Naruchi!

First post-Pennsic project done! And it only took a month and a half. Well, actually, I've been meaning to make new arm armor for a couple years... the Naruch (bazuband) I've been wearing was never meant to be more than a prototype. But it worked fine, and I kept it for years.

But now I have something I can be proud to show off. And they're more protective to boot, with a rigid plastic insert in the elbow cup and slats inside above the wrist. 

And they're done in plenty to time for Fall Crown. 

Sigh. I'm really discouraged about Crown.

Final four.

Again. Must train harder.

The War Wagon!

We bought a small trailer to make camping events a little easier. Actually, it'll make things a LOT easier.

Here it is packed up and ready to go to North Oaken War Maneuvers (last month). You can see it's packed to the top with our Ger. But, honestly, I didn't pack it very well. I'm sure I can shoehorn in a lot more stuff.

It's going to make Pennsic packing a breeze. And the best part is that it folds up, so it will fit in the garage along with both cars. After hauling it once, we love it. Now all it needs is a coat of paint on the wood.

Harbor Freight Folding Utility Trailer.

Bad-ass Russian reinactors

Holy crap. These guys are nuts.

Spears

The splitting weapon - spear and boar-spear - in the composition of the armament of Old-Russian troops had value which is not smaller, than sword. Spears and boar-spears frequently solved the success of battle as this was in the battle of 1378 on Vozhe river in the Ryazansk earth, where the Moscow horse regiments by simultaneous impact "on the spears" from three sides overturned Tatar army and destroyed it. The tips of copies were wonderfully fitted out for the puncture of armor. For this they were made by narrow, massive and those elongated, usually tetrahedral. Tips, diamond-shaped, lavrovolistnye or wide wedge-shaped, could be used against the enemy, not protected by the armors: two-meter spear with this tip inflicted dangerous torn wounds and caused the rapid loss of enemy or his horse.
 
Boar-spears had a width of feather from 5 to 6.5 cm and a length of lavrovolistnogo tip to 60 cm. so that to the warrior would be to more easily hold weapon, to the pole of boar-spear it was fitted on two or on three metallic "twigs."
 
The variety of boar-spear was sovnya (sovna). had curved strip with one blade, slightly bent at the end, which was slipped over long pole. In the Novgorod I chronicle we read how the broken army "... pobegosha to the forest, pometavshe weapon and shields both sovi and everything from to itself ".
 
Sulitsey was called the missile spear with the lung and the thin pole length to 1.5 m. they were noted the cases, when sulitsu not only they threw, but also they brought by it the prick: "Bodin to byst'... by sharp sulitsami". Three or more than sulits (sulitsa it were sometimes called "dzheridom") were packed into the small quiver - "elaeagnus" - with the separate nests. Elaeagnus it rushed on the belt from the left side. 
 
A. Yurasovskiy
"Russian armors X-XVII enturies".
Artist Vladimir Semenov.
© depictive skill ". Moscow. 1983
Found at www.cross-dream.info/library/armour/thrusting-weapons.html

Fear me! For I am a giant!

Fighting boffer at the Cleftlands' January Event, 2010. 

Elevation

One of my squires, Farthegn, was put on vigil for the Order of Chivalry last Saturday. The look on his face when I begged the boon was pretty priceless.



Needless to say, I'm extremely proud of him. He will be sitting his vigil and elevated on February 13, at Val Day in Kalamazoo. 

Now to finish up the last minute details...

Let it be known

On St. Triverius’ Feast Day, in the 44th Year of the Society, Nikolai Grigorevich Petrov, a Knight in good standing with his King, was found in conversation with Logan MacCoinnich of Kintail, likewise a fine Knight. They spoke of many things martial and, in due course, it was revealed that both noble men desired to pick up the shields of their ancestors and cast away the foreign escutcheons with this they currently labored.

However, both men were hesitant, gripped by the fear of being left defenseless in the heat of combat, holding only armor with which they were not well acquainted. It was then that Sir Logan brashly suggested that he spirit away Nikolai’s shield to lands far to the north, for which in return he would offer his own shield to be likewise kidnapped.

Nikolai was indeterminate.

The day continued to pass, both men striving against many stout men in harness. As the sun began to set, Logan did once again approach the Son of Rus and cajoled him to consider the weapons of his homeland. Nikolai, in his great wisdom, was quick to ponder but slow to speak. Seizing this momentary pause, Sir Lucian, a man with which Nikolai had no previous quarrel, did shout from across the hall and demand that Nikolai take this opportunity to behave like a man, least he no longer be considered one.

Nikolai fell to the jibe, and rose to the challenge.

So it came to pass that Nikolai firmly grasped the favored shield of his homelands and made it his own.

Workout

Decided to be a little more proactive about Crown. I've been fighting with focus, but need to step it up if I'm ever to win this thing. In addition to the extra fighting I'll be getting in the next year as I travel with Their Highnesses Midrealm (I am to be Her Highness' champion) I'm starting a real fitness routine as well. 

UPPER BODY #1

Push-ups

• 4 sets of 12
  
• 2 seconds down, pause, 1 second up
  
• 1,3 wide stance; 2,4 close stance
  

Triceps push down

• 3 sets of 12 (30 seconds between sets)
  

Lat pull down

• 6 sets of 12 (30 seconds between sets)
  
• Sets 1,3,5 overhand grip
  
• Sets 2,4,6 underhand grip
  

Upright row

• 3 sets of 10 (30 seconds between sets)
  

Curl

• 3 sets of 8 (heavy weight)
  

LEGS

Leg extensions

• 4 sets of 10
  

Squat

• 4 sets of 10
  

Walking lunge

• 2 sets of 20 sets (hands behind head)
  

Roman seat

• 2 sets (as long as I can hold it)
  

Calf raise

• 3 sets of 15
  

UPPER BODY #2

Bench press flies

• 3 Super Sets
  
• Start with flies at a weight where I can do at least 12
  
• Then switch to bench press and do as many as I can (keep elbows up)
  

Triceps push down

• 3 sets of 8
  

Bent row

• 4 sets of 10
  
• 1,3 overhand grip
  
• 2,4 underhand grip
  

Curl

• 4 sets of 15
  
• Lighter weight
  

Front raise

• 3 sets of 10
  

I had a co-worker design this workout for me. He's way into weight lifting, whereas my attitude about working out is best described as "fuck that." I really hate lifting, but I'm going to try to stick to it. A little extra muscle can only help.

Spring Crown

For Spring Crown, my wonderful lady worked her tail off to make new fighting clothes for me, and new matching garb for her. I have to say, I think we looked great.

Too bad I fought so poorly. I've done a lot of thinking about Crown since, the whys and what-nots... but it all boils down to this: my head wasn't in the game. This is a big problem, and one I intend on fixing.

Fall Crown is 155 days from now.  I plan on making the most of that time.

New shield

Recovered my shield in preparation for Crown.


I used Baron Diomedes Sebastianus' method of covering the shield with canvas (I don't know this man, but stumbled over his website in my search for better, faster, stronger shield decoration). I've really pleased with the results. I painted the canvas, then used a paint pen and Sharpie to draw on the diapering.

My lovely and considerably more talented wife then painted on the household charge.

Finally, I covered the surface with a 2-part resin. This is a popular method of preserving shields in the MidRealm right now. I'd never used it before, and I was more than a little nervous about it, especially after my squired ruined a fantastic paint job on his shield when the resin he used set up too quickly. In fact, these photos are taken before applying the coating, because I wanted photographic proof in case everything went belly up. These photos are also before I put the leather edging on, which makes it look much more finished.

I set up the sawhorses in the garage, being that I'd been warned that the fumes on this stuff would addle your brains. And I put down a bunch of newspaper on the floor, since you want a little of the coating to drip off the edge. 

The resin is popularly called "Bar Coat" (or maybe "Bar Cote") even though I haven't been able to find a product with that actual name. I used a product called Envirotext Lite. I got it at Michael's, but I think it's available at most craft stores (and it looks like it's even available at Joann fabric stores); and you can order it numerous places online. It's not hard to find.

I got the 16-ounce kit (which is two 8oz bottles--one of the resin, and one of the hardener) which is supposed to cover four square feet. I mixed up a little to test, then still had plenty of cover my shield (a 32" x 30 heater). I might have been able to get by with the next smaller size kit (two 4oz bottles) but it would have been a little tight. And I didn't want to take any chances.

I slavishly followed the directions: add the two parts (I used everything that was left in the bottles) mix them vigorously for one minute; pour into a second clean container, mix vigorously for one minute, then pour immediately. 

This stuff had the viscosity of a really thick syrup. It slo-owly crept toward the edge of the shield. I ended up spreading it around with a paint stick, not unlike frosting a cake. It's self-leveling, but I helped it along when it looked like it was pooling up along the edge a bit. 

The smell wasn't bad at all. I think I could have done the job inside without my wife complaining. Since it's supposed to cure at 70 degrees, this would be the only option if coating a shield in the winter. 

I fussed with it for a couple minutes after it was all spread out, scraping the drips from under the edge, trying to build up a little more resin on the leading edge of the shield. But then I walked away for an hour.

It wasn't especially warm the day I did this, probably upper 50s, low 60s. When I came back an hour later it was still pretty soft, I could have easily pushed more of the material around if I wanted to. But it had leveled really well (my shield only has a slight curve) to a nice, smooth surface. I left it for another couple hours and went to see the new Star Trek movie with my wife (which, for the record, was awesome).

When I got back it was firming up, but I was still able to scrap off the drips with a little effort. I tried to open up the holes I had drilled for straps, but they continued to close up. I left it for about six hours. 

I was worried about the temperature, so I ended up bringing it inside to my basement shop overnight. I put a space heater next to it, but wasn't able to raise the temperature up much past 65 degrees. 

The next morning it was mostly cured, but I think I could have pressed a fingerprint into it if I really tried. I left it along for the rest of the day.

That evening I drilled out the resin from the holes. They drilled out easily, and didn't fracture or crack like I thought them might. In fact, in cleaning up the resin that dripped on the floor, I found it to be incredibly flexible. I could bend a thin sheet of it almost back onto itself without any visible damage.

I finished it up by gluing on some fabric on the inside and reattaching all the hardware and leather edging. 

I was a little worried that the gloss on the surface would be obnoxious, but it isn't bad at all. No worse than several coats of a sealer. 

I've found in a couple fight practices with it, and it hasn't done more than scuff up a bit. I also took it to a melee event this past weekend, and came home with a few scratches. Given the bumping and shoving it saw, I'm happy with that. None of the scratches were deep enough to reach the canvas below. I may try to apply a little more of the resin to fill the scratches, see how that goes.

All in all, it seems like a great product so far. Here's hoping it lasts. 

Complete kit

Finished up my new lamellar couple of weeks ago. The worst part was punching all the holes for the edging. I don't have any good photos of it, but I do have this video:



I'm even playing with my new tear drop center-grip! I like the way it moves, and I love the way it looks with my kit... I just need to get better at using it to block shots.

My lady is working on some new fighting clothes for Crown, which should be really sweet. But for the most part, this is my new kit, complete. 

Genius

A comic featuring, honest-to-God, the Tsar Cannon! (found via Subnormality web comic).

Another upgrade

Every since I got my new helmet, I've been wanting to upgrade my plastic lamellar. After Christmas I finally pulled the trigger.



That's 500 aluminum plates from Eldesarian Metal Works. I went with the brass anodized to keep the same golden look that I had with my plastic. I'm really pleased with how they look. They're a little more matte in finish than my plastic, and I think that'll look really good with my helmet, since the brasswork has an antiqued look; it's not bright and shiny.

I've ordered cord (ironically, from the plastic lamellar guys, they had the best prices and cheapest shipping I could find) and once it gets here, I'll start banging this thing together.

Once the vest is completed, I'm going to look pretty rockin' on the field. After I got my helmet and posted a few photos on Armour Archive I was contacted by someone from the Warriors of History website asking if I had any full body photos so they could add me to the site. This totally blew me away because my kit has been barely historic sport armor for-EVER. Never would I have imagined that I would be held up as an inspiration. I was incredibly flattered.

That said, I declined the offer because my kit wasn't there, not yet. Not with the plastic body armor.

But now, once I get this vest done, I'm going to take advantage of the kind offer and send them some photos. Well, after I do something about the footwear, too. Oh, and I suppose I'll need a tear drop shield, too. Does it ever end?

I'm totally an armor snob now.

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?