събота, 17 ноември 2012 г.

Leather gauntlet/bracer combo

In fantasy and medieval games I usually wear forged plate arms, which cover all the way from my wrist up to the middle of my bicep and combine it with chainmail gloves. However for some games I need lighter armour, so  I decided to make leather bracers. After browsing a bit online I discovered a design on eBay, that combined both the bracer and the gauntlet, which I didn't quite like, but I figured I could use the idea and design something I like better. So I started with a blank sheet of A4 paper and marked the middle of its short sides:




Then I used a pencil to roughly trace my arm's shape on the paper and based on this rough shape I sketched a rough shape of the bracer.




The paper is then fold on the center line and cut following the sketched lines:



After a few tests, during which I wrapped the template around my arm, I realized that it's quite long and at the same time too narrow to cover my arm well enough, so I taped another sheet to the first one and enlarged the design by approximately 3 centimeters:



After a few more rounds of taping, cutting and wrapping it around my arm I came out with this basic template:



However while I liked the initial result, I wanted something with a more fantasy looks, so I traced the template to a new sheet of paper and started modifying it:



Next thing I needed was a template for a few overlapping pieces which would form the gauntlet. The initial size was easy to figure - I wanted them to overlap by about 2 cm, so I decided they needed to be 5 cm long and the width was measured at the foremost end of the bracer - 7 cm. However a measure of my hand showed that they need to be 9 cm wide to adequately cover it. So I drew a 9x5 cm rectangle and started playing with it:



Finally I came up with this shape:




It is now time for a mock-up. For this I needed a few more scales, so I traced the scale template and cut 5 more scales:



When I finally liked rivet locations after a few hours of punching holes, taping them, punching more and taping them again and again and again, it was time to trace the shape to the leather I have chosen. Actually "leather" is quite a strong word, as it is pure 2mm thick PVC. However I chose it, because it looks enough like leather with its leather-like texture and meanwhile is ways easier to obtain and about a hundred times cheaper than thick leather.

I tried to trace the shape using white chalk, but it wouldn't leave a clear line on the PVC imitation leather, so I had to use white tire marker



Then I cut all the pieces, punched the holes and of course I couldn't wait for the first mock-up assembly of the bracers:






Now it's time for all the straps and buckles that will hold the entire thing on my arm. I cut the straps from the same material.


Then I fold about 2 cm from the end of the strap...


...and punch a hole near the folded end using a 3mm drift.


The result is two holes almost touching each other:


Next step is to cut the material between the two holes using a scalpel, thus forming an oval hole:


Insert the buckle:


And punch another hole for the rivet, that will hold the buckle in place:


The finished strap:


A minute later cut to size and with a hole for the rivet that will connect it to the bracer:


Repeat 5 more times:


Next thing I needed were the straps with the holes for the other end. First I cut them:


Then I punch the holes:


And voila - there's a set of straps for the bracer:


I also needed two straps for the finger loops. I cut them and punched some holes in them to match the holes in the foremost scale of the gauntlet:


And finally the time for the final assembly:


With the two bracers assembled the only thing that remained was to hammer the rivets. Finally I've got a pair of leather bracers, which also protect my hands:





Hello World!

I'm Mayvena and this is my new blog, dedicated to creating various LARP props and accessories. I craft various props and I'll be posting tutorials on anything I do.
 
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