Written by Christopher Lehr
Tuesday, 13 July 2010 19:36
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I have been working on a set of plate armour for about... well, it feels like forever. I am pretty sure I began the process in 2002, maybe even 2001. I just don't seem to get very far. Partially this delay was first due to my initial inability to work metal very well. I did finally get a degree and job so that is no excuse anymore. I think that now the time is right to finally just get it finished. While there is nothing historically accurate about this set, I kinda like it.
  
I also have a set of 14ga half greaves completed... However, what you see here is a nearly completed SCA helm made from 14ga, the same gauge material used for the cuirass (yeah, it's gonna be heavy). Also a set of arms, though only the elbow cops are made from 14ga, the rest is 16ga.
 This is another part of the helmet, and is actually a brass brow piece. It is black because I have applied a layer of asphaltum to the surface, this being an acid resist as I plan on doing some etching to the surface. Again, stepping away from historical and into what I know and love, it will have a rather large manticore etched into its surface. I already have the drawing done for transfer and I will report on this particular pieces progress in the future.
My plan is to have all of the exposed metal painted black. Apparently, and according to the folks on the Armour Archive forums, that using acrylic paints are the best medium as far as painting goes. I think that it has something to do with the flexibility of this particular paint, as enamel paint would probably chip and flake with extended use. At least, that is the impression I got... but, I could be completely off base on that. Either way, that is what I will be using. This also allows me to use some of my leather pieces to use with Dagorhir, as the metal arms, legs and helmet are not allowed. (For some reason, 14ga helmets are not allowed in Dag... that a difference between 16 & 14 is somehow significant in safety? Yeah, got me.)
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