Bad-ass Russian reinactors

Holy crap. These guys are nuts.

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.

Want!

The Tsar Cannon.


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

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?

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?

Garb to be

Once the armor is done (or done enough for now) I want to make a linen shirt for Pennsic. Some links for on-line sellers of linen:

http://www.fashionfabricsclub.com/

http://www.denverfabrics.com/ ("Up to 5 swatches (3x4") for 1 cent each, each additional swatch $1 each." WTF? )

http://www.fabrics-store.com/

I priced linen at JoAnn Fabrics and it was around $14/yard. The sites above list linen for half that price. Can it really be that much cheaper to buy online?

Future footware

Footware project for down the road:


Image here: http://www.sportsmansguide.com/cb/cb.asp?a=343055

These shoes might just pass as low turnshoes. Especially when wore with leg wraps (assuming the the costume shown here is accurate). I just wish they weren't in black. Wait a minute...


Image here: http://www.sportsmansguide.com/cb/cb.asp?a=343081

Cool! And they're Doc's! Also, the rounded toe is closer to what I've seen in period shoes (closer than the slip-ons above, at least). Seems like it wouldn't be that hard to remove the bungee cord and replace it with leather cord. Or maybe a leather band with latchet closure. The fabric heel is a little obnoxious, but if I could make leg wraps in the same color, they might not be noticeable. I bet those things would be comfortable as hell to walk around Pennsic in.