Show Off Your Work!

[FrenchBreadPrime]

  On 6/16/2023 at 1:52 PM, chris covington said:

I think it is important to have artists draw people in armor, including manga style. Many old armors are in museums, locked away. It can be hard to imagine how they might have fit when they were worn originally! 

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Yeah, you are right, there is also a lack of well detailed armors in media and art in general, or rather people tend to go with more fantasy-esque looks, which has always iffed me. I like fantasy stuff but usually real armors manage to look better than fantasy ones.

Same goes for all kind of armors, too. 

[Arthur G]

  On 6/15/2023 at 7:25 AM, Bugyotsuji said:

And some ‘finished’ shots. (Yes it hangs balanced.)

 

I reckon this was a kenjō gun for the lord, and he would have wanted something unusual, both traditional, and flashy.

 

 

Also, using my own Tachi fitting

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This reminds me so much of the old Heian warabite-tou.

That looks like it was a really fun project to do, but a lot of complicated problem solving! I can relate to the whole thought process involved with. Takes a lot of research....

I really want to see more of this mindset in the matchlock community.

Say Piers, would you and other members of the Okayama Teppoutai be interested in attending the matchlock symposium in late September? I won't be able to attend myself, but two of my guys will be going over to represent my group at it. We're trying to get people together from as many parts of the matchlock community as possible.

[Bugyotsuji]

Sounds good, but sadly I won't be able to make that, Arthur. (Nuts. Should have answered your PM.) I'll pass the word around.

[FrenchBreadPrime]

Found the time to color and shade everything. I feel like I butchered some parts but it was fun nonetheless. Despite working in absurd resolution it's hard to try and put details in the odoshi. I rarely draw characters wearing yoroi due to a lack of free time but when I do I always have fun.

[Arthur G]

Making some more headway on this guy

 

[chris covington]

  On 6/20/2023 at 12:24 AM, Arthur G said:

Making some more headway on this guy

 

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That top plate, how do you get that dishing in both directions so evenly?!? That is such a pain on my zunari. 

[Arthur G]

  On 6/20/2023 at 12:33 AM, chris covington said:

That top plate, how do you get that dishing in both directions so evenly?!? That is such a pain on my zunari. 

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To quote sensei, hit it until it fits! 

[ROKUJURO]

  On 6/20/2023 at 12:33 AM, chris covington said:

That top plate, how do you get that dishing in both directions so evenly?!? That is such a pain on my zunari. 

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Hi Chris,

I think this is not too difficult if you have the right sheet metal (preferably deep-drawing steel from car bodies), good wooden molds to beat it down into, and wooden hammers in the necessary dimensions. I am not a KACHU maker, but I have watched European craftsmen shaping armour parts even with a (hard) rubber hammer! Cold!

As with most crafts, experience and patience are main factors.

[chris covington]

  On 6/21/2023 at 7:34 PM, ROKUJURO said:

Hi Chris,

I think this is not too difficult if you have the right sheet metal (preferably deep-drawing steel from car bodies), good wooden molds to beat it down into, and wooden hammers in the necessary dimensions. I am not a KACHU maker, but I have watched European craftsmen shaping armour parts even with a (hard) rubber hammer! Cold!

As with most crafts, experience and patience are main factors.

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It always looks easy on the videos. With hammer in hand it is much more challenging. My metal snakes every which way. Arthur does masterful work. I’m just a hobbyist. I haven’t mastered the trapezium of katchu. I’ll get there eventually! 😁

[Arthur G]

  On 6/21/2023 at 8:20 PM, chris covington said:

It always looks easy on the videos. With hammer in hand it is much more challenging. My metal snakes every which way. Arthur does masterful work. I’m just a hobbyist. I haven’t mastered the trapezium of katchu. I’ll get there eventually! 😁

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It snakes every which way with me too. That's part of how it goes. You just gotta listen to what the steel is telling you and hit it in the right spots 'til it fits. And the only way to get anywhere with it is just by doing it like you are.

I'm only a couple years into this and I'm already starting to build up some intuition with it I think. It just becomes second nature.

[ROKUJURO]

  On 6/21/2023 at 8:20 PM, chris covington said:

It always looks easy on the videos.....

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I did not speak about videos, I have watched people in France working on armour, and I talked to them. As I said above, experience and patience are main factors. And I can underline what Arthur wrote: You just gotta listen to what the steel is telling you.....

A while ago, I made a video (YouTube) in my forge, titled: "Was der Stahl will" (What the steel wants). 
 

[dimitri]

I don't know if we can put my stand here but I made my first stand out of a piece of furniture to start with, I'm going next winter to try to make one out of raw wood for fun.

[chris covington]

  On 6/21/2023 at 11:14 PM, ROKUJURO said:

I did not speak about videos, I have watched people in France working on armour, and I talked to them. As I said above, experience and patience are main factors. And I can underline what Arthur wrote: You just gotta listen to what the steel is telling you.....

A while ago, I made a video (YouTube) in my forge, titled: "Was der Stahl will" (What the steel wants). 
 

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Yes, but I watch them on video  

[dimitri]

Thank you very much @ROKUJURO

[ROKUJURO]

  On 6/22/2023 at 11:20 AM, chris covington said:

Yes, but I watch them on video  

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I understand! 

[chris covington]

  On 6/22/2023 at 7:42 AM, dimitri said:

I don't know if we can put my stand here but I made my first stand out of a piece of furniture to start with, I'm going next winter to try to make one out of raw wood for fun.

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That is really cool! Thank you for sharing!

[dimitri]

Thank you so much @chris covington 🙏🙏😁😉

[The Blacksmith]

  On 6/21/2023 at 7:34 PM, ROKUJURO said:

Hi Chris,

I think this is not too difficult if you have the right sheet metal (preferably deep-drawing steel from car bodies)

 

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Car body material is usually paper thin, maybe 24swg or about 0.5mm or similar. A far better material is dexion steel shelving. Easily formed and worked, and has a bit more meat to it. This material is an absolute delight to work in, though if the armour is perhaps to be fought in, then this is not advised, ordinary cold rolled steel is preferable if it is for fighting in.