Return of the Waistcoat "Suit" (DONE, with new pic

Bryan Wiggins · Post by **Bryan Wiggins** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 10:22 pm

So I've made a little progress and figured I'd post. The cuirass is nearly done and I've got pauldrons sort of roughed in. Needs a little TLC, as I've left it sitting around in my studio after touching it with my "acid hands of death" and there are rusty finger prints all over it.

For those who missed it last time, this will be a half suit of waistcoat style construction, but modernized to look like a cloth suit. The main part of the cuirass is based off of this example. All 18ga mild.

[img]http://my.lsu.edu/ewiggi2//Armor/Senior ... _front.jpg[/img][img]http://my.lsu.edu/ewiggi2//Armor/Senior ... 9_back.jpg[/img]

And with it open:

[img]http://my.lsu.edu/ewiggi2//Armor/Senior ... t_open.jpg[/img][img]http://my.lsu.edu/ewiggi2//Armor/Senior ... k_open.jpg[/img]

Questions/comments/criticisms/complaints highly encouraged

AvM · Post by **AvM** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 10:26 pm

This is awesome beyond all belief, thanks for reposting it.

Kilkenny · Post by **Kilkenny** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 10:27 pm

I still love it.

Konstantin the Red · Post by **Konstantin the Red** » Tue Feb 19, 2008 12:00 am

LOL -- whee!

Now you know who to look to when you have way too much money and you always really really wanted one in plaid.

Maybe Good Sir Coat would want one too.

Jean Paul de Sens · Post by **Jean Paul de Sens** » Tue Feb 19, 2008 12:05 am

There aren't enough synonyms for cool to describe that suit.

In short, it's awesome.

JP

Eamonn MacCampbell · Post by **Eamonn MacCampbell** » Tue Feb 19, 2008 12:29 am

Konstantin the Red wrote:LOL -- whee!

Now you know who to look to when you have way too much money and you always really really wanted one in plaid.

Maybe Good Sir Coat would want one too.

You're never gonna let me live that mistake down are you?????

And yes...I would love to one for when we get some C&T uo here in Artemisia.......That is bad ass and...well I can't think of anything else with all this drool coming out and making my keyboard slippery....

Sam O. · Post by **Sam O.** » Tue Feb 19, 2008 12:33 am

Have you added detail to the collar since we last saw it?
Also how much does it weigh?

Ugo · Post by **Ugo** » Tue Feb 19, 2008 1:04 am

Awwww!!!! C'mon!!!! Ya beat me to it!!! I'm working on a steampunk arm with an exchange pincer/hand/ minigun!

Do you have more pics?

InsaneIrish · Post by **InsaneIrish** » Tue Feb 19, 2008 9:00 am

Ya know, every once in a great while someone makes something that is so cool that it turns internet viral. Ie, it will get periodically posted on armour forums with the tags "check this out!". The mouse armour, the cat armour, certain extant helmets, most anything Ugo makes, etc.

you know the pieces I speak of?

Those pieces that seem to capture the mind's eye with excitement?

Well, my friend, you have made one.

Truely a piece of functional art.

Bryan Wiggins · Post by **Bryan Wiggins** » Tue Feb 19, 2008 9:57 am

Thanks everyone for all of the kind words. There have been several occasions when I wanted to just smash the whole thing because I couldn't figure bits of it out. It's good to know all of that frustration makes someone happy

FindlÃ¦ch wrote:Have you added detail to the collar since we last saw it?
Also how much does it weigh?

Yes, I have. The collar/lapels have been completely remade and now include roping, etching, a step, and two turn pins on the back of the collar to allow the whole thing to open. Here's what it looked like before:

[img]http://my.lsu.edu/ewiggi2/Armor/SeniorP ... sFront.jpg[/img][img]http://my.lsu.edu/ewiggi2/Armor/SeniorP ... ssBack.jpg[/img]
[img]http://my.lsu.edu/ewiggi2/Armor/SeniorP ... ssSide.jpg[/img]

No idea on the weight. I can weigh it the next time I'm down in my studio.

Ugo wrote:Do you have more pics?

Well there are 3 more up there. I have some progress pics and this pic with what I have of the pauldrons:

[img]http://my.lsu.edu/ewiggi2/Armor/SeniorP ... ldrons.jpg[/img]

If there's anything in particular you want to see let me know and I can snap more pics of it.

InsaneIrish, I sure hope so

I'll post more pics as I get things done. This sucker has to be completed by May so I can put it in our BFA show.

Saint-Sever · Post by **Saint-Sever** » Tue Feb 19, 2008 10:28 am

Damn.

This takes the concept of "namban-gusoku" into the realm of the modern Japanese corporate "salary-man".

Tres' cool!

Michael

Saranchar · Post by **Saranchar** » Tue Feb 19, 2008 10:41 am

Every woman (even in the middle ages) loves a well dressed man... Wow! Beautiful work and artistry!

Otto von Teich · Post by **Otto von Teich** » Tue Feb 19, 2008 12:05 pm

Toooo cooool. Now you need a steel fedora

Atreides · Post by **Atreides** » Tue Feb 19, 2008 1:33 pm

That is super sexy can't wait to see what it looks like when its done

James B. · Post by **James B.** » Tue Feb 19, 2008 2:09 pm

Really cool art.

Garreth · Post by **Garreth** » Tue Feb 19, 2008 2:45 pm

Eric,
Truely and inspiring piece of work! Before the crash, some mentioned doing a matching hat. I believe the term used was "chapel de fedora"

Strongbow · Post by **Strongbow** » Tue Feb 19, 2008 4:22 pm

Amazing.

Personally, I think you should name this harness "Prom Knight"

Bryan Wiggins · Post by **Bryan Wiggins** » Tue Feb 19, 2008 5:20 pm

Thanks again everyone

FindlÃ¦ch wrote:Also how much does it weigh?

The waistcoat and tassets weigh a total of 14 lbs.

The fedora will likely have to be one of those lagniappe things that will have to wait until after the BFA show, but it would certainly complete the look.

Strongbow wrote:Personally, I think you should name this harness "Prom Knight"

LOL I hadn't thought of that one

I took a bunch of extra shots of some of the details for those interested. You can check them out here.

Konstantin the Red · Post by **Konstantin the Red** » Wed Feb 20, 2008 12:48 am

Eamonn MacCampbell wrote: You're never gonna let me live that mistake down are you?????

Now come on, Eamonn, you're not the only one any more!

There is at least one other now who "knoweth Good Sir Coat."

And really, can you imagine G.S.C. not wanting one of these if he saw it?

I can't. Just can't.

Steve_A · Post by **Steve_A** » Wed Feb 20, 2008 12:56 am

Otto von Teich wrote:Toooo cooool. Now you need a steel fedora

And a "chapel de ferdora":

Here are the shoes that could go with the suit. They keep to the spirit of the cockroach killer pointy toes that the 15th C. sabatons have:

Now, all you have to do is get a steel carnation for your lapel and you will be ready to take on all challenges in style!

Bleddyn De Caldicot · Post by **Bleddyn De Caldicot** » Wed Feb 20, 2008 1:09 pm

Gives 14th century mafia a new meaning (yes I know this style is later than the 14th century but I couldn't resist

) just need to shape your rattan like a baseball bat or tommy gun!

Vermin · Post by **Vermin** » Wed Feb 20, 2008 1:13 pm

I'd REALLY like more pics of how the collar/lapels work and how they're attached.

chef de chambre · Post by **chef de chambre** » Wed Feb 20, 2008 3:45 pm

As I said before, this is one of the coolest modern interpretations I have ever seen.

Konstantin the Red · Post by **Konstantin the Red** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 2:31 am

Anyway, Eamonn, it's at the very bottom of this thread:

http://forums.armourarchive.org/phpBB2/ ... h+sir+coat

Uryen · Post by **Uryen** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 2:37 am

It is supurb. Now the lapels are done, it looks finished.

Bryan Wiggins · Post by **Bryan Wiggins** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 10:27 pm

Meh. Got an arm and some detail shots. I forgot to weigh the damned thing, so I'll have to do that.

I'm not too happy with the arm right now. The transition from the pauldron is a little awkward, but it's too late to rework it. It'll grow on me I think. Everything needs a little tweaking. Any suggestions?

More pics here.

Ingvarr · Post by **Ingvarr** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 10:41 pm

ericbryanwiggins wrote: The fedora will likely have to be one of those lagniappe things that will have to wait until after the BFA show, but it would certainly complete the look.

Maybe you can borrow this in the mean time.

I am really in love with this coat.

Victor Martin · Post by **Victor Martin** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 11:01 pm

Since you're not especially happy with the pauldron/arm transition, how 'bout this for a thought:

Starting at the point where the half-round plate on the outside of the pauldron ends, taper the pauldron on the same line as the lapel of the suit. This would give a "Zuit Suit" feel to it and might also give you a little better range of motion. Just a comment from the peanut gallery.

I must say, that is one darn sexy bit tailoring!

RoaK · Post by **RoaK** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 11:03 pm

You could have a few more plates come down at a taper from the pauldron to the elbow joint. You wouldn't have to use armor grade plates for that as they would just be cosmetic.

Just a thought.

ericbryanwiggins wrote:Meh. Got an arm and some detail shots. I forgot to weigh the damned thing, so I'll have to do that.

I'm not too happy with the arm right now. The transition from the pauldron is a little awkward, but it's too late to rework it. It'll grow on me I think. Everything needs a little tweaking. Any suggestions?

More pics here.

Bryan Wiggins · Post by **Bryan Wiggins** » Tue May 06, 2008 12:46 pm

Now I just have to build the stand...

Sigurd Fjalarson · Post by **Sigurd Fjalarson** » Tue May 06, 2008 1:12 pm

That turned out fantastic!

James Arlen Gillaspie · Tue May 06, 2008 1:40 pm

The pauldrons LOOK pretty cool (cooler than I thought they would), but they're not gonna work. You might consider a modified spaudler design (gotta keep those squared-off shoulders!).

Bryan Wiggins · Post by **Bryan Wiggins** » Tue May 06, 2008 1:53 pm

James Arlen Gillaspie wrote:The pauldrons LOOK pretty cool (cooler than I thought they would), but they're not gonna work. You might consider a modified spaudler design (gotta keep those squared-off shoulders!).

Because they aren't designed properly, or because the lapels will get in the way? It's too late to change them now (the show starts Monday) but I'd like to know for future reference. Thanks!

InsaneIrish · Post by **InsaneIrish** » Tue May 06, 2008 2:07 pm

James Arlen Gillaspie wrote:The pauldrons LOOK pretty cool (cooler than I thought they would), but they're not gonna work. You might consider a modified spaudler design (gotta keep those squared-off shoulders!).

Actually if you are referring to range of motion, then I would say they are spot on. Fitted suit jackets are not designed to put your hands over your head. The seams are sewn so that you keep your arms at your sides, or bend at the elbow. Full range of arm movement is not really wanted.

excellent job man.

Thomas Powers · Post by **Thomas Powers** » Tue May 06, 2008 2:26 pm

Make sure you get some pics posted on the steampunk sites---I'm buying stock in drool proof keyboards!

Thomas

Return of the Waistcoat "Suit" (DONE, with new pic

Return of the Waistcoat "Suit" (DONE, with new pic

Well what can I say..

DONE