PLASTIC CHAINMAILLE

Ursa · Post by **Ursa** » Sun Feb 10, 2008 8:44 pm

sean of the chipendales wrote:I wonder if the maille shirts in Kingdom of heaven are plastic, I think they would have to be for orlando bloom to wear them

If so, I would like one of those.
Full shirt, fullsleeve

Yes, just like LotR. Most maile you see on screen is plastic. However on close up shots or sceans where the weight needs to be realistic they did have real mail on hand. Example: the Gimli shot in Helmsdeep when he puts on the chainmail and it hits the ground. "It's a bit tight across the chest.".

Steve S. · Post by **Steve S.** » Sun Feb 10, 2008 10:27 pm

Are the links welded/glued or otherwise secured so as to be solid?

If so, and they use the right plastic, it could be quite durable.

I have no problem with this stuff at all on an SCA field. Looking at it you cannot tell it is not metal. I would rather see someone fighting wearing one of these than a tunic with a heavy belt.

Steve

Oswyn_de_Wulferton · Post by **Oswyn_de_Wulferton** » Sun Feb 10, 2008 11:02 pm

But for cheaper, they can get butted maille, that is actually steel.

Trevor · Post by **Trevor** » Mon Feb 11, 2008 6:28 pm

Kilian_the_warlike wrote:Am I the only one who kinda dosn't like it, just on principle?

I like it a lot better than a guy in a T-tunic and combat boots...

Anything that puts an emphasis on looking the part over straight-out competitiveness is a step in the right direction, IMO.

That being said, it's not the best way to look the part. But if it's a way to get more fighters in mail-I'm fer it.

Andrew Young · Post by **Andrew Young** » Tue Feb 12, 2008 12:25 am

I still dont understand why anyone would pay that much for PVC pipe ring shirt that they could make with hardware store PVC pipes in a matter of a day or two (thats all they did in LOTR:

[img]http://www.larp.com/orcs/mail2.jpg[/img]

And you can make it in smaller diameter rings or larger ones as shown above...A tutorial:
http://www.alleycatscratch.com/lotr/Arm ... Maille.htm

.

Thorstenn · Post by **Thorstenn** » Tue Feb 12, 2008 7:54 am

Try Ringmesh.com Affordable and strong. It's Azon there back and still have the warranty.

Thorstenn,

Winterborne wrote:My son would love this. No more struggles to get him into 'garb'! But it would have to be affordable.

Steve S. · Post by **Steve S.** » Tue Feb 12, 2008 12:07 pm

But for cheaper, they can get butted maille, that is actually steel.

Yeah, that weighs 30+ pounds and isn't much more protective for SCA combat.

Durasteel: That PVC maille looks way to chunky.

Steve

ddella · Post by **ddella** » Tue Feb 12, 2008 12:33 pm

I have to agree with Steve on the look of that PVC shirt. Just looks way to large. Not sure if it was just done for an example but it looks like thats 1/2" or 3/4" Schedule 40. I used to work in the hardware business years ago, and I think even the 1/2" CPVC would be a bit large looking. Not sure if they made a 3/8" or 1/4" CPVC, I just know we didn't stock it.

Oswyn_de_Wulferton · Post by **Oswyn_de_Wulferton** » Tue Feb 12, 2008 1:11 pm

Yeah, but if you dont want the weight, just do the portrayal without maille. That is what I do. Just saying, spending 2x the money for plastic butted vs 16ga. butted doesn't make sense to me.

Ursa · Post by **Ursa** » Tue Feb 12, 2008 3:27 pm

Yeah but if you do use a small diameter PVC and color them correctly the cost might be more but even an amature can slap it together in very short order. Where a total newbie would have difficulty with any type of steel. It wasnt too long ago I worked on my first suit of steel and now it sits in the bottom of the bed of my SUV doing little more than protecting the carpet there. It's simply too heavy.

Steve S. · Post by **Steve S.** » Tue Feb 12, 2008 3:45 pm

Yeah, but if you dont want the weight, just do the portrayal without maille. That is what I do. Just saying, spending 2x the money for plastic butted vs 16ga. butted doesn't make sense to me.

To me, cost doesn't enter into the equation.

To me, it's about the look. You want to look like an armed nobleman. Assuming this stuff is durable, it would give you the look without the performance penalty. I'm OK with that.

Now there are some who argue that it is also but feeling what they felt - being encumbered as they would have been. And I'm OK with that, too.

I'd rather see a guy running around on the list field in plastic maille (good stuff like in the original thread, not that PVC marshmallow-maille) rather than a tunic and wide belt.

Steve

David Teague · Post by **David Teague** » Tue Feb 12, 2008 4:01 pm

You guys make me laugh.

The plastic mail was billed for costume use by the manufacturer in the first post of this thread, yet here is a multi page thread about how it should/would suck if used as real armour....

:roll:

Halberds · Post by **Halberds** » Tue Feb 12, 2008 9:40 pm

Perhaps it would work well with dark victory plastic barrel armour?

David Teague · Post by **David Teague** » Tue Feb 12, 2008 9:43 pm

Halberds wrote:Perhaps it would work well with dark victory plastic barrel armour?

Good one Ron.

Yojimbo · Post by **Yojimbo** » Wed Feb 13, 2008 2:21 am

Not bad for the kids...I have to make one of these for my son.

Strongbow · Post by **Strongbow** » Wed Feb 13, 2008 8:32 am

Oswyn_de_Wulferton wrote:But for cheaper, they can get butted maille, that is actually steel.

That weighs 50 lbs.

What I was thinking was for voiders/faulds, these would give the look, without the weight.

Strongbow · Post by **Strongbow** » Wed Feb 13, 2008 8:36 am

Oswyn_de_Wulferton wrote:Yeah, but if you dont want the weight, just do the portrayal without maille. That is what I do. Just saying, spending 2x the money for plastic butted vs 16ga. butted doesn't make sense to me.

Then don't buy it. I'd rather have someone who is doing an impression that CALLS for mail wearing plastic mail, than none at all. It looks much more correct. I mean, we see people all the time in plate armour with large expansives of body covered by NADA. A swift stick of the rondel dagger would put them out of commission.

And many people already have steel mail that they don;t wear, becuase it puts them at a competetive disadvantage.

Sean Powell · Post by **Sean Powell** » Wed Feb 13, 2008 8:57 am

Strongbow wrote:And many people already have steel mail that they don;t wear, becuase it puts them at a competetive disadvantage.

Screw the competitive diasadvantage. There is a distinct MAINTENANCE disadvantage. I have maile voiders to go with my maile fauld but I've never sewn them into my gambesone. Why? because I would have to un-sew and re-sew every time I put the thing in the WASH!?!. Give me water-proof maile anyday (that won't scratch up the inside of the washer or dryer either).

Sean