[Ed Toton]

Well, since it was suggested that we spin off a new thread, here it is. Has anyone else put together a crested helm?

Here's some info on mine:

One note-- I cheat like crazy on the authenticity front. The assembly of this was pretty makeshift, pounding out most of the work on it this past Friday night in preparation for Saturday. So I don't have many good close-up shots of it, but I'll try to get some soon.



The dragon crest is a resin sculpture attached to a wooden base. Since I didn't want to permanently modify the helm itself, I have the crest attached with rare-earth magnets and rubber stand-offs. The mantle is linen, with a decorative-rope torse.

Here's a photo before adding the mantle and torse:



Does anyone else have a crested helm, or working on one? I'd love to see photos!

[Russ Thomas]

Hi Ed,

This is a sallet that I made a few years back. The brass 'acorn' has a plume holder in the centre, and of course the whole crest assembly is removable. It was inspired by pictures from the Beauchamp chronicles.

Regards,

Russ

[Scott Kowalski]

Kudos to both of you.

Did you do the dragon or get it already made Ed? I am guessing that your kit is late Crusades correct? Post 1250 to around 1300 at the latest is my guess. What event did you wear this at?

Scott

[Ed Toton]

That looks great, Russ! I'm impressed. That's a gorgeous helmet you've got.

Scott, yes I was aiming for a late 13th C sort of look. I'm estimating probably around 1290, since the spaulders and crest probably push it a little later than the 1250 era, though this sort of great helm is probably appropriate for that entire half-century. The dragon is actually an inexpensive statue that I got on ebay, and is a more modern fantasy dragon, rather than a period heraldic dragon.

Here are some additional views of it with the ensemble, taken by some of my friends:





The event was the Virginia Renaissance Festival (http://varf.org/). We wanted to walk in and knock them dead with our new crests and accessories.

[Scott Kowalski]

I am betting that you and your partner did knock them dead Ed. I love the dragon even though it is modern fantasy based and not medieval heraldric. I think the whole kit looks good and comes together nicely. I can also see why you had the grip and scabbard made in blue.

Do I spy mail chausses as well? Though I thought spaulders did not start appearing before early to mid 14th century I am probably wrong as I have only just really figured out what time frame I would like to portray with my kit. Though I am still really not sure what area.

I am also curious who made the armor pieces of the kit, particularly the mail.

Keep posting your pictures everyone.

Scott

[Ed Toton]

Thanks, glad you like the kit! You're right, I think, that the spaulders are actually more 14th C. I think I've fudged it a bit here. But I like them, so it's OK.

Yes, those are indeed mail chauses! Here's where I cheated a bit as well-- all of the mail is aluminum butt rings. Not accurate, but at a distance no one knows. And I made it. A friend helped get the coif together while I was under a time constraint a number of years ago, but it's all my project. The chauses were a little easier, in that I ordered one of the "chainmail T-shirts" from ThinkGeek, and separated it out into rectangles to reconfigure into chauses. Much faster to work with sheets of mail. Making these things myself has allowed me to tailor them to my size and shape, and it's easy to make changes and repairs as I go.

[Scott Kowalski]

Ed,
That is a great idea for the chausses. I will have to remember that. As long as the mail meets the "ten foot" rule that is all the better. I agree about adding armor pieces that I like to armor even though it might not be historically accurate. Who is to say it isn't since none of us lived then anywho. I am probably going to do the same with plate pieces so I can take them off if I want to change the look of my harness as it strikes my fancy. I just have to divert funds from other hobbies is all.

[Nathan Gilleland]

It's great to hear that some people have the same opinion as me pertaining to historical accuracy!

It seems to me that if you can narrow down an armour piece to within approximately 50 years of confirmed dates, I figure that it's historically "plausible". (Something that I hold to even more when taking a kit from, say the 13 C. and using weapons/armour from the 12 C. as you like. I wouldn't think that you would discard your family sword and drain your pocketbook just to purchase the latest fashion sword, though I'm sure this did happen.)

I'll have to get my armour kit together and take some pictures since I recently worked on it some more. (Actually I'm still working on the chainmaille tunic )

Love the pictures of the kits! The dragon is awesome, and I really like the acorn on the sallet too! Any pictures of it with a plume?

[Sammy Jackson]

hey guys i just got this new corinthian helmet. different from your time period but im gonna mount a normal greek crest with a pony tail on it.

im excited. gonna look good!!

[Rod Walker]

[Bill Grandy]

Rod, that helmet is *fantastic*.

[Rod Walker]

Thanks Bill, a pic of the fan crest on the late 13thCkit that I very quickly put together for a show in late April. The gamboissed cuisses took the longest to make.



I enjoyed riding in this early period kit so much that I am going to finish it off properly.

[Ed Toton]

I'm with Bill, that crested helm is absolutely wonderful! I'm jealous. And I love the 13th C kit you put together.

[Scott Kowalski]

Sam,
That is a great looking Corinthian helmet. As long as it is a period you are interested in then it is in period as far as I am concerned.


Rod,
You are one of the people whose I have seen and really drool over. I'm not sure which of the two I like better. The latter period one looks sweet but I love the late 13th century and that is the era that I plan on putting a kit together for someday.

Scott

[Arne Koets]

ok i got this out of a skip and aim to replace it, but i think it works from a distance...

when it's not on the jaunty angle...

cheers,[/img]

[Gavin Kisebach]

What a great topic. This is not my era of interest, but those kits are awesome (innacuracies aside). I love the themes, that's got to be a lot of fun to put together.

[Russ Thomas]

Arne,

Is that the 'frogmouth' helm that Jeffrey Hedgecock made ?? It is certainly an impressive piece ! I do like gestech armour It is not seen very often, but I love it just the same, though I am not sure that I would like to wear it in a joust though!
You have an impressive harness !!

Regards,

Russ

[Arne Koets]

thank you!
after 8,5 years of wearing £1000 cheb kit, i thought it time to replace it with something that actually looks the part, and will stand up to the abuse!

Wearing a froggie is very different, indeed, but i find it hard to choose which is best.
The helmet gives you VERY good vision when jousting. that is when your opponent rides as he should. I suppose your lance needs to be long enough too. But when i had to switch back temporarily i was surprised at the difference in vision.

It is also very nice when being hit: you don't feel it. falling off was also fine. (rearing horse).

the drawback is when riding inexperienced horses. Then i prefer a sallet and bevors. This give more flexebility to ride the horse properly, use your seat when needed, and so forth.

It is not a war helmet, and can get a bit stuffy in F100 heat, but generally...

You'd be surprised!
there is a reason why these were used as the foremost jousting helmet for about 100 years!

Otherwise it's still field armour, that's why i chose that style. I would've taken gothic, but it would have meant an entirely seperate armour for jousting.

there is a number of people starting to use these types of things now, be it gestech helms or grand bascinets and i'm hardly the first. Nevertheless, I'm quite happy with (up to)12mm of hardened and tempered carbon steel in front of my face!

[Doug Strong]

Here is my crested great helm. It was made for my 1375 kit.

[Ed Toton]