The Armour Archive

The Fantasy armour thread got me going again....

I like to have fun with my metal pounding.
Almost done with the 220V shop wiring for my new plasma torch and TIG

First project:


Hal

Ps: I will torch it out... dish, crease, roll, grind and planish..... then weld it together.
Sounds easy... ....Yes?

I hope my new big shaping tools will allow this to work.
Perhaps a little hot work on the beard and moustache.... ..No?

Your design help is always welcome....

That is going to ROCK can't wait to see it in production!
Cheers,
Leo

Hey Hal, how about using bronze or brass for the mustache/beard for a nice contrast against blackened steel?

Can't wait to see the metal start taking shape. Woooohoooo!

I won't name names, but a long time ago, a now famous armorer made a helmet for his friend who had a viking persona. They dubbed the helmet "Iron Sven." Your helm looks a lot like it.

I think your design is great, and I want to see the final product.

Mord.

Thanks guys,

This is the poster board rough draft at the pattern.

I have seen the Wombat helm pics; however I do not wish to copy them. I was hoping to study Gods beard from Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel paintings, to get the nice flowing lines and curls he uses.

With my RR spike fluting stake and some hot work I might be able to pull this off. Only time will tell.

As always... I will post my progress pics.

Thank you for your support.

Hal

Someone ought to do face helmets for Norman Connicals and Cerveliers...




This will be fun to see, Hal.

Halberds wrote:I have seen the Wombat helm pics; however I do not wish to copy them. I was hoping to study Gods beard from Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel paintings, to get the nice flowing lines and curls he uses.

that would be way cool. However, may I offer up a suggestion? Since you are going with a spangen helm perhaps following the artistic lines of the Norse gods?

Much simpiler but just think how bad ass a helm would look with the bearded visage of Odin the One Eye, done like they would have drawn him back then, would be?

Just brain storming.

Humm.... got pics?

I am open to ideas, just planing things now.

Hal

Looking forward to seeing this progress.
Which reminds me, Thanks Hal for showing off so many progress pics. It really helps with ideas and techniques.

Jason

Hey Hal,
Did you see this?
Cheers,
Leo

Now that is just uber cool.....

Thanks for the pic.

Brother Logan wrote:Hey Hal,
Did you see this?
Cheers,
Leo

That is very cool....

Odin... Like this?

Here's a few more pics that might be useful:
http://artgeek5000.com/sketch/odin_spear.jpg

http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A9G_RtiJaEhE. ... s/odin.jpg

http://www.wilsonsalmanac.com/images1/o ... muninn.jpg

http://z.about.com/d/ancienthistory/1/4/K/E/Odin.jpg

Thanks I like this one best.
http://orlog.euweb.cz/gods/odin.jpg

Halberds wrote:Odin... Like this?

Well as usual when I need to find photos of what I am talking about I can't.

Hal, that pic is of Thor not odin. What I was more thinking of was extant carvings, sculpture, drawings, paintings of Norse gods from medieval times. Then manufacture a face out of that style so that it might look like something a norse cheiftan might wear during a ceremony.

There are certain aspects to that period artwork that makes it LOOK like it was made back then. Things like straight lines when drawing a beard, large football shaped eyes with no pupils, flat triangularish shaped noses, The folds in a robe being very straight, etc.

Like I said before it would be simpiler to manufacture the face going by these guidelines BUT, I think you would end up with a truely fantastic fantasy helm heavily rooted in history. (something that while fantasy LOOKS like it could have been made back then)

Now, if you were looking more towards straight up fantasy and not trying to tie it in to history, modern comic book drawings of odin or Thor, loki, etc. would work just fine.

Just my .02 cents

This is what I have so far:

http://home.armourarchive.org/members/h ... /Gorp1.jpg

I know... it is very rough; however... it is my first hand held plasma cut. Add some basic hammer dishing on the "Tin/Lead Alloy"..... Volla... The start of my fantasy helm.

Many more leagues to go.... before we cand rest.... Sir....

Your local metal pounder, wannabe welder and part time tool maker,

Hal

Galileo wrote:Hey Hal, how about using bronze or brass for the mustache/beard for a nice contrast against blackened steel?

That is a good idea... perhaps on the next one after all the bugs are worked out of the pattern. The bronze is up to $195.00 for a 24" X 24" sheet in 14 ga.... not counting shipping cost... I wish I had a bronze mine just like my "Tin/lead Alloy" mine.....

Hal

I have heard of people using kickplates for doors to good effect.

Good idea, I will check at my local hardware store.
It can always be used as an overlay if it is not 14ga.
Must be sure they are solid brass and not just plated.
Thanks for the tip.

This is Saturdays work on the Saxon Viking Fantasy Helm.


I have been thinking about using some copper overlay on the 14ga helm top spangen panels.... as they are the last to make.

I will ask Plasmaman if he has flesh tone metal acid.
Polished bands some russit on the beard.... and we be good to go.

Hal

I like this very much.

I like this very much.

awsome work HAL....u should work in sheet metal more often...

def going to turn out stunning i think !

Looks Fantastic. Excellent work!

One thing though, with all the facial work on the front, I think the "slat back" looks a bit boring. Just an idea but maybe sculpt hair for the back plate? Then if you want to really screw with people's minds, put a very light chainmaille drape across the back to look like the only thing there is hair and chainmaille.

I have heard of people using kickplates for doors to good effect.

these work, your right though need to check them, if there plated

try to find a "metal reclamation yard" --a scrap yard--
If you ask they usually stack them off to the side, I took a helm to mine and showed it off, now I can get the kick plates for about 2 bucks apice!!
coppers good too , though more expensive

...... and the helm is AWSOME!!

I can't wait to see this one done! It looks great! Nice fluting!

Cat

Halberds wrote:Good idea, I will check at my local hardware store.
It can always be used as an overlay if it is not 14ga.
Must be sure they are solid brass and not just plated.

All the ones I've found (at Home Depot, etc.) weren't even brass plated, just anodized aluminum.

Great Googly Moogly Ron, that's looking awesome!!!

Now I want to try one...

Thanks for your support... guys and gals.....It is a real booster....

I have been working overtime on this.
I made a boo-boo and got the head band too small....

This is tonights installment... with the larger head band and new side to side straps and panels still needing cut out.... a little more eastern looking I think.


The old head band will be used to add leather panels; as Cat tought me to dish leather like it was steel..... Egfroth tought me how to pinch them with the single rivet design. Two helms in progress...Hoooo Boy...

Now, all I have to do is trade Stonekeep the "SugarSpangen" and the new 4" dishing doughnut for four, unfinshed Texas long horns; so I can finish my Benty Grange helm..... started 4 years ago....

To quote Animal... "Just saying".

Hal

Ps: This is all cold work so far. I used the newbie fluting RR stake to get the creases.

Well, as much as I would like to, I can't take credit for coming up with the idea of dishing leather. That came directly from Dan, and I owe him big time.

I am very interested in seeing how the leather spangen turns out, as that was what I was going to do until I decided on the two piece.

Be sure to post many pics!

Cat

Sure will Cat. It will just be leather panels, as the bands and rivets will be steel.
I was thinking of using that brass mail drape you made me on it too.

I credit you for the inspiration to try leather helm panels.... as I can't be outdone by a girl….

Hal

2 thumbs up!

looks great...

Anyone have ideas or know how they attached all the hair to that one helm?

Hi Thomas, as far as I can tell it appears to be attached in small clusters through holes along the edges. Sort of woven in. YMMV

One gould use epoxy in the inside like my horse hair helm plumes.
Are you going to try one?
Best of luck.

All the one posted needs is chicken legs Saxon blood and beer in it.

Hal