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Post by Deleted on May 20, 2010 19:55:16 GMT
I kind of wish now I had spent more of my money on making, like, a Crusades-era kit rather than on random swords, though I did. : ) Does anyone have any ideas of how I could make or buy a "soldier kit" anytime from the high middle-ages? I'm not that concerned with historical accuracy, especially since not many people will likely see it, though I'd want it to be generally represantive of something. I was thinking either a Norman or a Crusader. If I did the later, I'd probably get Windlass' Classic Medieval for the sword, though all I have now is a Chainmail coif. Perhaps I could try making my own mail... Any ideas on some acessories besides armor/weapons? Thanks for any help.
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Post by Deleted on May 20, 2010 20:21:47 GMT
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Post by Deleted on May 20, 2010 20:30:54 GMT
For a pretty low cost kit, I'd suggest the following. Make a shield, as per Ye-Olde-gaffer's instructions or get a 40 GDFB buckler Get a simple gambeson or something like that. or even better, make one! Add some basic trousers, like the kind found on KoA, and a pair of boots from SCA boots. Instead of the Classic medieval, get a warhammer and a basic dagger. The whole kit would cost about 200 for clothing, 240 for clothing and buckler, and then an additional 140 for weaponry. Relatively cheap, and it'll all last for many a season. On the other hand, if you like the hospitalers, get the Monks robe from KoA www.kultofathena.com/product.asp?item=100298&name=Monk%27s+RobeSow a white cross on the front. Presto! You've got a hospitaler, especially with the classic medieval and a mail coif. It'd look good.
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Post by Deleted on May 22, 2010 5:37:08 GMT
Depending on time period, of course. Red surcoats after the 1160's (or so, it's been a while so that might be as far off as a decade in either direction), and I think I remember reading somewhere that they actually did wear the black surcoats for a couple of years. Anyway, I made a decent costume for halloween by making the stereotypical Hospitaller coat and surcoat out of felt. It wouldn't hold up to anything other than costume wear, sure, but it was really cheap and the felt looked convincingly like wool from arm's length.
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Post by Deleted on May 22, 2010 7:47:41 GMT
It will help you a lot once you know what you want. I started with the vague idea that I wanted a soft kit, then my wife and I decided to go to a Renaissance festival and I created personas for us and we're gradually piecing together the kits for them. If you can figure out who/what you want to be you can start putting it together. You might decide you want something a little bit more elaborate that you originally planned on, so it takes you a little longer to put it all together. I'm still putting ours together, but that's what (seems) to work for us. Along with the links already posted, armstreet.com/home.htmlwww.medievalcollectibles.com/www.theinnerbailey.com/main.htmwww.ravenswoodleather.net/index.htmlSome of this is probably more expensive than you're interested in for right now, but you never know.
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Post by Deleted on May 22, 2010 8:51:47 GMT
Its funny but I've so been interested in the whole 11th - 13th Century Man at Arms thing. Gamebeson, Rimmed Helm, Jack Chains, Warhammer/Mace, Dagger, Spear, after that a longbow maybe replica crossbow. Best thing about kits is you can add to them, somethings I think not much point "playing knight" seen as though I'm likely never to own a horse, so going man at arms kinda motif seems logical. Plus change the clothes a little, round shield, spagenhelm and a viking kit is not far off. mmmmmmmmmm I want a godendag ......... you want to know the worst irony in me going for that kit. Only the armour I would be allowed to import into Australia. The dagger, mace, warhammer, crossbow all illegal to import without permits. The crossbow I need a gun license for but nothing for longbow at least. Flails are illegal to own in Australia PERIOD never mind permits. But warswords capable of shearing a limb clean off .......... could import FIVE tommorow
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Post by Deleted on May 24, 2010 13:23:38 GMT
The way I've done my kits is pick them up a bit at a time. That way I can spend a little more if I want to.
Or you can go really cheap and do the Scottish great kilt. You just need 5 yards of 60 inch wide tartan, a belt and a pin. You can easily get that for $50-$75. Just wait until the local fabric store is having a sale on winter fabrics and you should be able to pick up a wool tartan pattern pretty cheap. Depending on your height, you made be able to get away with less than 5 yards of fabric. I'm 6'3" and use 5-6 yards.
If you look in the let's see your kit thread there should be a picture of me in my cavalier kit and one of me in my Scottish kit.
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Post by Deleted on May 24, 2010 16:04:14 GMT
I'm not sure I'm going to do the kit anymore, I started making my own butted chainmail, though I just realized a haubrek has 20,000 to 30,000 rings in it. That'd take me like a year to make! And after I buy all the wire, I dobt it'd be any cheaper. Maybe I could make a stripped-down stab vest out of it or something, though. Anyways, thanks for all your posts.
Though I still might get GDFBs Pig faced helmet a KOA, just because. Maybe I could make an Aventail for it...
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Post by Deleted on May 25, 2010 6:42:20 GMT
Chainmail is like horse, were expensive back then and just as expensive today he he. Thats mostly due to their natures, horses are labours of breeders and chainmail is a long, extensive process to do these days even by a chinese or indian labourer and it still costs a bit from them. Its something you should save for, if you want it legit get riveted, butted will just fall apart its not the best, I know some historical pieces had butted links but they like today were probably cheapo knock offs of the time. BUT a chainmail hauberk can go with anything, from viking to late middle ages. You just add other forms of armour to it.
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Post by Deleted on May 25, 2010 14:38:35 GMT
Yeah, thet's why I started, just becasue it's versatile, and I can change it as I make up my mind. Though I have seen butted chainmail shirts from GDFB at KOA for around $100, they must be paying those workers in India/China next to nothing by American currency.
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Post by Deleted on May 25, 2010 21:05:52 GMT
I believe there are machines now that can make butted chain.
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Post by Deleted on May 26, 2010 3:06:27 GMT
I thought there might be, the rings seem to consistently butted for anyone but someone who takes their job very seriously. What I can make looks nearly identical to the market-maille from a short distance, though many of the joins are slightly sloppy.
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Post by Deleted on May 26, 2010 3:28:34 GMT
And someone who took making chainmail seriously would be either riveting or welding it.
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Post by Deleted on May 26, 2010 6:13:11 GMT
Actually getting a nice rivetted maille coif for beginners would be good if your kinda going medieval period. It does really look the business with a padded gambeson or jack, drape your surcoat over that you will look the business even if you had not much more then a buckler and weapon . But its good to plan out what sorta outfit you want and build it up bit by bit (sorta) in the aquisition chronology that a person of the time would of. In other words a padded arming cap before coif NATURALLY because it would of been aquired first but will be needed to make wearing the coif comfortable. And jack or gambeson before a hauberk. Alota vikings never had maille and alot of medieval men at arms just ever wore a padded jacket, put some piecemail armour bits as you go along, who knows one day you might be able to show us your full plate suit (or near too man at arms equivilant). HA HA just keep it to one culture its hard to mix knight bits with samurai bits
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Post by Deleted on May 30, 2010 4:13:46 GMT
Coats of plates are easy to make and require few tools.
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Post by Deleted on May 30, 2010 11:11:09 GMT
And coats of plates are also appropriate for many eras and countries. Speaking of which, I need to email those armour guys about my Chinese coat of plates...
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Post by Deleted on Jun 13, 2010 3:12:28 GMT
A Wisby styled coat of plates is inexpensive, not very time consuming, and can look absolutely amazing with little work. You can also find patterns for it everywhere. A half-hide of leather will cost you between 50 and 100 bucks, and can make about two Wisby CoPs. From there, you just need to get the plates. A little research will tell you how many, what size and shape, and where to lay them. All you have to do is decide what to make them from, and shape them to fit you. Plastic is cheap (a barrel will cost between 5 and 20 bucks) but I recommend steel. It feels nice. You can also do it cheaper by using canvas or upholstery. Cover plastic plates with velvet or valour. Period pieces have been found covered in red velvet, so it's well within the scope of reason.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 18, 2010 4:30:19 GMT
When I first read your post, Xerxes, this is what I thought of: you could even paint it, would be quite nice. KOA doesn't have those with tie-closures, but ask them, they should be able to get them at a good price...I prefer them to the leather and buckles closures with an ash pole, of course... Add a shield and a few items, shoes, braies, mail coiffe, etc., and perhaps your sword and sword-belt, dagger, and you have a nice -not too expensive- foot soldier kit for your period... Inspirations for kits: forums.armourarchive.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=110013&highlight=show+kit, forums.armourarchive.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=101145&highlight=harness+kits, www.myarmoury.com/talk/viewtopic.php?t=13319Patterns for COP here: www.armourarchive.org/patterns/Hope this helps a bit and looking forward seeing pics of your kit! Cheers, Reflingar p.s.: historically accurate doesn't have to that much more expensive than "fantasy". Also, if you get a houndskull bascinet from GDFB, I would recommend getting the more expensive one...it's not much more than the cheapest one, and I think it's worth it to pay the difference...
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Post by Deleted on Jun 26, 2010 4:15:05 GMT
Oh wow, this is old. Right now I'm trying to assemble my own Coat of plates, I hope it goes well, as it'd be my first non-maille armour project. I want to eventually have some stuff that could resemble a late 14th century man-at-arms.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 26, 2010 15:19:58 GMT
Hey man, take it from someone who started a kit 5 years ago and is still assembling somewhat. The beast has changed; initially I wanted to do a Crusader kit, you know, surcoat, hauberk, chausses, conical helm, sword and shield. Took me 2 years to get up the funds and gather all that stuff together. It was only then that I realized, footwear, undergarments, PANTS!, the first chainmail shirt I had, two sessions and I was losing rings under the arms. Never got around to the chausses....figured the surcoat was long enough so I just sewed the links I'd cut off the arms to the legs to make it look like I was wearing partials (I'd clipped about 6 inches off each arm and kept the links intact).
Well...then I started reading the Grail Quest by Cornwell last year and I had a hankering for a 14th C getup. What do you need, right? Haubergeon, plate arms, legs, tall boots, maybe gauntlets? Gorget? Espaliers? Certainly a jupon with the coat of arms blazoned on the front, different helm? Sword of the type XVIII variant, no shield needed because of the plate...what else. I'm still gathering man...its a fun hobby that is as time consuming as you want it to be unless you're like me and every new addition just makes you want it done all the more. I suppose I could've gone with the padded jack, jack chains, kettle helm and a mace and been ok but I wanted more. Always more...
Good luck man....
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