Leather Armor Project for Mephisto of Andor

[Mephisto]

I been wanting to make me some armor for a while, kinda new to belegarth MCS. but this one was originally going to be a dragonscale vest, bracers, n stuff, but I decided to change things up a bit and add a breastplate with a dragon's face on it, n then ideas began flowing, especially when I looked at video games, n here's what I came up with.

and heres a couple of pics that influenced the armor



any ideas? let me know! also i am 16 havent had mah first job yet, so getting leather will be hard to come by

[Caleidah]

My first suggestion is the same one that you'll get from a lot of folks: Wait. Don't start wearing armor until you've been fighting a while longer so that you really know how to take hits.

Beyond that, it's just going to take a lot of time and effort to learn the tooling skills that you'll need to make that dragon look anything like a dragon, unless you intend to paint it. For the scales, I'll let someone with more experience handle the technical details.

[Thorondor]

Before going all in on armor, I would suggest fighting for at least a year without it. That will give your body time to get used to being hit, knowing what's a good vs a bad hit, etc. It will also help you develop skills that will keep you alive longer than your extra hit armor will. Armor is there for when those random shots DO get though your defenses, not for when you get hit because you don't know how to defend against your opponent.

BAH...beat me to it Caleidah!

[Mephisto]

ah, well by the time I get the money to buy all the materials, I will have much MUCH experience underneath mah belt. and as for the scales, the will be the last thing for me to make, and I am seeing if I can have Woodstock or someone else help me build this anything else to warn me about? I got it all worked out.
[Edit] by experience, i ment in fighting not leatherwork

[Black Cat]

I wouldn't worry about armor at this point. There are too many other things you're going to need to get first.

Well-made foam weaponry and developing the skill to use it effectively is a lot more important in our game than armor. Good garb is also recommended. Armor is for when you already have good weapons, good garb, and a decent amount of skill.

Not to mention, you'll need camping supplies, feast gear (not all feasts supply plates and utensils), some events require feast garb, etc.. That stuff costs money too.

[Thorondor]

Read up in the armory forum, there's a nice list of leather working tools/etc that have been put together in one location. Other than that, make the armor out of cardboard and paper brads first. They will simulate the leather and rivets well enough for you to get a feel for what it will be like once it's completed in leather.

[Mephisto]

to black cat: yes I know, this is just an idea I want to do somewere down the road...
To Thorondor: thanks, Winter already beat you too the mock armor advice
[Edit] also yes black cat I am currently working on good garb.

[Arrakis]

If you want any advice or assistance on garb, be sure to ask in the Medieval Arts, Sciences, and Garb forum. We're always happy to spread knowledge.


Re: Armor, don't just look at video games. A lot of video game armor works for exactly the same reason most of the stuff video games characters do works: Video Game Physics. It's what makes boobs jiggle in defiance of gravity, people fly back when you shoot them with pistols, and ridiculously huge swords actually kill people who are resisting. Remember that most video game armor was drawn by people who have never worn armor and don't understand why enormous pauldrons or a rigid stomach area or huge solid connected tassets are a bad idea (hint: it has to do with being unable to move). Tooling, decoration, and look should come from video games; form needs to come from real armor. Check out the Armor Archive and also do some searches for real armor (museum pieces, historical SCA kit pieces, etc.). That'll help you make armor that not only looks good while you stand there, but which also lets you fight near the top of your game, instead of constricting and restricting you.

[Burke]

Your design is solid, but a few notes.

1. You will need to cut out more room in the arm area so you can properly do cross body shots. Otherwise, you'll end up with some nice bruises.

2. For leather, remember you'll need vegetable tanned leather, which is the only kind that will accept tooling and hardening. Follow forkbeard's oven-hardening tutorial off these forums.

3. The dragon head is best done with a combination of tooling and wet sculpting. This actually fairly straightforward, so don't let it intimidate you.

4. For the scales, check out the scales on samurai armor. Fork has a great example in his Samurai summer thread.

Links for inspiration:

http://maddogmaxx.deviantart.com/gallery/25836894/
http://azmal.deviantart.com/gallery/511281#/d3020fg
http://azmal.deviantart.com/gallery/24822849#/d301xn0

There are some good examples there of using the tooling + wet shaping.
http://azmal.deviantart.com/gallery/511281?offset=24#/d1420xc
http://azmal.deviantart.com/gallery/283973#/d1444z8

These show a nice example of using the combo as a chest emblem.

Good luck!

[Mephisto]

haha thanks for all the advice guys, hmmm yeah good point Arrakis, but I only took a couple things from the game characters, such as Lann (Top, from Vindictus) all I borrowed from him is the leggings, and the guy from assassins creed (Enzo or something like so) all I took from him were his boots. and as winter and Thorondor Said, I'll test things out with Construction paper or cardboard before I get into leather.
and yes, this is a rough sketch, as the one on paper is much more accurate, (I dun have a scanner to scan it so I used photoshop to replicate the drawing as best as I can) I'll keep that tooling and wet sculpting in mind. also before I do make this armor, I will try to get scrap leather and make various trinkets and stuff so I have some experience before tackling this project. might even use some leather for garb. and yes I shall look and ask around for that. and of course I will try to get the full range of motion and as much flexibility as possible for the arms. I'll see about getting a camera for the Paper-art I done

[Sieglatan]

Man, there are at least three guys now in Andor who are borrowing extensively from this Ezio character. I still can't get over how the guy can just nonchalantly toss a dagger straight through a steel cuirass.

If you want to start on your armor with a simple project, do your bracers first- by far, the easiest, cheapest, and useful of beginning projects. Also, go here;

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source= ... ornia&z=15

Best place near Andor, by far. For 3$, you can get two shopping bags full of veg tan scrap to practice on.

[Mephisto]

Man, there are at least three guys now in Andor who are borrowing extensively from this Ezio character.

not extensively mahfriend, just his boots. and thank you for the link. although thats a bit far for a bike ride from Chula Vista. but at $3 it maybe worth it! and yes I was planning on makeing a couple sets of bracers. the first set being part of the garb, the second set being part of the armor. again thank you all for the advice! keep it comeing

[Caleidah]

mah

Why? Why not use the shorter and proper "my?"

That said, best of luck with your project. My best suggestion, if your state has a recycling program, is to start collecting and recycling every can/bottle you can find. Keep all of that money in a separate fund specifically for your armor. You'll be there in no time.

[randy]

Talk to a guy name Woodstock, he lives near San Diego, used to go to Andor. He makes some pretty * good stuff, and im sure you guys can work something out.

[Mephisto]

mah

Why? Why not use the shorter and proper "my?"
sorry, I used to Roleplay on a different site, its just something I picked up while doing so.

mah

That said, best of luck with your project. My best suggestion, if your state has a recycling program, is to start collecting and recycling every can/bottle you can find. Keep all of that money in a separate fund specifically for your armor. You'll be there in no time.

hahaha mah sister beat me to that a long time ago

[Woodstock]

I'll help ya do it no sweat.

[Mephisto]

I'll help ya do it no sweat.

thanks