Aluminum Musculata (Pic Heavy!)

Martin Hodges · Post by **Martin Hodges** » Mon Sep 21, 2009 8:07 am

This is the Heraklion, â€œthe impossible task.â€

Martin Hodges · Post by **Martin Hodges** » Mon Sep 21, 2009 8:09 am

more process pics...in the second shot, the aluminum breastplate is next to my raw steel muscle breastplate as a comparison.

Martin Hodges · Post by **Martin Hodges** » Mon Sep 21, 2009 8:11 am

Here all the hammering was done, and it was time for sanding and polishing. You'll also notice that a lot of material was trimmed off the arm holes.

Martin Hodges · Post by **Martin Hodges** » Mon Sep 21, 2009 8:16 am

and the final musculata. Heraklion, the impossible task.

ThorvaldR Skegglauss · Mon Sep 21, 2009 9:16 am

That looks outstanding however alot of work!

Are you doing the greaves to match? :twisted:

regards

Pitbull Armory · Post by **Pitbull Armory** » Mon Sep 21, 2009 9:47 am

Hi there, thank you for the pics that cuirass looks great, Nice example of a musculata. Some of them dont look quite like human muscles but yours surely does. Keep up the good work and thanks for sharing.

Take care

Pitbull

redrook · Post by **redrook** » Mon Sep 21, 2009 5:55 pm

Another fine musculata Martin....... thanks for the pics.

Destichado · Post by **Destichado** » Mon Sep 21, 2009 10:57 pm

Boy can I sympathize.

Masterful work with some monstrous materiel.

Martin Hodges · Post by **Martin Hodges** » Tue Sep 22, 2009 8:49 am

Thorvaldr,
I would love to do greaves to match...but that depends on the buyer's approval of this piece ... He is supposed to get it today...hopefully when he gets the cuirass he'll be so happy he'll want to commission more pieces

Pitbull,
thank you. I've worked really hard on the form and shape of the musculature, and I've been trying for a more "realistic look". Exaggerated yes, but still properly proportioned. This is the eighth musculata that I've made, and most definitely the finest one. Maybe after i've done thirty I will achieve perfection

Destichado,
yes, "monstrous" material is a perfect description. I'm going to give a little analogy of trying to work 1/8" aluminum into a musculata. You know those action movies where the good guy punches the villain in the face as hard as he can, and the villain just smiles right back without even flinching? That's what I felt like when I was doing the rough form work. There were times when I would land a blow with the 3lb hammer, and I swear the aluminum just sat there and smiled at me. In the end, I think it turned out beautifully, but it was a beast to work with.

Sextus Maximus · Post by **Sextus Maximus** » Wed Sep 23, 2009 4:51 pm

Would be great to see you make one in say 410 Spring Stainless. The metal would not have to be be nearly as thick..