Armoring

This is from Darkwood Armory's shop, last week.

Boring pic, but I'm excited! Caleb is coming up on Friday to crash with us prior to Holiday Faire, and he thinks he'll have the new helm with him.

Here it is, all glued up.

See a few entries back at New Rules = Refurb'ed Polearm for older details. The head is still not as heavy as I would like, but I don't want to increase the profile more. Of course it still needs tape, etc. Maybe some leather on the edge will give it the heft I want.

I think I'll name this one Lamentation.

Please tell me what you think. Or propose design changes. The shapes of the openings in the last one are approximate.

The amazing Caleb is making me a new flat top. Since the face will be water jet cut, almost anything is possible. I'm considering the possibly outré option of using my badge shape for the breaths. Two options below. Your opinions please?

The large badge would probably be on both sides. In either case, there will be breaths on both sides.

These are approximate, of course. The new helm will have more nose room, for example. And not be photoshopped, for another.

I completely ignored Skorri's copyright on these pics. I hope he doesn't sue.

This is the approximate shape, which may be hard to see in the 'shop jobs above.

Rapier marshals, please look at the pics at the link and comment if you think it is legal. There's a pic with the head tilted back.

To calm Isabel and hopefully not annoy Thjora, I thought I'd mention that my Pennsic prep has gone pretty smoothly. Last night I painted the gold onto the Best Shield in the World, and also finished covering the cute little heavy T6 shield blank Alan gave me. (Don't be too shocked: First, it is the heaviest piece of T6 I've ever seen, and second, it is probably just going to be a loaner.) Philip was over this weekend and used his amazing helicopter repair skills to properly re-fiberglas the Best Shield. Here's a pic of it after repair and before recovering.

This shield is two years old. I'd thought it was three. But in any case, it has proven to be remarkably durable. Yes, I wish its shape was slightly different, and I wish it was slightly smaller. Those are my errors, not Reynard's! He does amazing work, and I hope I'll always be fighting with one of his shields. Rigid shields have spoiled me. When I had to use my old aluminum one this past spring, I hated it. So wobbly when it gets hit.

Tonight, hopefully Lewis is coming over to help with reapplication of the crows, and I'll get the green chief painted.

Perhaps we'll debate what to paint on the new little T6er too. Otherwise, things remaining undone that must be done before we leave:

1. Tie new loops for the tent. No biggie.
2. Paint war standard poles. An hour or so.
3. Old Camail attached to Phrygian Helm. Could wait 'til the war.
4. Reattach camail to demi-helm. Ditto.
5. Print out SCA biz cards for Thjora and me. Done shortly. Yay for a slack job.
6. Shopping, because Thjora has enough to do.
7. Put some plants in the ground.
8. Air in the cart tires.
9. Pack

It Will Be Done.

Where can I get this in a nice 13th century coif, instead of a hipster skateboard hat?

Technorati Tags: Armor & Weapons

Apple - Trailers - Iron Man

But this looks almost unimaginably terrible:

Apple - Trailers - Beowulf

Technorati Tags: Armor & Weapons

I remember the old days, when I had big projects to accomplish before the war each year. This year, all I have is:

1. Staining the war polearm
2. New Gaiter Lace
3. Clean Gaiters
4. Maybe shoe covers
5. Add Fibia Plates to new knees
6. Replace 7 aluminum chicago screws with copper rivets in the new knees
7. Replace broken vambrace strap
8. Flare new vambrace cuffs
9. Find & purchase new elbow pads
10. Swap camail cord
11. Polish Helm
12. Check/replace chin straps
13. Check/refurbish helm crest
14. Check/refurbish gauntlets
15. Add strap & buckle to shield elbow
16. White belt refurbishment x2

And those are for me. I also have promised to finish Thjora's portmanteau, which needs lots of stitching, and to finish painting her achievement on her buckler. See, no big projects.

We need a weapon rack, if anyone else in camp would like to provide one.

Technorati Tags: Armor & Weapons, Pennsic, SCA

Wired has a very interesting article on the research underway to understand how atheletes view their game. Definitely worth a read.

The perhaps surprising thing they reveal is that this is teachable.

Makes me wonder if we can fit the funky goggles onto our helmets.