Rawhide lamellar

[Baron Alcyoneus]

http://tafl.cz/lamellar-armour/

It is a nice pictorial of how he did it.

[doner765]

thats awesome!
i just wonder what the durability is like

[Vermillion]

If I remember correctly, that is the same basic process that the early Japanese armor was made. They just colored and varnished theirs. It was considered quite durable and effective unless it became water logged. Even after much of the armor was being made in iron, older samurai would prefer the rawhide based armor due to its lighter weight.

[Todd Feinman]

I'd recommend painting the lamella with milk paint and then shellacking them, after the holes are punched, or just shellacking them if you'd like the natural color. Centralia Hide and Fur in WA, carries elk hides with large sections that are of a usable thickness (don't use anything too thin!). That is how I made the section of Egyptian hide scale armour for Mike Loades, seen here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOR39hn6zBg