The Armour Archive

Like the title says, Im lucky enough to live near Ugo and his shop. Today he was nice enough to have me over, and took the time to show me around his shop and home. Meeting him in person was a pleasure, it was really nice to talk to him. Real easygoing. I say home but its more like a museum or Ye Olde Curiosity shop in Seattle. He was nice enough to give me a tour and give me some tips, Something Ill never forget. Got to meet his little pup Butters, what a cutie. Of course his home is full of movie stuff he has worked on and past projects that I could have spent hours inspecting but I didnt want to take up too much of his time and kept it as brief as possible. I didnt know but he makes these incredible mummified hands and beasts that look like real items. (Damn I forgot to get a pic of his Octomummy) His shop is full of bad ass armor pieces, some complete some just parts, but every piece was just incredible.

I mentioned I was going to try to make a set of 16th cent arms with turners soon and he starts digging in this box of misc pieces (he called it his Sh@#box of parts...I would call it.....not that ) and comes out with this heavy gauge Rebrace with a turner, and inner elbow compression articulation. Like on Henry the ?s armor (KtR?)...... (something ive been most fascinated with since I started trying to build armor, and never even seen one in person) He said I could have it since it was the first one he ever made.........*shock......*awe.......

After that I was walking around in a daze that lasted the whole hour drive home. Im sitting here studying it, half dazed even now hours later. If that wasnt enough, he also granted me a plastic casting of a gorgon head he had made in the past. An incredible piece of work to say the least.

Anyway I dont want to go on and on here, but if I liked professional sports, it would be like me meeting one of my favorite players. Just a really great experience Ill never forget.

Ugo thank you very much for your time, and of course the goodies.

Live Long and Prosper


Andy @ Pitbull Armory

Gorgon, My only regret for the day is that I forgot to have him sign them


Have a good week


Pitbull

Lucky

Nice. I look at this stuff,and it sort of pisses me off that I have to finish stuff for other people before I can play around with my own! I need more tools!

I used to have a box of crap parts too. And I'd give them away..until a guy used one of them, and people said MY stuff was crap. I cut them up and tossed them after that.

But I get the feeling you aren't going to abuse Ugo That way Andy. >:))

That is a good point.
My scrap box was looted.
However... Andy is good people.

Amazing compression articulation!

Henry VIII of England had a harness or two with those compression elbows. Quite the high-end feature in the sixteenth. The piece may well put you over the top at figuring how to make the things work. And how Vivat! is that?

And I think my envy-meter just pegged!

The Henry VIII harness has compression articulation on the butt & inside of leggs.... it is a marvell of armouring and engineering... even looking at detailed pics one wonders "How the **%$! did they do THAT!"

It only exposed the palms of hands and soles of feet.....

That's pretty lucky. I want to have Ugo's babies.

I think if more of us lived closer Ugo might have to get some restraining orders.

Man, he makes some incredibly drool-worthy stuff. As I learn more about armor, I'm constantly impressed with the stuff you guys are putting out.

Pitbull Armory wrote:Gorgon, My only regret for the day is that I forgot to have him sign them


Have a good week


Pitbull

Looks like his signature is all over those pieces.

That is awesome. What a cool dude!

Going to name that Gorgon....wait for it....Zola?

Heres a few more pids of the articulation as requested.

LastKNIGHT wrote:Lucky

Yes .....exactly how I feel

Bender quote: I have to finish stuff for other people before I can play around with my own! I need more tools!

I feel exactly the same Bender, I been working for a year to get my order list gone so I can go out in my shop and have fun again, spend as much time as I want on whatever item I FEEL like building.

Halberds quote: However... Andy is good people.

I feel exactly the same about you Hal, its no secret. Another one of my wishes is to come out to your shop and have some beers and BS about stuff. Eventually the wife and I will go on a cruise that will leave out of Galveston TX, I hope to make it by at that time. *salute

Count Johnathan quote: Looks like his signature is all over those pieces.

That is awesome. What a cool dude!

+10

Thomas Powers quote: Going to name that Gorgon....wait for it....Zola?

Thanks Thomas I like the name, we will go with that one unless Ugo tells us different


Happy Hollidays Guys


Pitbull

There is also a way to make the middle compression lame collapse even further. You can see it in examples of 16th century fencing gauntlets. Instead of being a rectangle-the central piece inside is narrower-and spindle shaped. And only has one rivet at it's ends. The two root articulations overlap one aonther. It takes a really exacting fit to make these two slide without gapping.

But the end result is that you have less "bunching" of the lames when the joint is folded.

my brain hurts... and not from a 12 hour day in the shop.

Ugo is awesome. hes given me pointers via texts.
One day I hope to have a box of crap like that to share and pass on to others.


Donngal

That compression articulation is amazing! I think I've found an inspiration for my arms.

I totally agree guys. Here is the rebrace, I mounted the lames in it, cleaned it, oiled it up, and made a stand for it from a paper towel holder. They make awesome helmet stands also. It will reside on my desk for constant inspection.

Have a good weekend

Pitbull

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