The Armour Archive

Hello everybody. I am what you could call an extreme newbie. I have never made armor before, but am very interested. I am getting married in 2006 and we are wanting to do it at the Renaissance Festival. I want to make an armor suit that stands out from the rest. I have been just about everywhere looking for ideas, but everything I have seen is so plan. The other problem is that I don't have the right tools for the job. Things like a bead rolling machine and things like that. I have all kinds of hammers and hand tools. If anyone can help out thanks.
Mike

P.S. attached is one pic of something I'm looking for.

Ouch! OK Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and if you want to wear that... costume... then the choice is yours.

By the looks of things that "armor" is primarily formed and painted leather. The patterns only vaguely resemble patterns for metal armor as the flames and elaborate edges are not particularly effective in actual combat armor.

The primary tools for leather-working are sharp scisors, sharp knives, rivets and a light weight hammer. Leather can be dyed, shaped and hardened in hot water, sealed and painted according to personal preference. Despite the fact that leather is more expensive than steel per sq-ft the initial investment in tools is much less.

To do a suit like that in steel would require a signifigant investment in tools and time that a single suit would not justify.

Take a moment to look at the patterns section of this archive and cut a few of them out of poster-board. Once you understand how the patterns work feel free to experiment until you achieve your artistic preference. paterning in paper is MUCH easier than working in either leather or steel.

When you have some specific questions, feel free to ask them, we will do our best to help.

Good luck,
Sean

ask the local leather shop if any one is doing that kind of thing localy.

you might be suprized and able to comision a simalar piece or have some one to guide you throught the process.

Uilleag of House of the Wolf Leather.

he can help you.

If u are looking for metal armour, then buy "techniques of medieval armour reproduction".
He will be your best master.

renissance?(sp?)

maybe an etched breastplate?

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