Finished Female Armor

[Fitz Caliston]

I finally finished this set of armor for a company mate of mine and got pics back from the (amt) A&S tourney last week that I entered it in. Thought I'd post for thoughts:

[Dawken]

Very nice work man. Its almost night elvish.

[Dondarian]

The finished product is just amazing, Fitz. Great work!

[Soo Ma Tai]

Very nice work man.

[Fitz Caliston]

I was kinda going for that elvish look so thanks.

[Dawken]

Is the skirt a thinner leather with armor grade attached to it? If so did you just rivet it? And if it was riveted did you have to put a backing so the rivets don't tear the thin leather? Just curious about that. Thanks.

[Fitz Caliston]

yes, yes and no.

The Black backing is fairly heavy, the Hardened leather plates are not heavy enough individually to cause any stress that might pull them through or tare the leather backing.

I also made a point to make the plates in the back fold/telescope/accordian (whatever ya want to call it) when she has to take a knee so that they wouldn't pop any of the rivets.

[Caleidah]

Why must all of you people set the bar so high on armor. Dammit.

[Tobia Blackthorn]

Because armor should look great, just like this!

[Tiberius Claudius]

That's stellar Fitz!

The more I see of your work, the more I scrounge for loose change to throw into my PD shield account. I'll be looking you up after the new year.

[Fitz Caliston]

Thanks Tiberius, feel free to Friend me on FB and check out all my photo Albumns. I don't have all my work there (didn't have a phone that could take pics and upload them to the net easily until a few years ago) but there is a decent amount of info.

Also I generally like to throw up pics as I work on the project so folks can get a general idea of how I put it all together.

Don't get me wrong, I love comissioned jobs but I'm more about educating then really selling (unless I'm broke which happens alot). When I work on Comission I charge for materials and my time, and it's not just the time it takes me to make the item your paying for, it's all experience I've gained along the way. I'd hope that experienced artisans learn that lesson.

I do however teach for free to those seriously willing to further thier craft.

If I can save an aspiring crafter even a 4th of the waisted material and time I put into learning what I do know it's worth it. Or if I can in some small way inspire someone to jump onto the crafting path(s) then I'm glad to have shared.

I have a cross-country craft circle of buddies and pals that all share our work as we make it and we continually inspire each other to better each other. It's never ending.

Oh, on fB you can search for either Lance R Butler or Fitz Caliston and it'll find me, I'm the Lance in the Armor, go figure.

[Dawken]

Thanks for the info Fitz.

[calebmonkey]

**** looks * good man
also, it looks like her butt is smiling,so thats funny

[Bortas]

How did you achieve that color - is it a dye combination or paint?

-bort

[badgremlin]

Looks like the chest piece could be modified to be tear away.

[Derian]

... Jesus **** Christ.

On an on-topic note, well done, Fitz. Making a super rad single piece of armor is one thing, but a whole suit is an entirely different ball game.

[Fitz Caliston]

The Paint is a formula developed by a Few of Amtgard's crazy Crafters (Sir Blackthorn, Casca, and Sir Medryn).

It's supposed to hold up rather well, they've posted it to the Amtwiki so I'm not betraying any secrets by posting it here.

Take any Acrylic paint and get the shade you want by mixing pigment then mix at the following ratio:

2 parts acrylic paint of the color you want (you can use the cheep folk art stuff from walmart)
1 part Fabric Painting Medium (should be available in the same area as the folk art stuff)

mix them well then mix that mixture at 10 parts to 1 part Pledge Floor Finish "with FUTURE". (found near the mops at walmart)



I find in normally takes 3-5 coats to get thick enough, let dry for a few hours and then seal with the spray leather sheen.

[Tiercel]

Looks like the chest piece could be modified to be tear away.

I see no tactical advantage in that.

[Tor]

Looks like the chest piece could be modified to be tear away.

Don't you have some Arizonan butter-face to dry hump or something?

[badgremlin]

Looks like the chest piece could be modified to be tear away.

I see no tactical advantage in that.

Reminded me of an old SCA story.

And Dearest Tor, we all know I prefer your face.

[Osric/Mageta]

Awesome kit Fitz. Savetuba...stfu.

[Vrohi]

does it come in green?

[Fitz Caliston]

does it come in green?

I would have preferred it in Green....

[Isk]

Thanks for the formula, Fitz, and you did a really nice job. The design is visually striking, cohesive, practical and very well-executed. A great piece of workmanship. I agree about the color, though. In that bright shiny purple she looks like a Mattel action figure to me. How did it do at the A&S tourney?

[Fitz Caliston]

Best in Show at the kingdom Tourney.

[Isk]

Congratulations, man. You did a really nice job on it. How many hours do you estimate it took you?