Cheap Realistic Fake Armor

[DanM]

Ave,

I'm partially redoing my roman armor. I peeled all the duct tape off my pilum, which is now a broom stick. I'll cutt off the end partially, then put on a wooden one of that box thing, and stick in a narrower silver stick, and make a point for it out of cardboard or something. I'll put more laces on my lorica segmentata, add them on the back, and fix the top strip. I will curve the corners of my scutum, and add a dessign, and reinforce it to take the semi-cyllyindrical shape. I'll make new cheek protectors on my helmet, and have them further forward. I'll redo the strip things on my belt by making them have better round silver things. I'll make better caligae, and use cadrboard for the soul. I'll make a styrofoam gladius, and I haven't figured out how to make a holder.

[AntonivsMarivsCongianocvs]

Salve,

After you make the gladius… what you could do is this… place your sword between two long thin sheets of cardboard.

Then trace out the sword leaving an extra inch or two all the way around.

Staple the cardboard all around the sword… if the sword doesn’t come out, then remove the staples and try again. If it comes out too easily… just staple the cardboard closer.

Once you have all the staples in place, cut out the scabbard (sword holder).

BTW: I just added an eagle head handle to my sword: link from old RAT

[gaiusseptimiuslucianus]

Ave,

I think its great you're working on your kit!

You mention that you're planning to make your gladius out of styrofoam and it reminds me of a sword I made. When I was your age I was into all things Viking and made a pretty decent looking longsword out of wooden lath for the blade and thicker stock for the hilt and pommel. The lath is nice because its cheap, you can get it at Home Depot and is about 1/4" thick. I shaped the blade, carved central fullers on each side, and painted it with silver paint. I included a tang on the blade and then built the hilt, grip and pommel on that. Then I painted up the hilt and pommel with model paint to look like iron with niello inlay. The whole thing cost me maybe $3.

Good luck with your work,

Lucianus