My First Set Of Armor

[thecruffler]

My first try at armor for the Ren Faire.

Have a set of black chainmail that looks incredible as a base layer beneath it.

Edited April 24, 2015 by thecruffler

[Grey Drakkon]

The jeans are what makes it.

Kidding of course. That armor if freaking awesome, and I'm sickened that it's your first set and looks that good. I may as well just light my stuff on fire after seeing that.

[OdinUK]

Thats fantastic. How long did it take to make? Did you make the patterns for it?

[thecruffler]

Thanks!

I started working on leather belts and pouches for Ren faire last summer.. one think led to another...and the armor was built over a period of about 6 months. One bit at a time.

Everything was cut from patterns made out of posterboard. The heavy pieces are saddle skirting.

It's actually a lot easier then it looks. the challenge is getting the shapes worked out.

Two secrets are important.

1. The duct tape dummy. Couldn't have done it without that. you just tape sheets of paper together all over it and draw the shape then cut it up. then use that to make the posterboard pattern

2. Fiber carpet padding. the grey flexible stuff. cheap. bends like leather. cut your shapes after tracing the posterboard pattern on it with permanent marker

Once you work out all the functional curves with the caprpet padding you can remake the corrected posterboard or just trace the padding onto the leather with a leather marking pen

easy.

[thecruffler]

The easy part is the punching of the pattern. I have found the trick is to not overthink it. My best work is often the result of corrected mistakes.

The central decoration on the gorget was me having to cut a v out of the middle so it didnt bulge. and then cover the cut.

the stain work is simple too. antique stain. tan for the basket weave first. cover that with satin sheen as a resist. dark brown antique on the edges and non weave sections.

its the only two colors i have found that contrast together so well.

buckles are from the buckleguy as well as the rivets. conchos are from conchos.com

Tools are just a few Tandy items

Craft tool ez adjust stitching groover ( a must have for defining the pattern area)

basket weave stamp

a edge bevel stamp of some kind to transition the edge to the weave pattern. and rectangular stamp would do.

the really cool thing is the rotary embosser from bunkhouse tools that you pattern the straps with.

Edited April 24, 2015 by thecruffler

[Bob Blea]

Really awesome! One of these days I want to try making something like this.

[Jon P]

Awesome work!!