Red Dragon, 11/08

The whole family went to the event last Saturday.

Look at those cheesers. Can you stand it?

Harvest Day TOC 09/08

I've been pouring all the photos from Pennsic I could find... and I can't see myself in any of them. Not a one! I mean, I was there in all the battles, you'd think that ONE person would take a quick snap of me in my new armor. 

So this weekend at Harvest Day, I spotted Nivek and asked him to take a few photos of me, if he got the chance. And not only did he take some photos, he emailed them to me the very next day. Awesome.

 
The first full body shot of me in my new rig, including the tunic now that it has trim on it. The heater shield doesn't really enhance the look, but it's what I know.

The Russian Knight fighting a real Russian. Dimitri is a good guy, and gave me a hard fight. Plus, he can actually read the inscription on my helm.  

Look at the sky reflecting off that damn thing. Can you stand it? Big change from the rusty spun-top I used to wear. 

Project: GER -- final update?

Farthegn is delivering the finished canvas tonight. That gives us about a week to play with the thing... put it up, take it down, make sure we know how everything works. This is critical being that I'm going to be the first one on site (the first of the new Ger-dwellers, at least) and I need to know how it goes up, and be able to walk people through assembly. And, being that I'm a bit of an idiot when it comes to these things, I want to make sure I know what the hell I'm doing in advance. Expect some pictures in the next couple days.

In other news: good gods do I need a vacation. I'm looking forward to getting to Pennsic and just doing as little as possible. 

Want!

The Tsar Cannon.


Note to household: when I win Crown, this is what I want for a coronation gift.

Then and now

My new helmet next to my old one. Bit of a difference, huh?

Ancient Russian coin

Srebrenik ("silver coin") of Prince Yaroslav Vladimirovich of Novgorod (987-1015). On the obverse there is a representation of St. George; on the reverse (electrotypic copy) there is a family symbol of Rurick’s descendants with the inscription: ÿðîñëàâëå ñðåáðî ("Yaroslav’s silver"). The perfectly preserved specimen was unearthed near the town of Tartu in 1838. Diameter: 25 mm. The Hermitage museum. Link

Yes, that Prince Yaroslav. If I'm wearing his helmet, might I not also have some of his coins on hand?

Full kit

Finally got some photos from Rose Tournament--the first time I wore my new helm and new fighting clothes. I gotta say, I'm really pretty happy with my on-the-field appearance right now.



I still need to make some tweaks--the naruchi (i.e., bazubands) are the big thing. Then I need to extend my greaves so they cover my boot laces; then... well, after that it's small stuff. Trim on the tunic so I look fancier. Greaves mark 2 with tooling. New metal lamallar (but that's kinda expensive, so it's farther down the road).

This is the best I've looked in armor EVER. Dare I say it? I look like a Knight.

Finally.

Helm Update -- it is here!

The new helm is here and it is awesome. Tonight I pad and strap the thing, just in time for Wednesday night fight practice.

There will be pictures.

Helm update -- en route pt. II

Come on!


It took 10 HOURS to load my helmet onto a truck and start heading for Cleveland?! I could drive to Arizona in 10 hours!

Maybe I should have. Then I wouldn't have to keep checking FedEx's website.

Helm update -- en route

My helmet is on the way! Donngal gave me the FedEx tracking number, and I've been obsessively looking at the progress ever since. Estimated delivery date is 6/16. MONDAY?! It's going to take an entire WEEK to get to me? Dammit! In this day and age, it shouldn't take more than three or four days to cross the country with anything!

I had hoped to have the entire weekend to pad/strap the thing... now I'm going to be pushed for time get it done in time for the Wednesday practice. I do want to fight in the thing at least once before Rose Tournament.

Hurry up, already!

St. Alexander Nevsky

My knowledge of my persona is woefully lacking, but I'm trying--bit by bit--to enhance it, to add little things that make Nikolas Grigorevich Petrov ring true. This could be one of those bits:

This is an icon of St. Alexander Nevsky. As I understand it, Russian soldiers would often carry small "traveling icons" with them, and pray to them in times of need. I found this one online, but it's small, only 2 1/2" x 1" (it would make a cool necklace, though).

Someday I'll make a traveling icon for myself. It can only help with winning Crown, right?

Helm update -- it is done!

Sir Donngal just sent me this photo:


I opened that photo and just sat and looked at it for a good five minutes. It's stunning. Amazing. I'm blown away. All I want to do is look at it. No, screw that--I want to put it on!

It's mailing out Monday. Which means I should have it Wednesday or Thursday.

Sir Donngal also started a thread on Armour Archive about it. People liiiiiike it!

Just caught myself staring again.

New Helm Update

Sir Donngal tells me that all that remains is to add the stainless welded aventail, which will be delivered by Master Knut today. Once that's attached... it's done. His plan is to FedEx it to me on Tuesday.

I stopped and got a big fat cashier's check this morning and sent it off certified mail. It's exponentially more than I've ever paid for a helmet before; but clearly I've never owned anything even remotely close to this helm. Because it is carved from a single block of awesomeness.

In his last email, Donngal added this:

Nikolai,

I can't tell you how many people have come by the shop trying to walk out with your helm. I'm pretty impressed with the shape. I don't expect to see too many of this shape in stainless anytime soon. It was intense. I would shape it and the next day it would relax, then repeat.

I'm glad you'll be at Pennsic. I can't wait to see it on the field. It's going to be very distinguished.

Awe-SOME! I wondered if that once he figured out the shape that he might start making more of this design. There's at least one other in mild already. But it doesn't sound like high-production is really viable. All the better.

Assuming all goes well, I should have this damn thing in my hands by this time next week.

Holy. Shit.

Project: GER

Finished the khana on Sunday, and put up our new traveling home for the first time!

I'm fairly amazed at how big a footprint this thing has when the walls are stretched out.


And the door jamb is tall enough that I only have to duck a tiny bit going in and out. Nevertheless, I'm sure I'll bonk my head a couple of times. Especially after a hard night of Pennsic drinking.


My lady supervises.


Now, my lady is a scientist mundanely. Her analytical mind came in very handy when Farthegn "couldn't make the math work." Here she is discussing the best way to add another slat or two (we miscalculated slightly with the wall length).


Rafters going in!


Good Lord, it looks like a ger!


We had some tensioning problems, but I blame the fact that we didn't have real aircraft cable yet, and were trying to make due with nylon string and a (too short) come-along strap.

But all in all, it went up pretty well for our first time trying to erect it. It helps that Farthegn has helped other people put up their yurts before.

Now we have to move on the canvas. That's the critical part, of course. The structure above is nice, but it's nothing but a gazebo without something to keep out the rain.

We're using sunforger, which is water and mildew-resistant, and flame retardant. The original plan... well, we're gone through several plans as far as the canvas goes. First, we were just going to sew it ourselves. Then Farthegn made a contact with an awing place that said they wanted to get into period tents. When that went nowhere, Farthegn contacted the mother of a co-worker who does large scale sewing. That seemed very promising... then she had an illness in the family and couldn't commit until after Pennsic, so that wouldn't work. Right now we're exploring other people who do large project sewing--obviously the goal is to not have to sew these monsters ourselves. But, if everything else falls through, that's the final back-up plan.

But first we have to buy the canvas.

Helm update -- plaque

Working with Sir Donngal has been a real pleasure. He responds to my emails, sends me photos and, above everything else, gets his work done on a timely basis. 

After emailing me to say he had the artwork prepared, I asked him to send me a copy of the art. He did so, and promptly, I might add. Then, this morning, he sent this:

I have to admit that this isn't exactly what I had in mind when I first started thinking about the helmet. I was thinking of something much more over-the-top and elaborate. I told Donngal this, but he stood his ground and said he was thinking of something that would be closer to the style of artwork that better fit the actual time period of the helmet. The guy wants to maintain the integrity of the piece, I respect that (he is a Laurel in armoring, after all, as well as a knight).

Regardless, the overall effect is stunning. He's polished the dome in the above photo, and it kicks more ass than an ass-kicking ass kicker. 

Now all that remains is attaching the grill and the maille, which should be simple compared to the rest of the construction. I've asked if I can get it delivered in time to wear it to the June 21 Rose Tournament (at which Her Highness Annelyse has asked me to fight on Her team--very cool) and he says that shouldn't be a problem.

Actually, the problem is going to be that I have to drill a couple holes in the thing to attach a chin strap. My luck with strapping helms in the past hasn't been fantastic (my current helm has the chin strap attached at SIX points) and I'm going to move to an entirely internal system, which is to say, it won't be tied in the back like my current helm. Good Lord how I hate that. It works well, but I hate how it looks. Then again, maybe it doesn't work that well, considering that every time the cord loosens up and I get smacked in the face I cut open my nose.

Anyway: new helm damn near in my hands. 

Coolio.

Helm update

Got an email from Sir Donngal last night. He tells me that he's getting the art "back" this week (so I take that to mean he is having someone else do the actual drawing). He gave the translated inscription to whomever is doing the artwork for him, and he thinks this person can fit it in.

His plan is to transfer the art to the brass this week. After the plaque is attached, all that's left is attaching the grill and the maille, which should be simple. He also wrote this:

"BTW, this helm is making people who stop by the shop very jealous and they all want to switch to Russian."

To which I say, yer damn right.

Project: GER

Quick update: yesterday we finished sealing all the lumber (rest of the rafters, roof ring, door jamb) and began putting the khana together. Actually, Farthegn and Serena put them together while I stayed inside and entertained the girls.

We have one-half of one khana bolted together. Seemed to go pretty quickly. That means the next time we get together (next Sunday, most likely) we'll probably be able to power through the rest of the khana and actually put one of the gers up.

Then to the fabric.

Project: GER

More progress on the gers.

Farthegn came over on Sunday to help seal all the lumber. I had started on the slats the night before, and busted out 50 or so. Farthegn, who is much more skilled in woodworking that I declared my work up to that point had been sloppy, but serviceable.

Some of the slats drying. We choose a sealer with a little color to it (Behr Premium Weatherproofing Wood Finish #501, "Natural Cedar," in case you're curious) and I love the way it turned out. The pine takes a nice honey-yellow color. It'll look great against the natural cream color of the canvas.


We had high hopes of busting out all the lumber on Sunday, but that didn't happen. The slats took longer than expected. Farthegn did the math and he estimates we finished about a quarter-mile worth of wood in just the slats, so maybe that progress wasn't so bad. I think we could have done more, but Farthegn, the wood guy, had to lovingly caress each piece of wood. I think we could have gotten more done if we just slopped on the stain. Of course, they wouldn't look nearly as good as they do. And they do look fantastic.


But we did finish all the slats! And about six of the rafters. I'm going to try to bust out some more of the rafters throughout the week. Of course, my evening time may be a little limited since I need to make sure my kit is in top shape for Crown Tournament this week.

Then, on Labor Day, we're getting together again to assemble the Khanas. If the rafters aren't all finished by then, we'll have a team working on those as well. Then the door jamb and the roof ring... and that's it for lumber! If everything works out, we may be able to actually assemble the lumber portion of our gers. But that might be over-promising... there's a lot of hardware to install before we get to that point.

Than... the canvas! That's going to be the hard part, I think.

Helmet update -- Russian translation

My new helmet is based, to a large degree, on the so-called "helmet of Prince Yaroslav Vsevolodovich" (if it was really Yaroslav's helm is apparently up for debate). It's a stunning relic discovered in 1808 by a peasant woman who noticed something shiny in the dirt while out collecting nuts.

It's not clear from the above photo, but only parts of the entire helm were recovered. Most impressive, of course, is the large central plaque:


That's St. Michael (the patron saint of Russia). It's kind of hard to see, but there's an inscription around the outside of the image that reads, "Great archangel Michael, help your servant Fedor."

When Sir Donngal and I first starting talking about this helmet, we both agreed that the plaque was the focal point, and the helm would appear a little bare without it. This has been the part I have been most concerned about... the shape of the dome is critical too, of course, but what people are really going to oh-and-ahh over is the plaque. I'm still nervous about it, honestly, but Sir Donngal has done such good work up to this point that I'm confident that the plaque will be up to the same standards.

Recently we discussed the plaque, and I inquired if he was going to include the inscription. He said he hoped to, if he could fit it in. Then I started thinking about how cool it would be if instead of "Fedor" my helmet had MY name on it. How cool would that be? Answer: extremely.

So I spoke to my Baron, knowing that he works with some Russians and has had things translated for me in the past. He sent the translation to me just this morning:

Великий Архангел Михаил, помоги рабу своему Николаю

"Great Archangel Michael, help your servant Nickolai"

I immediately forwarded it to my armorer. I am super jazzed. Cannot wait to actually get this thing!

Project: GER

As jazzed as I am about the new helm, I'm equally excited about another project that's been brewing for a couple years now: a yurt!

(I forget where I heard this, but I've been told that "yurt" is a derogatory term. Russian soldiers first saw the portable Mongolian structures and called them yurts, which I'm told means "hovel." Therefore, I've made a point of calling my new SCA home a "ger," the more respectful Mongolian name.)

My lady, Serena, and I have talked for a long time (years) about improving our camping space. We've used mundane tents only up to this point. She used to use a period pavilion in the distant past, but had problems with it leaking. And that's her thing: she hates leaking tents. I mean, no-one likes leaking tents, but her hatred is of a different caliber altogether. So, if we were going to have a period tent, it best be as leak-resistant as humanly possible.

I don't remember when I got it into my head that I wanted a ger; but once there it was not to be dislodged. I love everything about them: the look, the headroom, the lack of corners, everything. And they're supposed to be damn-near impervious to high wind, so that's a huge plus. And since they're supposed to be very durable in rain storms, Serena was sold.

We looked up plans and kicked around the idea for a long time. Well, at first we were just going to buy one, because--to point it mildly--I'm not handy. At all. While we could possible build our own, it would be a struggle with a lot of swearing. So we started looking around.

Gers aren't cheap, I can tell you that. And rightfully so; I mean, no-one is mass producing them like they do with standard western Europe pavilions. We were all set to pull the trigger... and then I got laid off. That put the ger project on hold. Then, when I finally had another decent job, I contacted the one guy who everyone recommended... only to find out that he was retiring.

We didn't do anything with it for some time (other than lament about our poor timing) until my squire, Farthegn, decided that he was ready to retire his period tent and make something new. And a ger appealed to him.

Here's the thing: Farthegn is handy. Like, super-handy. If he was involved, I was confident that we could build a ger with minimal consternation. It helps that he's a carpenter mundanely, too.

We decided to build two 16' gers, one for him and his lady; one for me and my lady. He got some plans off the Internet, ran some numbers, and came up with a plan. He bought the lumber and has steadily been cutting out the pieces at his workplace (working in a shop with all the big tools helps, too).

Up to this point, I've done nothing to help.

But, finally, this past weekend the project was at a point were I could do something. Farthegn brought over all the pieces and we started sanding them.

First up: the door jamb:


This is about 5' 6" tall, meaning I only have to duck a little to get in. It's also wider than I expected, which will be handy when bringing in tubs and the bed and the like. There are no doors yet; that's one part of the project that has yet to be cut out. It's very low on the list of priorities... so much so that it might not get done this year. We might just have canvas flaps, which will be fine.

The roof ring:


This is a prime example of why Farthegn is steering the bus and not me. I've always heard that this is the most difficult part of the project. And it's easy to see why; you have to get the angles right or your rafters don't sit where they should and there are problems. When I expressed my concerns to Farthegn, he just said, "eh, it's just math. It's not hard."

The wall lattice (Khana)


Here's all the sanded slats that will be put together to make the "baby gate" wall for the ger. The canvas isn't tensioned on this structure, so it won't really rub ever... thus the quick sanding we gave it. Actually, Farthegn's comment was that if these were "bachelor homes" we wouldn't be sanding them all. But, since his lady will be living in one, and my lady will be living in the other... it wouldn't do to have a stray splinter prick their delicate hands. Even though I did manage to get one big sumbitch through the middle finger of my one hand. Hurt like hell, and still does.

The rafters:


At some point I'd love to paint them red and decorate them like I've seen in some fancy gers, but that's way down the line.

Farthegn in his natural habitat:


Me using power tools! Something you don't see very often.


I also burnt the snot out of my neck that day. Only on one side, though, since I stood in the same place for most of the morning.

All the sanded pieces now reside in my garage. Next up: sealing and assembly!

Helmet update

When I first started talking to Sir Donngel, the guy building my helmet, we agreed on May being the delivery date for my new helm. For the last week or so I've been thinking about emailing him, just to say, hey, where are we at? Can I still expect the helm sometime in May? I've tried really hard not to be obnoxious about it, or a pain in the ass. So I was going to sit on my hands until around May 3rd or so.

So imagine my delight when I got this email this morning:

Nickolas,

Attached are a few pics I have of the helmet. The brass is worked out, the skirt /wrap plate is done. I just have to finish up the drawings for the the etching.

And even more exciting, of course, were the attached photos.




Look out! I'm pinhead! Wow... just, wow. It looks really, really cool. The damn thing is nearly a reality now. I'm still a little anxious about what the final plaque will look like... but everything up to this point has been so amazing, I expect no less for that.

Damn.

Latest helm news

I got an email from my armorer, Sir Donngel, a couple weeks ago. After the successful mild steel test piece, he moved ahead on the stainless. But, after he had the top more or less completed, he discovered it was too small. He wasn't sure if the stainless just didn't stretch as much as the mild, or if his calculations were off. And, he told me that the friend he was going to have do the brasswork told him that he doesn't have the time to do it.

So, it seemed, we were basically back to square one.

This was pretty disappointing news, of course, but I told him again that I was willing to wait. Even though we had talked about a May delivery, I wanted the helm done right, not quickly. But, he said that he thought May was still do-able.

Then! I got an email from him this morning saying that he had the new top nearly completed! And there was a photo attached!

Awesome, huh? Looks really smart! This fills me with hope, because the top is the tough part. There nothing fancy about the rest of it.

Well, except the brasswork. That's the part that I'm worried about. Because if I can get this helmet anywhere near what it looks like in my head, it will be absolutely stunning.

Sir Donngel is suggesting that he etch the brass. He says it's not a period technique for this kind of helm, but I don't really care. I only care what it looks like when all said and done. I'm exploring some brass options on my own, too. So, I hope, I hope, I'm really close to getting this new helm.