New projects, Viking, Vendel and Finnish items

white mountain armoury · Mon Feb 13, 2006 8:25 am

wonderful!!!! do you have a hi-res shot of that fine helmet, id love to see the details

Mord · Post by **Mord** » Mon Feb 13, 2006 9:28 am

Drool....Drool...drool...drool...drool....

Could you provide a close-up shot of the decorations? Please, Please, Please? Thank you.

Continuing to drool...

Mord.

PS. Tell Rhys "Howdy-doo!" Thanx.

Ian · Post by **Ian** » Mon Feb 13, 2006 11:28 am

That's incredible.

Ugo · Post by **Ugo** » Mon Feb 13, 2006 11:50 am

...wait for it...wayyyt .....for...it......

....

Chris Gilman · Post by **Chris Gilman** » Tue Feb 14, 2006 12:52 am

Here is the finished shield.
[img]http://globaleffects.com/Temp/shield1.jpg[/img]

Here are the details requested of my Vendel helm. I weighed this helm and it is 4lbs, 12 oz.
[img]http://globaleffects.com/Temp/vendaldetail.jpg[/img]

Oh, did I mention I was making 2 Vendel helmets?
This one is based on what they thought the Vendal 14 helm looked like. Once they got it out of the muck and assembled, it looked different. Interestingly the concept drawings still shows up as an example of the Vendal 14 helm.
This one is also 1075 spring steel, but is trimed with fine silver. This one weights 4 lbs. 6 oz.

I'll have these at Estrella if anyone wants to look first hand.

Mord · Post by **Mord** » Tue Feb 14, 2006 9:14 am

More drooling....

Thanks for the detail shots

Continuing to drool...

Mord.

VRIN · Post by **VRIN** » Tue Feb 14, 2006 12:40 pm

HOLY CRAP! that shield helm combo is gorgeous. I am going to have to tape my jaw up for the rest of the day.

OK I have to ask how do you keep that repousse work at such an even height/depth? Where are you getting your pitch/or whats your recipe? Are you teaching this technique? and if you aren't you should

FRICKIN' STUNNING!

Lorccan · Post by **Lorccan** » Tue Feb 14, 2006 1:26 pm

Excellent! Tell me, are the brows and nasal solid or foil?

Sir Thorfinn · Post by **Sir Thorfinn** » Tue Feb 14, 2006 1:29 pm

*faints*

Halvgrimr · Post by **Halvgrimr** » Tue Feb 14, 2006 1:52 pm

This one is based on what they thought the Vendal 14 helm looked like. Once they got it out of the muck and assembled, it looked different. Interestingly the concept drawings still shows up as an example of the Vendal 14 helm.

--Yep, this is one of the old drawings, from back in the 30-40's

Most agree that the check plates were solid and the neckplate consisted of hinged irons slats.

see http://www.missouri.edu/~rls555/SCA/res ... als14a.jpg

Even though there are a fair number of older articles with the old image in them, Tweddle's book has by far the most up to date information on the Valsgarde/Vendel helms.

Halv

Eyvandr · Post by **Eyvandr** » Tue Feb 14, 2006 5:56 pm

I can't wait to see these later this week. Gaston how did you guys do the plaques and castings on the helmet? Im assuming that they are lost wax? How long was the development time on the positives? They are amazingly clean and crisp.

RenJunkie · Post by **RenJunkie** » Wed Feb 15, 2006 12:05 am

Whoa.

The brass work is suweeeeeeeeeeet...........Wow.

What does the Vendel 14 actually look like? I mean not including age and decay...lol

Wow.

Christopher

Chris Gilman · Post by **Chris Gilman** » Wed Feb 15, 2006 12:46 am

Lorccan wrote:Excellent! Tell me, are the brows and nasal solid or foil?

The gold brows are lost wax cast, the silver brows are hammered .125 silver and both nasels are cast. The crest on the gold one is sheet material, not cast.
The foils where pressed on plates, this is how the originals where done.

The Vendel 14 helm can be seen here:
http://www.missouri.edu/~rls555/SCA/res ... als14a.jpg

Well thank you for all the nice cooments. I'm off the Estrella

Hew · Post by **Hew** » Wed Feb 15, 2006 2:54 am

If Faberge made helms...

Sir Gaston wrote:

Mord · Post by **Mord** » Wed Feb 15, 2006 4:16 pm

Halvgrim wrote:
This one is based on what they thought the Vendal 14 helm looked like. Once they got it out of the muck and assembled, it looked different. Interestingly the concept drawings still shows up as an example of the Vendal 14 helm.

--Yep, this is one of the old drawings, from back in the 30-40's

Most agree that the check plates were solid and the neckplate consisted of hinged irons slats.

see http://www.missouri.edu/~rls555/SCA/res ... als14a.jpg

Even though there are a fair number of older articles with the old image in them, Tweddle's book has by far the most up to date information on the Valsgarde/Vendel helms.

Halv

Fyi, folks:

The current re-re-construction of the Vendel XIV helm can be found in an article by Sune Lindqvist in "Fornvannen" for 1951 or 1952 (sorry, I can't remember the exact date). I have it around somewhere.

Mord.

Halvgrimr · Post by **Halvgrimr** » Wed Feb 15, 2006 4:29 pm

Fyi, folks:

The current re-re-construction of the Vendel XIV helm can be found in an article by Sune Lindqvist in "Fornvannen" for 1951 or 1952 (sorry, I can't remember the exact date). I have it around somewhere.

Mord.

Perhaps you refer to "VendelhjÃƒÂ¤lmarna I ny rekonstruktion" from FornvÃƒÂ¤nnen, Vol. 40, 1950.

All I have is the summary in english so I cant confirm it but I'd be willing to bet it features the old pics (ie the ones that resemble Gaston's hat)

Halv

SheepishLion · Post by **SheepishLion** » Wed Feb 15, 2006 10:05 pm

I'm so new to this I wouldn't even know where to start. It's absolutely gorgeous.

Joe

Laurie Wise · Post by **Laurie Wise** » Sun Feb 19, 2006 12:28 am

I just came back from the Estrella War with this report after meeting Sir Gaston and friend wearing both Vendal helmets, up close and personal. Well, I did not tear them off their wearer's head to view the inside.

The photos just do not do either helmet justice compared to examining them in person. Yes, those are pressed foils and he did cast plates to make the foils from ala "Torlund". He wore Vendal style splinted/ leather forearm guards with alternating splints with pressed/riveted foils.

I did not see the shield, though (would LOVED to have examine the boss in person) However, maybe next year.

"Hands out more drool buckets"

Beautiful!

Chris Gilman · Post by **Chris Gilman** » Tue Feb 21, 2006 9:58 am

Here is a shot of the full kits at Estrella.

white mountain armoury · Tue Feb 21, 2006 10:57 am

outstanding, you are an amazing talent, thanks for the pictures. !!!!

Diglach Mac Cein · Post by **Diglach Mac Cein** » Tue Feb 21, 2006 12:12 pm

Good sir, we've never met, but let me say -

I hate you.

Damn that is beautiful!

Donngal · Post by **Donngal** » Tue Feb 21, 2006 6:52 pm

I got to view these projects at Estrella war. (didn't get to see the vendal 14). Sir Gaston was kind enough to allow myself and a few others to handle the pieces. The pics just don't do justice. Absolutly awesome, very inspiring. Kind of gets one in A VERY creative mood. I also got to see his repousse project... very cool. Maybe he can post pics of the splinted vambraces and greaves...

Donngal

Patrick Kelly · Post by **Patrick Kelly** » Wed Feb 22, 2006 2:23 am

That's a beautiful piece of work. There aren't that many migration era helms being made and it's nice to see a quality interpretation like this.