Fantasy Armor

[Peter Ellis]

Peter,

Could you give some insight on the better way of hardening leather armor? Please

Sorry, I didn't see this question until tonight.

I follow the controlled bake method for hardening leather. It involves soaking the piece, wet forming it, and baking at about 180 degrees until it starts to dry. It can be done with or without using glue, and you can use hide glue, as is believed they did in the 1300's, or you can use a modern glue (susch as Titebond III which I use due to its waterproof character when it has cured). If you use a modern glue like Titebond, I've found mixing it one part glue to ten parts water works well.

The pieces can be nailed to wooden lasts to hold their shape while baking, or you can pay close attention and adjust the shape from time to time as the piece bakes.

This approach results in leather that is quite hard, a bit springy, without being badly brittle and without much shrinkage.

[MatthewD]

Thanks.. I will more than likely attempt to do that when I try to make my son some lorica segmenta armor

[mulefool]

This is really cool stuff. Last weekend we went to a Horse Fair and there was something called the "Warhorse challenge" with the riders wearing leather armor, although I don't think it was the same caliber as your work. Are there career opportunities with the movie industry? It looks like various pieces need to be shaped to the person. Do you make up molds for that? I guess I'm mostly looking at the bra part of the ladies outfit. It looks like a perfect fit, so it just got me thinking.

[Prince]

Not sure about the movie industry... Would I like to? I'd love to... but how often does a movie like Lord of the Rings come out or any other top end movies that need armor? If I went into movies, I'd mostly be making various props and such, but even still I think I might like to try it some day.

As for molds, it's not uncommon for a commission to demand a mold for a perfect fit. In most cases though the aim is to make an adjustable universal fit item.

[pepin1948]

Movies like LOTR ought to come out more often! (I wish!!!) I'm a nut for that genre, and was VERY disappointed to see that the Dragonlance movies are coming out as animation. There are lots of good movies in the fantasy genre (Narnia, LOTR, Dragonheart) and some with a more sci fi "tinge" (Reign of Fire) that show special effects and costuming can be combined with good acting to bring out an enjoyable movie experience for fans.

[MatthewD]

Well on the up note at the Dragonlance movie... we did have to suffer through a 2 animated versions of LOTR before we got the live action, so it is possible. Also, I have seen some of the still from the movie and it does look that bad..

[Prince]

Eragon had some nifty armor and weapons too. Its not a lost cause by any means. But my top priority is a game I want to develop and I've got to go to college before that too so movie work for me would be some time off in the future.

[pepin1948]

About the only good thing I could say about the Eragon movie was the costuming

[Prince]

hmm I dont see why people hate it... maybe it doesn't match the book? I loved it, never read the book though...