thegirlsclub

[Cunian]

I'm hoping that we can create a gallery showing our various armours to give new fighters an idea of the range of armour women use and to give each other ideas for an upgrade or just a new look.

So - to that end - post a picture. Note makers if you know them. Critique for comfort, protectiveness, durability, etc. If your armour is based on a particular time/place or just a general era, let us know. It's fine if it is just good old SCA armour too. Discuss materials choices - just about anything you want to tell us about your armour.

[Cunian]

My helm is from White Mountain. The elbows were purchased long ago, and I don't remember from whom. The aluminum cup hilt is from Red Falcon - has an added reinforcing strip that replaced a broken tab.

I'm trying for a vaguely - quite vaguely - 11th to 12th century eastern post-viking look. The body armor is lamellar made from "laquered" -(with black plastic varathane paint), - rawhide. Rawhide is a pain to work with but for the level of rigidity is very light, and I was trying to get away from plastic. The arms are leather with lamed cops - not at all appropriate to my vague look, but practical. They are pointed to the dagged undergarment, which provides a bit of the byzantine icon look and has some foam shoulder protection. The scale skirt thing provides some butt and hip protection, but is mostly decorative. The leg armor is hidden, and consists of leather/plastic cuisses, simple fanless cops and soccer shinguards.

This is easy to put on and easily maintained and very lightweight as armour goes. For me, it is protective enough, but it's not at the top of the heap for that.

[audax]

http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii246/audax_photos/me6.jpg

Helm by Matt Maus
Scale hauberk by Torvaldr
Bazubands by Torvaldr
Demi gaunt by Torvaldr
Gorget by James River Armoury
Knee cops by Stonekeep
Schynbalds by me
Kite sheild by my squire brother Marion
plastic cuphilt from Baldar

My armour is mobile, functional and protective. I portray an Italo-Norman crusader from about 1103 and most of the armour is well documented for my period.

I chose hardened leather for light weight, durability and protection. I am quite pleased with it.
_________________
Martel le Hardi
squire to Meser Lyonel Oliver Grace, fostered to Sir Gaston de Clermont
-------------------------------------------------------

The Minstrel's Champion

[Maria-Therese]

Hi All,

My kit, if I can figure out how to post it, varies. For the most part its as follows:

Helm-Master Cad
Aventail-India
Gorget-Me/friends
Chest Plate-Egg Armory
Gambison, Padded Heraldic Legs and Tunic/Dress- Me
Bauz bands-Uilleg of House of the Wolf
Demi Gauntlet-Me
Pauldrones-Boklow
Jill-ITECH
Legs-Me and mysterious Pennsic merchant
Shield-Windrose
Basket hilt-Baulder



Overall I wear more leather and plastic than steel. However, the places I insist on steel are the head, elbows and knees. Everything else is a mish-mash of mediums.

[freiman the minstrel]

Here's me. I'm pretty.

Helmet, Knotwolf, a gift from my sweetie
Mail, Highland Arms (Von Seussen) also, a gift from The Emerald Lady
Arms, Icefalcon "Bazus"
Legs, concealable wingless from Nightshade Leather (the dog footprint people)
Sheild, Me, painted by Robyn of Rye Boss from Medieval Square (Redheugh.com)
Gorget by me
Half Gautlet from a guy named Raven in Tupelo. Very good armorer, mostly inactive now.
Tunic, based on a panel from the Durham Cassiodorus, by The Emerald Lady
Pants by the Emerald Lady
Winingas by Countess Ezabella, in herringbone wool
Shoes by Master Aethstan of Wortham, a gift.
White socks (I forgot to pack my socks) by fruit of the loom
Basket hilt by brennus
batting gloves and cup by Rawling








The rig really needs some improvement. If economic conditions improve, I want to replace all the buckles. The Bazu's are supposed to be concealed, but I haven't been able to do that without restricting arm movement, and these pics were taken at crown.

I also need to make an accurate pouch to hold my stuff.

f
_________________
Surf less, fight more

[Amaris]

[url][/url]
This is my pretty Tournament kit. I wore this at Lysts at Castleton last year. The Tournament required a crest, too.
Crest is a sewn leather skull cap that mounts to the helmet with duct-tape. Mounted to the leather is a wooden crescent with a cross mounted rampant bunny holding a mace (not visible from this view). The turban adds to the kit. Yeah, there is little more to the crest, but this is the meat and potatoes of it.

The helm is the Persian one by Ironmonger, but I customized the face grill and asked the nasel to be removed.

I'm wearing House of the Wolf body harness with shoulders by Red Falcon attached underneath the tunic. I'm also, now, wearing leather with plastic reinforcement tassets for hip protection.

I wear a tiny gorget made by Red Falcon. It was made for me in person with a little "I can't believe something this small is going to fit."

I have House of the Wolf Bazubands that peak out from under the Tunic.

I'm wearing Alchemy Armoury Legs under the poofy pants.

I made spats from leather. They are tied to the bottom shoe lace of my boots through a hole in the spats at mid foot. They are also buckled on the outside of the ankle. I wear black cotton socks, so if there is a gap between the top of my boot and pants, its not noticeable.

The tunic ends at the top of my knees to let people know where they are. And I have a blue strip of cloth sewn onto my poofy pants to assist in letting people know where my knees are.
The tunic has small Tiraz bands with green trim and at the bottom yellow cloth with red appliqued crescents.

I'm wearing leather with metal reenforced half gauntlets.

My shield is an Aluminum Round from Mandrake, but they are now sold by Windrose. It is decorated with maroon canvas and decorative geometric designs (look cool from a distance). It is edged with real Firehose. I was given a section from a torn one. Firehose is made from tough rubber with cloth fused to it. (The cloth can be dyed.)

I think I got everything,...

Amaris

[Jesmond]

http://img167.imageshack.us/my.php?image=jesmondgw20071yw4.jpg

http://ursus.smugmug.com/photos/526636642_nY9E4-L.jpg

http://ursus.smugmug.com/photos/526643641_zpnis-L.jpg

My helmet is a mild Anshelm bascinet. I have added a blackened rivited camail from Von Sussen with Windrose Armoury verveilles.

My corrazina is made of blue plastic barrel covered in black leather. My arm armour is made of kydex covered in black leather. The elbows are stainless steel cops from an unknown maker. The legs are likewise blue plastic barrel covered in black leather. I made the plastic armour when I was 17. It's still going strong 15 years later. No cracks. The stainless knees are from Infinity Steel. My simple greaves are heavy leather that I soaked in water and cooked in the oven. The shoes are from Historic Enterprises.

My demi-gauntlets (not pictured yet) are custom made by Sasuke/Oak's Armoury. My stainless full gauntlets are made by Blue Monkey Armour.

[freiman the minstrel]

[Aelfgifu]

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2126/2412757788_791cb8fe25.jpg?v=0
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2216/2346206474_f84d3cc229.jpg?v=0

Helm: made by a friend of mine, Ula. and it was to small for her, so she gave it to someone else who didn't really use it, then it ended up with me.

Body armor: I think made by Teckla - is a leather coat of plates with leather plates. I had to cut out some of the chest plate for better arm movement, but it has been awesome to use.

Legs arms, pauldrons: made by Guy of Normandy in An Tir. Generally nice work, with some kinks I had to iron out. I ended up attaching the elbow cups directly to my elbow pads so they wouldn't slide down, and redoing the attachment of vambraces. The vambraces are water hardened leather and have been pretty nie, but the area with the rivets at the top cracked out and I had to reinforce it with some additional soft leather. I am currently re-doing the tops of the legs since they were partially hardened and started cracking like crazy. I am replacing them with thicker un-hardened leather. I also wear McDavid Thudd Shorts under the legs for padding. My current opinion about the water hardened leather is that it is nice and light, but not terribly durable - I have been wearing my kit for about half a year.

Shield: Windrose armory aluminum shield covered with canvas, door edging, and rawhide. I love my shield!

Demi-gauntlet: thick un-hardened leather, made by me.

Gorget: purchased for my by a friend off of ebay. Had to be seriosly sized down and have all of the screw together rivets replaced and lots of padding added, but now it works well if it is less pretty. Not sure who made it.[/img]

[Ula1066]

Heh, nice helm there Elfa.

I really need to get back into the shop and build another new one for me that fits.

[audax]

[Tanwen1]

[img]http://picasaweb.google.com/TanwenOfTheMist/UntitledAlbum#5244815139642222098[/img]

My first armour.

Body Armour- Puck board covered in leather. There are 3 plates in the front, a centre plate floating over two additional plates. 2 small plates in the back. I made the armor by cutting the plates out first, heating them in the oven and forming them as they cooled. I purchased the leather to cover the plastic from Tandy Leather for approxiamtely $10. Pluses- Excellent upper body protection, maneuverability, light weight and packs small. Minuses- When I sit down, it moves up a little and becomes turtle armor lol.

Legs & Arm- Lost Viking Plastic Legs and Lost Viking Leather Arm (floating elbow style)

Gorget- Hardened leather and waxed, 2 pieces

Kidney protection- thick leather c-belt, gambeson and leather belt on top

Helm (not in picture)- Vendal style helm. Pluses-its small enough to fit my head and doesnt rest on my shoulders. The style of helm allows for padding on the sides of my head as well as the top. Minuses- pour visibility. I cannot see below an opponents mid shoulder height.

What I need to improve- I need a new helm. I need to trim down the body armor and I would attach the straps on the center peice to pull it all together better. I need better kidney protection. Im probably going to make a thick war belt instead of the small one I currently have on top (i get hit on the hip a lot, as well) I really should hang some plates off of my c-belt under my gambeson to protect my butt and upper thighs.

In case the pic doesnt post properly the url is...

http://picasaweb.google.com/TanwenOfTheMist/UntitledAlbum#5244815139642222098[/img]

[freiman the minstrel]

Tanwen1's rig.



Tanwen,

You look great. The smile is the best part of the picture. This is supposed to be fun.

I don't know anything about Lost Viking Leather Arm harness, but please tell me that you have something on your right forearm.

f
_________________
Surf less, fight more

[Tanwen1]

"I don't know anything about Lost Viking Leather Arm harness, but please tell me that you have something on your right forearm. "

Yes, I wear a sheild =) Im a lefty but you arnt supposed to notice that till after we start fighting :p

On my left arm I wear a hardened leather floating elbow attached to a hardened leather vambrace that sinches shut. Its hidden in the pic =)

[katarina_vand_kettlingr]

[quote="Cunian"]I'm hoping that we can create a gallery showing our various armours to give new fighters an idea of the range of armour women use and to give each other ideas for an upgrade or just a new look.[quote]

Photos would be more helpfull if they weren't with the body armor covered by a tabard or obstructed by a shield.