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Main => The Armoury => Topic started by: Sir Wolf on 2010-07-17, 18:59:34

Title: (was ailettes) now working on my kit
Post by: Sir Wolf on 2010-07-17, 18:59:34
so i started a pair of ailettes today.  i cut a heavy piece of leather and dyed it.  i am thinking of backing it with either another piece of leather or a piece of wood to attach it to the hauberk via ties.  I need to paint the rampant lion on each with red as well.

its small but its a start :)

ok started on a new thin waist belt.  I found a buckle and end that needed mounting so I cut a small long belt blank, burred the edges and am waiting for my drill battery to charge to drill out the holes larger in the bronze fittings to mount them to the belt.  what color should I make the belt? I am thinking of needs-foot oiling it so it is a darker natural brown.

then hmmm. thinking of my surcoat. I really need to get that thing redone. 

(http://i596.photobucket.com/albums/tt47/reenactthis/13thc%20Knight/DSCN1763.jpg) is my shield. So should I split my hauberk black and grey? make it all black with the lion on the chest. Ug I don't know what would look the best. hehehe.

my biggest problem with the kit is my legs.  I want to buy a set of mail chausis from Icefalcon, but there in the 300 $ is the problem.  Might have to go with the padding this year and fit it at Christmas time.
Title: Re: (was ailettes) now working on my kit
Post by: Sir Patrick on 2010-10-08, 03:16:26
Did you finish your ailletes, Sir Wolf?  These are mine.  They are boiled leather saddle-stitched to 1/4 in. plywood wrapped in felt.  You mentioned you were uncertain if you were going to back yours or not.  If you boil the leather, it gets stiff as a board (literally), so if yours is thick enough, you might not need any backing.  Post some pics, if you have any.  BTW, I vote for a black and gray surcoat with a red lion!

Title: Re: (was ailettes) now working on my kit
Post by: Sir Brian on 2010-10-08, 13:27:41
EXCELLENT! Well done indeed! Do you have any pictures of you wearing them? It is such a rare treat to see a harness with ailettes!  :)
Title: Re: (was ailettes) now working on my kit
Post by: Sir William on 2010-10-08, 13:33:48
I love your shield man.  A matching surcoat would be smashing!  At the risk of sounding ignorant, what're ailletes?  Like espaliers?
Title: Re: (was ailettes) now working on my kit
Post by: Sir Edward on 2010-10-08, 13:40:50

Yes, they're an earlier form of shoulder attachments. It's not clear historically if they were meant to be protective at all, or merely ornamental. Some believe they were meant only to add a little splash of heraldry on the shoulders, so that you would be identifiable from the sides without your shield, since they were made mostly of leather and tended to sit upright on the corners of the shoulders. The amount of protection they'd give would be minor compared to the mail underneath. But, being over the joints, they may have helped to soften blows at those points, so it's hard to say.

Title: Re: (was ailettes) now working on my kit
Post by: Sir William on 2010-10-08, 19:14:20
You know, at the risk of revealing my overarching gaming nerdiness, I noticed similar arming pieces on Crusader knights in the first game of Assassin's Creed...instead of curving around the shoulder like an espalier, these were flat and looked to be of a hardened leather or steel.  I know, I know, just a game, but they got their inspiration from somewhere, I prefer to believe it to have been somewhat historically accurate with regard to armor, weapons and styles of dress.  Plus, the guidebook had large illustrations so I was able to get a good look, so to speak.  Anyone else play it?  It is still one of my most favorite games of all time; from time to time I'll plug it in just to go a-hunting in the Holy Land!

I never knew what they were called, though. 
Title: Re: (was ailettes) now working on my kit
Post by: Sir Patrick on 2010-10-08, 19:19:04
EXCELLENT! Well done indeed! Do you have any pictures of you wearing them? It is such a rare treat to see a harness with ailettes!  :)

Not yet.  I'm hoping to get my gambeson project going in the next two weeks, and then I'll actually have something to attach them to ;D!  

A matching surcoat would be smashing!

I have one I threw together earlier out of a canvas tarp.  It's quartered red and natural, but the more I've studied, the less I like it.  It's too short and poorly tailored.   I'll make another one after I finish my gambeson so I can be more sure of the fit.  I plan on going solid red with a large ermine cinquefoil on the chest.
Title: Re: (was ailettes) now working on my kit
Post by: Sir William on 2010-10-08, 20:14:56
I like yours too, Red Knight, never seen a cincefoil before I saw your shield; I'm assuming that's the 5-lobed...thing...of which there are three on your shield.
Title: Re: (was ailettes) now working on my kit
Post by: Sir Wolf on 2010-10-08, 20:21:43
Red Knight, what size did you make yours? I cut and dyed some leather ones but I'm not real happy with them so I didn't attach them to any wood etc. is that red dye or paint?
Title: Re: (was ailettes) now working on my kit
Post by: Sir Patrick on 2010-10-08, 20:54:02
The leather panel started out as 9x7, but when it boiled, it shrunk (and also got thicker) to 7x5.  They will still work (though I wouldn't go any smaller), but I think next time I will size them after boiling.  I didn't this time because I read trying to cut them after was a PITA.  All colors are acrylic paint.  A post on another forum says it works well on leather (adhesion, flexibility), and so far I've had no problems.  I predrilled all the holes in the leather and wood, then glued the felt down (avoiding placing any glue near the holes).  Stitched together with aftificial sinew, which I went over with a Sharpie on the back side, paint on the front.  Here's a useful link on boiling leather for armour:  http://www.daviddfriedman.com/Medieval/Articles/Perfect_Armor_Improved.htm (http://www.daviddfriedman.com/Medieval/Articles/Perfect_Armor_Improved.htm)
Title: Re: (was ailettes) now working on my kit
Post by: Sir Patrick on 2010-10-08, 21:06:52
I like yours too, Red Knight, never seen a cincefoil before I saw your shield; I'm assuming that's the 5-lobed...thing...of which there are three on your shield.

Yep.  The device dates from 1033, and signifies strength, power, honor, and loyalty.  The arms on my shield are a variation of those usually associated with my surname.
Title: Re: (was ailettes) now working on my kit
Post by: Sir Wolf on 2010-10-09, 00:06:31
oh yes i know how to do that ( :) I used to make leather armour as a hobby hehhe)

thanks for the sizing and the paint idea!
Title: Re: (was ailettes) now working on my kit
Post by: Sir William on 2010-10-12, 16:18:39
I like yours too, Red Knight, never seen a cincefoil before I saw your shield; I'm assuming that's the 5-lobed...thing...of which there are three on your shield.

Yep.  The device dates from 1033, and signifies strength, power, honor, and loyalty.  The arms on my shield are a variation of those usually associated with my surname.

Even better!
Title: Re: (was ailettes) now working on my kit
Post by: Sir Brian on 2011-05-26, 10:58:03
*Bump*
so i started a pair of ailettes today.  i cut a heavy piece of leather and dyed it.  i am thinking of backing it with either another piece of leather or a piece of wood to attach it to the hauberk via ties.  I need to paint the rampant lion on each with red as well.

EXCELLENT! Well done indeed! Do you have any pictures of you wearing them? It is such a rare treat to see a harness with ailettes!  :)

Not yet.  I'm hoping to get my gambeson project going in the next two weeks, and then I'll actually have something to attach them to ;D! 

Okay, so where are you gentlemen at with these projects? Have any pictures yet?  :)
Title: Re: (was ailettes) now working on my kit
Post by: Sir Edward on 2011-05-26, 13:20:55

Coincidentally, I just attached my ailettes last night. I plan to have them at the knightings. I never did get around to painting the charges, but they still have the color divisions to match my shield, so it's all good. :)
Title: Re: (was ailettes) now working on my kit
Post by: Sir Brian on 2011-05-26, 13:28:47
Really? Cool! I thought you was going to wear your 14C harness at the knightings!  :)
Title: Re: (was ailettes) now working on my kit
Post by: Sir Edward on 2011-05-26, 13:39:17
Really? Cool! I thought you was going to wear your 14C harness at the knightings!  :)

Well, it's not out of the question. My current plan is to wear the 14th C stuff on this Sunday, and my c.1300 stuff for the knightings, but we'll see how the test-run goes this weekend.
Title: Re: (was ailettes) now working on my kit
Post by: Sir William on 2011-05-26, 14:11:30
I'm getting excited...!!!
Title: Re: (was ailettes) now working on my kit
Post by: Sir Patrick on 2011-05-26, 14:39:27
To answer your question, Sir Brian, my gambeson is still not finished.  I got side-tracked on some house/work stuff, and then took a fancy to making some maille, and then.... ::)
Title: Re: (was ailettes) now working on my kit
Post by: Sir Brian on 2011-05-26, 15:14:05
Really? Cool! I thought you was going to wear your 14C harness at the knightings!  :)

Well, it's not out of the question. My current plan is to wear the 14th C stuff on this Sunday, and my c.1300 stuff for the knightings, but we'll see how the test-run goes this weekend.


You’re arming up in all that on Sunday? – It’s going to be a bit brutal this Sunday weather-wise, so I going with the kilt but I’m going to try armor-light on Saturday – i.e. Gambeson, surcoat, leather vambraces, etc.  :-\

To answer your question, Sir Brian, my gambeson is still not finished.  I got side-tracked on some house/work stuff, and then took a fancy to making some maille, and then.... ::)

Well I can certainly understand how that goes!  ;)

So how’s the gambeson coming along? Did you cut the material out yet?
Title: Re: (was ailettes) now working on my kit
Post by: Sir Edward on 2011-05-26, 15:20:50
You’re arming up in all that on Sunday? – It’s going to be a bit brutal this Sunday weather-wise, so I going with the kilt but I’m going to try armor-light on Saturday – i.e. Gambeson, surcoat, leather vambraces, etc.  :-\

Going to try. The weather report says mid-80's, so we'll see how long it lasts. :) But yeah, Jon and Jason are armoring up too.
Title: Re: (was ailettes) now working on my kit
Post by: Sir Wolf on 2011-05-26, 15:48:48
bag i put them on a shelf and left them. i didnt like how they were turning out.
Title: Re: (was ailettes) now working on my kit
Post by: Sir William on 2011-05-26, 15:56:47
You’re arming up in all that on Sunday? – It’s going to be a bit brutal this Sunday weather-wise, so I going with the kilt but I’m going to try armor-light on Saturday – i.e. Gambeson, surcoat, leather vambraces, etc.  :-\

Going to try. The weather report says mid-80's, so we'll see how long it lasts. :) But yeah, Jon and Jason are armoring up too.

Well then, I MUST wear armor!
Title: Re: (was ailettes) now working on my kit
Post by: Sir Brian on 2011-05-26, 16:33:31
You’re arming up in all that on Sunday? – It’s going to be a bit brutal this Sunday weather-wise, so I going with the kilt but I’m going to try armor-light on Saturday – i.e. Gambeson, surcoat, leather vambraces, etc.  :-\

Going to try. The weather report says mid-80's, so we'll see how long it lasts. :) But yeah, Jon and Jason are armoring up too.

Well then, I MUST wear armor!

Alrighty then I guess I'm going to armor up as well...Of course I guess I can forget about going 'light' now!  ;)
Title: Re: (was ailettes) now working on my kit
Post by: Sir William on 2011-05-26, 16:41:44
Go light on Saturday...store up your energy for Sunday; in the heat we'll all need it.  ;)
Title: Re: (was ailettes) now working on my kit
Post by: Sir Brian on 2011-05-26, 17:16:05
Yep Saturday is going to be kilt day. :)
Title: Re: (was ailettes) now working on my kit
Post by: Sir Edward on 2011-05-26, 17:39:15
Go light on Saturday...store up your energy for Sunday; in the heat we'll all need it.  ;)

Are you coming this weekend too? Or just next week?
Title: Re: (was ailettes) now working on my kit
Post by: Sir William on 2011-05-26, 18:50:21
No, I wish...just next week.  My sister's talked me into takin the bus up to NY to hang with her and her friends (and Dad, Mom and at least one other uncle)...I leave Sat morning and return Sun night.
Title: Re: (was ailettes) now working on my kit
Post by: Sir Wolf on 2011-05-26, 19:55:04
sigh, got plans with the family on sunday. picnic at the sisters house. sorry to miss you.
Title: Re: (was ailettes) now working on my kit
Post by: Sir Patrick on 2011-05-26, 22:22:51
Quote
So how’s the gambeson coming along? Did you cut the material out yet?
 

I might have gotten sidetracked on my way to the fabric store...:-[
 
 
 
Title: Re: (was ailettes) now working on my kit
Post by: Sir Wolf on 2011-05-27, 03:01:07
Quote
So how’s the gambeson coming along? Did you cut the material out yet?
 

I might have gotten sidetracked on my way to the fabric store...:-[
 
 
 


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