My first helm-making endeavor **Added some closeups**
- Sigismund von Helfenstein
- Archive Member
- Posts: 860
- Joined: Sat May 07, 2011 12:17 pm
- Location: Barony of Bjornsborg, Ansteorra (San Antonio, TX)
My first helm-making endeavor **Added some closeups**
Shortly before Gulf Wars I came to the realization that my later 14th century pigface looked a little funny with my generally earlier 14th century splinted kit. Making snap decisions, as I am wont to do, I decided i could put a greathelm together in under a week with few tools of my own and the nearest usable anvil 45 minutes up the highway.
Anywho, due in large part to the assistance and advice of more experienced armorers, I put this beast together.
14g mild cold rolled, made using this pattern: http://www.arador.com/construction/greathelm.html
finished shaping and constructing/finishing/grinding the day before leaving for Gulf. Painted it and let it dry overnight. I didn't want to do the external tabs on the cap plate, but didn't really have the time to mess around with anything else. Luckily I found a guide that InsaneIrish posted some time ago for making an easy torse, so no one can see my secret shame!
I'll get some better more detailed pics of the helm itself up later today for critique. Hard to see much detail given the dark color of the paint job.
Also considering putting a brass cross on the face. Anyone have any tips for measuring the brass pieces before I start trial'n'erroring my way through?
UPDATE:
A few more pics. You can see the tabs I used to attach the cap plate under the torse. Overall the whole thing has a sort of brutish ugliness to it that I find endearing. I'll try for more smooth lines in my next one.
Anywho, due in large part to the assistance and advice of more experienced armorers, I put this beast together.
14g mild cold rolled, made using this pattern: http://www.arador.com/construction/greathelm.html
finished shaping and constructing/finishing/grinding the day before leaving for Gulf. Painted it and let it dry overnight. I didn't want to do the external tabs on the cap plate, but didn't really have the time to mess around with anything else. Luckily I found a guide that InsaneIrish posted some time ago for making an easy torse, so no one can see my secret shame!
I'll get some better more detailed pics of the helm itself up later today for critique. Hard to see much detail given the dark color of the paint job.
Also considering putting a brass cross on the face. Anyone have any tips for measuring the brass pieces before I start trial'n'erroring my way through?
UPDATE:
A few more pics. You can see the tabs I used to attach the cap plate under the torse. Overall the whole thing has a sort of brutish ugliness to it that I find endearing. I'll try for more smooth lines in my next one.
Last edited by Sigismund von Helfenstein on Fri Mar 30, 2012 4:43 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Swer an rehte güete
wendet sîn gemüete,
dem volget sælde und êre
Whoever to true goodness
Turns his mind
He will meet with fortune and honour.
- Hartmann von Aue, 13th Century
wendet sîn gemüete,
dem volget sælde und êre
Whoever to true goodness
Turns his mind
He will meet with fortune and honour.
- Hartmann von Aue, 13th Century
-
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Re: My first helm-making endeavor
Mock the brass onto the helm face with masking tape, two or three layers. Lay out what shape you want the brass appliqué to be in, trim to shape with the point of an X-Acto, gently peel off the resulting pattern, stick it on the brass and start cutting.
Measure, schmeasure. You're good as long as you have enough of the brass.
Measure, schmeasure. You're good as long as you have enough of the brass.
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Re: My first helm-making endeavor
Another alternative for the brass decoration is to do what the obvious surviving example did.
Paint it on.
No brass at all. Simple, not all that hard, and you can decide how you like it.
Wade
Paint it on.
No brass at all. Simple, not all that hard, and you can decide how you like it.
Wade
Re: My first helm-making endeavor
Something I found out from experience is the following...If your going to dish out the cross at any part it then make it wider than you want the end width. The dishing can suck up the sides making it thinner than you wanted. I lived and learned.
"We have enough youth, how about a fountain of smart"?
Re: My first helm-making endeavor
I think for a first helm it came out fine.
Thanks for the pics.
I know it is a little late but this PDF has newbie crusader helm making tips.
It was a booklet that I included with my helm kits when I offered them.
Hal
Oops, I forgot the link.
http://home.armourarchive.org/members/h ... sembly.pdf
(edited to add link)
Thanks for the pics.
I know it is a little late but this PDF has newbie crusader helm making tips.
It was a booklet that I included with my helm kits when I offered them.
Hal
Oops, I forgot the link.
http://home.armourarchive.org/members/h ... sembly.pdf
(edited to add link)
Last edited by Halberds on Wed Mar 28, 2012 4:58 am, edited 1 time in total.
- Oskar der Drachen
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Re: My first helm-making endeavor
That kit is sweet!
*Way* better than mine at it's best.
Well Done Sir!
*Way* better than mine at it's best.
Well Done Sir!
Ignorance is Fixable
Contrary to popular thought, life does not hinge around big decisions at crisis points, but small everyday decisions that lead almost inexorably to crisis. Virtue lies in not being lazy when choosing, even in a small way.
Contrary to popular thought, life does not hinge around big decisions at crisis points, but small everyday decisions that lead almost inexorably to crisis. Virtue lies in not being lazy when choosing, even in a small way.
- Oskar der Drachen
- Archive Member
- Posts: 2819
- Joined: Mon Jan 01, 2007 11:35 pm
- Location: Lochac - New Zealand
Re: My first helm-making endeavor
That kit is sweet!
*Way* better than mine at it's best.
Well Done Sir!
*Way* better than mine at it's best.
Well Done Sir!
Ignorance is Fixable
Contrary to popular thought, life does not hinge around big decisions at crisis points, but small everyday decisions that lead almost inexorably to crisis. Virtue lies in not being lazy when choosing, even in a small way.
Contrary to popular thought, life does not hinge around big decisions at crisis points, but small everyday decisions that lead almost inexorably to crisis. Virtue lies in not being lazy when choosing, even in a small way.
Re: My first helm-making endeavor
It has been a long time since I made that pattern, but I always feel good when one is made.
The 2nd or 3rd one ever made was for SCA combat and had a subtle bar grill for vision. It was the only one I took a photo of. Back then digital cameras were pretty rare so forgive the pics.
The 2nd or 3rd one ever made was for SCA combat and had a subtle bar grill for vision. It was the only one I took a photo of. Back then digital cameras were pretty rare so forgive the pics.
Screw normal. You know why? 'Cause if you're normal, the crowd will accept you. But if you're deranged, the crowd will make you their leader. Chris Titus
- Sigismund von Helfenstein
- Archive Member
- Posts: 860
- Joined: Sat May 07, 2011 12:17 pm
- Location: Barony of Bjornsborg, Ansteorra (San Antonio, TX)
Re: My first helm-making endeavor
Updated with pics.
Swer an rehte güete
wendet sîn gemüete,
dem volget sælde und êre
Whoever to true goodness
Turns his mind
He will meet with fortune and honour.
- Hartmann von Aue, 13th Century
wendet sîn gemüete,
dem volget sælde und êre
Whoever to true goodness
Turns his mind
He will meet with fortune and honour.
- Hartmann von Aue, 13th Century
Re: My first helm-making endeavor **Added some closeups**
I don't suppose you'd be able to post the link to the torse tutorial? It came out looking pretty cool and I wouldn't mind trying that.
Cheers.
Cheers.
The member formerly known as Findlæch
"I don't mean to sound bitter, cold or cruel, but I am, so that's how it comes out" - Bill Hicks
"I don't mean to sound bitter, cold or cruel, but I am, so that's how it comes out" - Bill Hicks
Morgan wrote:That's just so much "whoa" that it would defeat Keanu Reeves in a fight....
- Sigismund von Helfenstein
- Archive Member
- Posts: 860
- Joined: Sat May 07, 2011 12:17 pm
- Location: Barony of Bjornsborg, Ansteorra (San Antonio, TX)
Re: My first helm-making endeavor **Added some closeups**
viewtopic.php?t=93871
Remarkably simple to put together.
For keeping the twist, what I did was have one person hold it all twisted up, and then every two twists or so just put a good strong stitch through both tubes. Holds them in place quite well.
Remarkably simple to put together.
For keeping the twist, what I did was have one person hold it all twisted up, and then every two twists or so just put a good strong stitch through both tubes. Holds them in place quite well.
Swer an rehte güete
wendet sîn gemüete,
dem volget sælde und êre
Whoever to true goodness
Turns his mind
He will meet with fortune and honour.
- Hartmann von Aue, 13th Century
wendet sîn gemüete,
dem volget sælde und êre
Whoever to true goodness
Turns his mind
He will meet with fortune and honour.
- Hartmann von Aue, 13th Century
Re: My first helm-making endeavor **Added some closeups**
Thanks for that.
The member formerly known as Findlæch
"I don't mean to sound bitter, cold or cruel, but I am, so that's how it comes out" - Bill Hicks
"I don't mean to sound bitter, cold or cruel, but I am, so that's how it comes out" - Bill Hicks
Morgan wrote:That's just so much "whoa" that it would defeat Keanu Reeves in a fight....
Re: My first helm-making endeavor **Added some closeups**
Thanks for that.
The member formerly known as Findlæch
"I don't mean to sound bitter, cold or cruel, but I am, so that's how it comes out" - Bill Hicks
"I don't mean to sound bitter, cold or cruel, but I am, so that's how it comes out" - Bill Hicks
Morgan wrote:That's just so much "whoa" that it would defeat Keanu Reeves in a fight....