real military men and women go through with what they carry and are able to withstand...know what you're talking about first.

Mulloy

mulloy99 wrote:

Md02geist wrote:No offense but unless you've worn full metal and leather armor for long periods of time, I don't think you know what it really wears like. And you and I both know that you don't wear a full 80 pounds plus of battle rattle for 8-12 hours a day nonstop (I was infantry for 8 years myself, and an RTO for several of them to boot). If weight isn't a concern then metal should be fine; just offering some alternatives.

That being said, if you really do want metal just expect to pay a lot more for it. Metal by nature costs a lot more than fiberglass or similar things does. It also requires very specialized training and tools to shape properly (especially in extravagant shapes like cosplay armor)

It's also going to require a lot more care to keep from rusting etc. It is also unlikely to breathe as well as lighter materials.

Not a big deal if that's what you want; just go into it with your eyes open. I for one would love to see pictures of whatever you end up getting; cosplay armor always fascinates me.

Not trying to rain on your parade or anything, or say you're dumb or any of the other things that argumentative forum trolls usually start a conversation with ("I know better / more than you do blah blah blah", I hate those guys). Just trying to help by pointing out a few things you may or may not have thought of. Good luck with it man!

Bro as another Army guy here that has been in full plate the other part of my life. Full jousting grade armor is easier to wear and carry then a ruck, iba/iotv, ach, knee/elbow pads, and weapons, radios and ammo. So before you bash what real military men and women go through with what they carry and are able to withstand...know what you're talking about first.

Mulloy

Hahaha ya I would imagine that plate armor is easier to wear because it's actually fitted to be worn in comfort. Military stuff is not fitted for comfort. It's just strapped on unceremoniously. With really crappy fitting adjustments.

mulloy99 wrote:

Md02geist wrote:No offense but unless you've worn full metal and leather armor for long periods of time, I don't think you know what it really wears like. And you and I both know that you don't wear a full 80 pounds plus of battle rattle for 8-12 hours a day nonstop (I was infantry for 8 years myself, and an RTO for several of them to boot). If weight isn't a concern then metal should be fine; just offering some alternatives.

That being said, if you really do want metal just expect to pay a lot more for it. Metal by nature costs a lot more than fiberglass or similar things does. It also requires very specialized training and tools to shape properly (especially in extravagant shapes like cosplay armor)

It's also going to require a lot more care to keep from rusting etc. It is also unlikely to breathe as well as lighter materials.

Not a big deal if that's what you want; just go into it with your eyes open. I for one would love to see pictures of whatever you end up getting; cosplay armor always fascinates me.

Not trying to rain on your parade or anything, or say you're dumb or any of the other things that argumentative forum trolls usually start a conversation with ("I know better / more than you do blah blah blah", I hate those guys). Just trying to help by pointing out a few things you may or may not have thought of. Good luck with it man!

Bro as another Army guy here that has been in full plate the other part of my life. Full jousting grade armor is easier to wear and carry then a ruck, iba/iotv, ach, knee/elbow pads, and weapons, radios and ammo. So before you bash what real military men and women go through with what they carry and are able to withstand...know what you're talking about first.

Mulloy

Hey bro, I'm an eight year infantry veteran. Was an RTO in an infantry platoon and an infantry scout, and just before I left was the shooter in a sniper team. I've carried full battle rattle up to and including the 60 and later the 240B.

So I "know what I'm talking about."

This isn't a dick measuring contest and nobody is bashing anything, so again *as I wrote already* I was just pointing out that armor wears differently. He says he doesn't want it to make him hot

He says:
"Ideally it wouldn't have me get to hot through a whole day of wearing and it wouldn't hinder my ability to join in the fun of the convention."


Well, full plate armor will do both. That's the nature of wearing *full plate armor*.

So before you bash what real military men and women go through with what they carry and are able to withstand....make sure you read everything someone has written instead of missing glaring statements to the contrary of what you assume. Don't come in here flexing up your service muscle at another service member, that shit only impresses mall ninja civilians.

Rock_Steady wrote:
Hahaha ya I would imagine that plate armor is easier to wear because it's actually fitted to be worn in comfort. Military stuff is not fitted for comfort. It's just strapped on unceremoniously. With really crappy fitting adjustments.

The weight on armor is distributed more evenly which definitely makes it a little easier to move in, but it doesn't breathe nearly as well as military gear because it creates a bit more of an air trap seal around your body which holds the heat in. You can't shed heat in armor quite like you can in BDU or ACU type gear. Just nature of the beast (metal vs cloth..).

Like I said if you want metal dude go for it, and make sure to take pictures for us so we can see what you ended up with. Cosplay armor is always really cool to see, and the whole "Souls" series definitely has some interesting pieces in it.

Rock_Steady wrote:lol naw dude its ok. I was deployed for awhile and was on mission all the time, and we did where battle rattle for up to 10 hours a day. full combat load and everything. I was just a lowly mechanic in my time, but I was attached to an infantry platoon so I saw my share of combat.

On the note of armor, i really want to get into wearing it about, and i plan on getting into cosplay a lot in the near future. I think i will just get both sets of armor, fiberglass and metal. fiberglass for the short run and getting used to wearing armor, then upping to metal. How does that sound to you?

Nothing 'lowly' about being a mechanic buddy. Some of my favorite people in my unit were mechanics. Not only were they nice guys generally, but they were the ones keeping the Humvee or deuce and a half or whatever I was riding in that day from shitting out on the side of the road and leaving me in a bad spot lol. I always tried to take care of the mechanics as best I could.

Rock_Steady wrote:I was wondering if there was anyone here that could make me this set of armor:

http://41.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m9wko ... 1_1280.jpg

obviously i don't want it so dingy, and I plan on wearing it as a cosplay item. Ideally it wouldn't have me get to hot through a whole day of wearing and it wouldn't hinder my ability to join in the fun of the convention. But I am more concerned with the apearance than I am of the daily functionality of everyday tasks.

Man, that would be a sweet looking harness. Prince Armory makes some seriously detailed stuff, but I've only ever seen leather works from their shop, never saw any metal. Not saying they don't, just that I've not seen it. There is one guy I know who could do it- but man, you'd pay a pretty penny. Ugo Serrano makes some of the most gorgeous armor I've ever had the opportunity to lay eyes on, but he is at or near the top of the food chain. www.ugoserrano.com

If money's no object, he's your guy.

They all want this kind of stuff in metal until they get the price tag ...

Hahaha! I believe it. I am anticipating it coming out to somewhere around 3 to 4000 dollars.

Here are some way high quality pictures of what i want done.




http://imgur.com/a/3hGzA

Rock_Steady wrote:Hahaha! I believe it. I am anticipating it coming out to somewhere around 3 to 4000 dollars.

Here are some way high quality pictures of what i want done.




http://imgur.com/a/3hGzA

It's going to cost more than that. You might be able to get most of the first kit that you posted for that much money, but this one is much more elaborate. There are only a few armourers that have the skills to pull it off well and all of them are going to be exceedingly expensive. They also may not have an interest in your project, as some of the design choices in that suit are clunky and inelegant. Your best bet is to make peace with having the kit made in leather and to go to Prince Armoury. Even then you should expect to double your current budget.

well i just want the kit as a replica so i can cosplay it lol. the staff and shield i'll probly have made out of something easier to deal with, like fiberglass or something.

A set of armor from the Witcher 2, modded for Skyrim...and high-end armor from Dark Souls 2...I'll say this, you've got excellent taste.

haha you saw my runic spellbinder post somewhere??

He does, Keegan, he really does. Thought that last one looked familiar (Dark Souls getup). Rock_Steady, I recall being quoted a couple years ago somewhere along the line of $15k for a spring steel harness without any adornments. Considering the high level of detail you're looking for, I'd expect you'll spend close to that much to have it done in metal. But if you had it done in a lighter gauge, tougher metal, it might not wear on you as hard; plus the lighter the harness is, the easier it is to put on. Good luck either way and keep us posted!

I feel you, Rock_Steady. I got into armouring because I wanted to be able to do steel armour cosplays. My wife and I are doing two characters from Dragon Age: Inquisition, and I recently finished my exceptionally clunky and inelegant Brynden Blackfish leather kit from Game of Thrones.

The problem is when you get to a certain point in fantasy, it becomes just unreasonable to try to recreate. Pixels are easier to move than metal, so video game armour tends to be pretty absurd.

I hope you can get sorted. If you're still looking in a few years (once I have a half decent hand on armour work) maybe I'll take a swing at that skyrim armour. It looks like a fun (if extensive) project

Keegan Ingrassia wrote:A set of armor from the Witcher 2, modded for Skyrim...and high-end armor from Dark Souls 2...I'll say this, you've got excellent taste.

Right? Fantastic taste in games. I love all those.

Md02geist wrote:

Keegan Ingrassia wrote:A set of armor from the Witcher 2, modded for Skyrim...and high-end armor from Dark Souls 2...I'll say this, you've got excellent taste.

Right? Fantastic taste in games. I love all those.

Me too!

Actually "love" might be the wrong word for Demon/Dark Souls of any of the series.

That game series is like the horrible girlfriend that I know is bad for me but I can't stop going back to because when we finally manage to make stuff work for a short time, it's magic. LOL.

I don't think I've ever been more frustrated at any game in my life than that series.

Actually "love" might be the wrong word for Demon/Dark Souls of any of the series.

That game series is like the horrible girlfriend that I know is bad for me but I can't stop going back to because when we finally manage to make stuff work for a short time, it's magic. LOL.

I don't think I've ever been more frustrated at any game in my life than that series.

Haha, I've gotten so good at dark souls. I have a level 725 character. . . 99 in every stat. I went back to it for some pvp recently, and I've still got it. I wreck shop in that game.

Md02geist wrote:A lot of people make cosplay armor out of foam and/or fiberglass and then just paint it awesome and stuff because metal, even thinner stuff, can really add up in weight as you get more extravagant and wearing 50+ pounds of metal wears most people down after a few hours (let alone a whole day).

And to be quite honest, well painted fiberglass or foam stuff can look damn near like metal in pictures.

Have you considered going that route?

It's also likely to be cheaper in fiberglass / foam than it is in metal.


These guys seem to do some cool fiberglass stuff, though I've never seen any of it in person:
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=166752&hilit=fiberglass

So the fiberglass guy said he doesn't want to do dark souls armor :/ any other fiberglass guys you know of?

Ugh man I haven't even beaten dark souls, I'll fully admit it. I'm pretty far in it but I just don't have the patience for it most of the time. My little brother is like you, he absolutely wrecks that game...I'm too old for that stuff.

Honestly that's the only fiberglass guy I know of and that's only because I saw his post here on the AA.

Dark Souls was just a little too grim for me. I'm not used to dying so early and so much in a game. lol

It's solid but not as good as a lot of the diehards talk it up to be. I think half of what makes dark souls "good" to people is the difficulty; they really feel like they've accomplished something. They are the generation that in general doesn't remember when you had three lives to get through a game (or just a timer) with no saves available. Been there, done that.

A lot of the "omgs dark souls so good" is imo just elitists who like to flaunt that they've beaten it etc. It's solid, and fun, but artificially difficult for no other purpose than to be hard.

Enemy arrows home in on you when you move. Enemies can jump towards you and if you roll, their jump will *change direction* in midair to hit you.

The game just stacks the odds very very heavily against you, and if someone is looking for a die hard challenge this is their game. For the rest of us that play games for fun and don't feel like turning a ten hour game into a fifty hour game because of ridiculous deaths (literally have been killed through walls by enemies that I couldn't see because they could glitch through it)...dark souls is one that is just maybe messed with but not taken too seriously lol.

If it was just difficult but fair, that'd be one thing, but the game goes out of its way to be purposefully unfair to you. Just makes me go "And I paid for this...?"

I actually grew up on stuff like megaman and kid icarus. I like dark souls because it's a real challenge after the old-school hard games. I hate being babied through a game, ya know? Plus I haven't just beat the game, I've beaten up to ng+5 . . . Lol

If you want to cosplay dark souls, maybe Elite Knight is more realistic for the money you want to spend.

Oops, meant as a pm

Md02geist wrote:It's solid but not as good as a lot of the diehards talk it up to be. I think half of what makes dark souls "good" to people is the difficulty; they really feel like they've accomplished something. They are the generation that in general doesn't remember when you had three lives to get through a game (or just a timer) with no saves available. Been there, done that.

A lot of the "omgs dark souls so good" is imo just elitists who like to flaunt that they've beaten it etc. It's solid, and fun, but artificially difficult for no other purpose than to be hard.

Enemy arrows home in on you when you move. Enemies can jump towards you and if you roll, their jump will *change direction* in midair to hit you.

The game just stacks the odds very very heavily against you, and if someone is looking for a die hard challenge this is their game. For the rest of us that play games for fun and don't feel like turning a ten hour game into a fifty hour game because of ridiculous deaths (literally have been killed through walls by enemies that I couldn't see because they could glitch through it)...dark souls is one that is just maybe messed with but not taken too seriously lol.

If it was just difficult but fair, that'd be one thing, but the game goes out of its way to be purposefully unfair to you. Just makes me go "And I paid for this...?"

Right; I don't have the time to devote to it- that is, I could have a go but the lack of advancement (I can get in maybe an hour or two a night at best during the week, weekends maybe/maybe not) would make me lose interest. I hail from the golden age of video games, right on the ground floor so to speak (as in seated on the ground, grinding on Colecovision, then NES, then SNES, Sega, etc) and one of my favorite mainstays was Contra. Who didn't love Mario? But they were difficult to say the least; I can't say I'm all that sorry that some of these games are way easier than they used to be. Just means there's a chance I might finish it. Playing Watch Dogs now; its ok, but the buzz it generated I just don't feel. The side missions are much more fun than the main story; how messed up is that. lol

Rock_Steady, you can get a really nice leather harness for the money you're looking to spend- Prince Armory might be the way to go. Realizing it in steel will cost about 4 times what you've budgeted for it...probably more due to the intricate shaping and detail.