AndiTheBarvarian
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"Lord of the Memes"
Bavarianbarbarian - Semper Semprini
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Post by AndiTheBarvarian on Jul 1, 2023 11:15:50 GMT
Just a little bit of escapism fun! SHTF scenario, you need some armor to protect yourself against zombie bites, post apocalyptic swordsmen, dog packs, mutated hornets in bird size or whatever. Unfortunately you just sold all your gambesons, mail and plate pieces, repro helmets etc here in the classifieds. What armor can be made of the stuff in your wardrobe and whole home? Bicycle helmet with a turban. A twisted scarf (Roman focale) for the neck Multiple layers fabric armor. Living in South Germany I of course have a a coat made of felt, something like a duffel coat. And a viking tunica of the same or similar fabric. That stuff looks promising and reaches to the knees too. Puttees for the shanks. I sometimes think about a scale armor made of Tupperware etc. plastic lids and ducktape. Lorica Tuppermata!  Any other ideas? |
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Post by eastman on Jul 1, 2023 20:22:21 GMT
that sounds a lot like the blue plastic juice barrel armor common in the SCA back in the mid-late 80s. Still have my suit of Lorica Tupperwarata downstairs.
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AndiTheBarvarian
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"Lord of the Memes"
Bavarianbarbarian - Semper Semprini
Posts: 10,345
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Post by AndiTheBarvarian on Jul 1, 2023 20:47:39 GMT
Those plastic lids are hard to cut or penetrate and relative lightweight.
Overlapping scales of this stuff might be a really good armor.
I'm thinking of something like a lorica squamata, segmentata or a Birka scale armor.
Dunno really what SCAers used in those days.
Multilayer fabric from wardrobe clothes will be more or less cotton and polyester.
To immitate a gambeson you need thick dense layers outside and inside and stuff between.
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AJGBlack
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"This world will stress you like Orson Wells on the radio." -RTJ
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Post by AJGBlack on Jul 1, 2023 22:16:13 GMT
Where I'm from the SCA folk (or "SKAdians" if you will) called it pickle barrel armor. Made from the 55gal plastic pickling barrels. Bring blue. You could tell armor made from it even when it was disguised as something else because either the paint would flake off or the leather covering would mold to the plastic under and take on it's texture.  |
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Post by eastman on Jul 2, 2023 0:54:51 GMT
The juice barrels were similar material with a different head style. In the Northeast, those were commonly used for pear juice. Extremely tough plastic. I seem to remember there was a trick requiring a propane torch to roast the surface so paint could stick, but that was 30-something years ago.
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Post by pellius on Jul 2, 2023 21:33:17 GMT
Tupperwear.
Lol
It’s super hot most of the time here in Florida. Even denim jeans and work boots can be oppressive when there’s no AC.
Rather that continually wearing armor, I might just go for an improvised shield instead.
Maybe I’d wear cut resistant gloves from the kitchen, too, just to feel safer.
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Post by larason2 on Jul 2, 2023 23:01:53 GMT
It's an interesting thought. What do you do when it's hot outside and you're wearing armor? I bought some steel Lorica segmentata from MRL on their fire sale, and the first time wearing them I couldn't stop sweating! I should have brought a towel. They were comfortable, but it was a hot and humid day, and steel doesn't breathe! You'd have the same problem with plastic, I suppose!
My first step would be making a wooden shield and a bo/bokken out of scrap. Basically whatever hardwood I have on hand, all held together with epoxy! We have a plastic rainbarrel that would serve as plates for some DIY armour, but there's also a fair bit of scrap wood I could use. Don't forget welding equipment, winter clothes, cutting down the backyard or local trees and using the materials from those. That's why you always have to keep an axe and saws around. I'd also add fortifications to the house, particularly boarding up the ground level windows and reinforcing the ground level doors. I'd burn the outside of the wood so it's fire resistant. Furniture can be disassembled and used to make arms and armor, as can non-essential parts of the house. I'm also not above reforging home implements like yard tools, steel tubes or scrap metal into weapons. Not everyone would have a forge they could use though! Most people can make a shank though from the right piece of scrap metal and a file. If you have a propane burner and can start a fire you can heat treat it and temper it.
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