Brian's Kit - 99% Complete!

[Sir Brian]

Well it’s almost complete, just a few minor tweaks here and there. - Like sewing the mail onto
my gloves When it arrives and changing the bottom strap on my leg harness, - it’s too short to
go around the greaves. (I knew when I bought my leg harness that it was going to be a problem
eventually!) 

The short boots from Medieval Collectibles were too small and have to go back…Turns out I
wouldn’t want them anyways as they are a bit cheap looking so I decided to take the risk with
my high boots and It turns out they help give a better fit for my greaves. The padded chausses
are very comfortable and will actually allow me to use the privy at the fairs, which ultimately
means more beer consumption! 

I may also want to add some eyelets to my surcoat so I can cinch it up and give it a little more
fitted look.

Oh did I mention it is hot? – I believe you told me Sir Edward that when the gambeson becomes
saturated with sweat, it actually helps keep you cool. I wonder if I pre-soaked my under shirt if
I’d get the same benefit?

Has anyone else tried that?

Any suggestions to improve my harness?

http://s221.photobucket.com/albums/dd251/Tah908/My%20Kit/

[Sir Edward]

Oh did I mention it is hot? – I believe you told me Sir Edward that when the gambeson becomes
saturated with sweat, it actually helps keep you cool. I wonder if I pre-soaked my under shirt if
I’d get the same benefit?

Yeah, the period linen garments would do that. I don't know if it works with other materials!   I still have to wonder though-- it might be reasonably cool, but squishing around in soaked linen doesn't sound completely comfortable either.

I bought a linen shirt that I'm going to start using with my kit instead of t-shirts and other cotton shirts. I'm curious to see what difference it'll make. Of course, that's one advantage of using aluminum mail too; it dissipates heat better than steel. That's why it's used in a lot of heat sinks.

The pics are looking great! I love the new greaves and vambraces.

Man, I need to get off my butt and get back to work on my stuff.

 

[Sir Wolf]

looks good man!!!
now u need to go lay on some concrete and look like an effigy

[Sir Edward]

Haha, I can imagine taking a black&white photo that way... add some speckle in photoshop, and voila! Effigy!

Seriously though the overall look kicks butt.

Oh, I sent the business cards earlier in the week. You should have them any time now, if not already.

[Sir Brian]

looks good man!!!
now u need to go lay on some concrete and look like an effigy

lol, we should all do that at the MDRF this year! We can be "laid out" at the church.

 

Oh and yes I did get the cards! - Thanks.

[Sir Brian]

Well I started work on the final piece to my kit...mail gloves.
The ones I purchased off ebay were not what I had hoped for.
They didn't fit that well and it had maille over the entire thing,
including the palms! - Certainly not acceptable. 

So I ordered some maille fabric from the ring lord.
http://www.theringlord.com/
I know it isn't authentic but the rings are small enough to work with
though they certainly are tough! Used some wire cutters at first but took
forever so I switched to some sheetmetal cutters which worked out much
better. Real pain doing all that stiching through leather but worth it
in the end. I screwed up the first few cuts so bad though I ran out of
maille and had to order another piece. I asked a friend to help cut the
maille I did have left while I was wearing the glove..If you ask someone to
help you cut the maille make sure THEY UNDERSTAND where to cut! The
guy almost ruined my last workable piece, I made do with what I had but
the thumb is a little awkward looking. 

So what do you all think?
http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd251/Tah908/WIP/BeforeAfter.jpg
http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd251/Tah908/WIP/Palm.jpg
http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd251/Tah908/WIP/SizeComparison.jpg

EDIT {3/27/08}

Oh did I mention it is hot? – I believe you told me Sir Edward that when the gambeson becomes
saturated with sweat, it actually helps keep you cool. I wonder if I pre-soaked my under shirt if
I’d get the same benefit?

Yeah, the period linen garments would do that. I don't know if it works with other materials!   I still have to wonder though-- it might be reasonably cool, but squishing around in soaked linen doesn't sound completely comfortable either.

I bought a linen shirt that I'm going to start using with my kit instead of t-shirts and other cotton shirts. I'm curious to see what difference it'll make. Of course, that's one advantage of using aluminum mail too; it dissipates heat better than steel. That's why it's used in a lot of heat sinks.

I actually had an opportunity to try this yesterday and a t-shirt soaked in cold water and wrung
out works surprisingly well! I was actually cold. I was only wearing my gambeson and surcoat
but it was definately a difference! I plan on wearing a wet t-shirt under my gambeson for sure
during the warmer days!

[Sir Edward]

Hah, now I have an image of knightly wet t-shirt contests stuck in my head.   Almost as bad as my "Crusaders on Ice" idea for ice skating.

Good work on the gloves, btw. Those rings are pretty small so my usual tool for clipping them probably would be overkill. I use 8" bolt cutters, which works well with even 14g steel (probably would tire you out quickly with anything thicker). With 14g aluminum I clip two at a time when clipping the rings from the coils.

Man, buying sheets of mail is certainly a huge time saver over making it from scratch!

I'm curious about these:

http://casiberia.com/product_details.asp?id=AB2702