Hey guys,

Been lurking for a while, figure I'll start posting my stuff. I started working with leather when I got back into the game last April. I live in SLC, so there's a bigger Amt group here, but Bel has always been my preference.

I do take commissions. Please check out my website for more info.

http://www.burkesbulwarks.com/

The helm I just finished. Gotta credit Fork for inspiration.






I was going for a more worn appearance. It is hardened, 12oz leather. I started using the Eco-FLo silver paint on the edges, which came out almost white. Hence the wash to dirty it up.

Here's a set I did last fall. A little space marine inspired.







I even convinced Loptr to model... sucker.

Really good looking helm. I also like your paint on the breast plate - almost metallic looking. Thanks for sharing.

Loptr......are you wearing....cleats in that pic?

Loptr's got that cheeky "I better be getting a 30 pack for this" look on his face...

-Kraesh

Nice work, sexy model

-bort

Yes, very good work - they're both awesome.

Thanks guys. I'm going to try to put together a witchhunter kit this spring. Provided I can get through the commissions I have stacked up.

I'll be using this http://leder-joe.deviantart.com/gallery/11109854#/d249uzf as my inspiration.

Doooooo iiiiiiiiiiit.

I agree, smexy as hell, that is exactly what you need to work on for those high end orders were were talking about Burke. Next you'll be leveling monster so you can play witchhunter.....

A commission piece I just finished. Hardened bracers.

Hoooleee ****, man. That's really quite impressive. Makes me that much more determined to get going on learning leatherworking.

good work as always burke!

Baller tooling, but the bracers look pretty tubular. Does the guy they're for have really skinny forearms or really thick wrists?

Ah, the tubular look is a trick of the camera angle. I thought about taking more pics, but then got lazy.

Wow! I love your tooling. Amazing job Burke. I'll make sure to keep an eye on this thread.

Developing a pattern for the witch hunter gaiters. The next set will see more refinement.

Beautiful, are those leggings armor grade or just garb? Very nice stuff either way; thanks for sharing.

Look at them. Do they look like armor?

They're, what, 5 oz leather?

Lol, sadly, I think they'd count for one point in Amtgard. But no, definitely not armor. Just something to keep my pants out of the mud.

Arrakis, I neither wear nor work with leather for armor purposes so I'm unfamiliar with it up close; hence I asked.

Lose the 'tude.

Sorry, dude. I just see people go "Oh man laethre it must bee armur rite?" way too often.

For Reference: Armor grade **** is thick and doesn't fold or wrinkle.

That set you have Loptr modeling are those pauldrons attached to the torso.

Those are like the exact style pauldrons I have in mind for a kit I wanna put together in the next year or so

That's spectacular!

They're attached to the shoulder straps, though if you expect heavy use, I do a triangular piece of out of belt leather that is anchored to the chest and back plates, with the third corner riveted to the shoulder point right above the top of the scapula so it pivots with your arm when you swing.

And a little something for the flurbs out there...




A quick commision for goblin ears.

*sigh* Well, makes my work look like crap!

Ah, finally back in town and able to get some work done. Here's some work in progress shots of a new set I am doing for Dash.


Chest plate cut out


Back plate cut out



Beveled edges on both sides. After which I wet each piece and use a drill mounted edger to smooth the edges.


Then I trace out whatever image i'm tooling, and use a swivel blade to cut out the lines.


Tooling in process.


Tooling complete


Using an airbrush, I stained each diamond using a stencil, then masked the diamonds to do the red.


The finished back plate.

great work as always buddy!

wicked

Work like this is why I love to look through the Armory Forum

Great work!

The torso is finished.

VERY nice work! Love it!

Very nice, my only question is about the strapping. The green just seems a bit out of place. It was fine as an accent on the diamonds but the full straps seem a bit too powerful it really draws your eyes to it and away from all that sexy detail work you have done before.

The Strapping on the front also seems to lay a bit weird, it looks like it wont hug your sides but flair out a bit. I just see that as being a bit of an awkward feel for fighting, possible if the straps came through further to the back the piece would hold tighter to the edge

The torso is just so good looking everywhere else i just don't want it to sit strangely and that kill the overall appearance. You did a lot of great detail work and the dye-work is impressive, its really hard to get any reds to lay that even and that bright.

Legit

Thanks for the feedback guys!

*: Your comments re: the strapping are valid. I went with green to add interest as its tertiary color, and honestly, I like the effect. It is dark enough that I don't think it clashes overly much. That said, they are all too long, and do conceal the detail. The pictures below show my solution for the side straps. Once Dash has a chance to try it on, I will be trimming down the shoulders a bit as well.

Seriously , now you are just making the rest of us look bad. Along with the few other pros on this forum. God *

HOLY ****.



QFT. Ditto Big time.

This is a set I am doing for Wenlock.

The bazubands are finished but for a strap repair. White is not my ideal color to work with, but the end result comes out pretty striking.




And here are some wip pics of the torso...

Ugh. Gross, dude.

Normally I like everything from you...



But... I'm expecting a Nike swoosh on these, maybe some underarmor and a jersey tabard to go with them.



And too close to Cu Sith's symbol IMO...

Don't get me wrong, you have mad skill. I just don't like these pieces for other reasons.

Way to go, Teej, you made my post seem serious.

I think it's awesome. UA and a jersey tunic with those bazus? **** YEAH.

That is not too close to the Coo Shee's symbol. I don't think.

Fair enough. I personally wouldn't have chosen the white on black, but its a commission.



Wait till it's dyed. It's only similar in art style. Plus, it's a boar.

The irony: First time I saw the Cu Sith symbol I thought it was a boar. Can't win, lol.

I finished a few more pieces for the Chinese set of Dash's.

His * is now protected. If anybody sees him at Western Wars this weekend, take some pics of him wearing the armor. The jeans he has in these shots kill me.







The brass face is a place holder, until I finish the gut plate. I still have to finish his shoulders and helmet as well. I am looking forward to the helmet. It's gonna be badass.

Looks good, is the brass plate roughly what you're doing for the gut plate as well?

It is indeed. Where in florida do you fight, Teej? I'm moving down to Miami in July.

I live in Lake Mary, all of the state-wide battles are done at my local practice field because of our centralized location. We used to have 3 chapters and a university chapter forming; however it's just Jacksonville (N. Florida) and a DeBary (Central) Chapter now. I'm transfering from Jr. College to UCF in Fall so I plan to get the university chapter some momentum again. However, Dragon Coast (Plantation, FL - Dagorhir) will be closest to you, Sir Rufus started out driving up to us a couple weeks a month to get the basic idea of bel/dag foam combat; he then started the first Dag chapter in the state. Followed by three dag chapters that started on their own (Orlando, Melbourne, and Bradenton).

It's a tight-knit state. Any issues are minor.

Miami in July? Jesus, hope you like humidity and heat... lol. We only have two seasons here. Hot and warm.

My group:
http://www.gorewood.com

Florida Foam Fighters:
http://z8.invisionfree.com/FloridaFoamF ... 47&act=idx

Thanks for the info. My gf just got into med school there, and she starts in August. Hence the **** timing. I am also going to miss Chaos Wars because of the move. Oh well.

GOD * IT DASH, WHY DIDN'T YOU PUT YOUR GARB ON FOR THESE PHOTOS YOU LAZY *??

no seriously, that stuff looks amazing. Great work Burke, and it's a shame you won't make Chaos.

Is she in med school at Nova? My wife's best friend is there.

I plan to go to the following Chaos Wars, maybe you'll have company on the flight to the next one. I want to experience W. Belegarth.