10-18-2007, 05:03 PM
Khairete!
There's no need to go to brazing, which is more like welding--higher temperatures, etc. Pretty much any regular solder should work, whether leaded or lead-free (mostly tin). Such fittings would have been soldered with lead in ancient times, so you don't have to worry about the color of the solder matching the brass or bronze of the helmet. Excess solder can be filed off easily, so it hardly shows. I don't remember what I used, might have been flux-core electronics solder. I generally use a propane torch for soldering, but a soldering iron will probably work.
Deepeeka probably started painting the inside black because someone told them that IRON helmets would have been black from the forge inside. You can remove as much as necessary with no fear of rust, eh?
For the block itself, I started by tracing the outline of the helmet onto cardboard, though I don't remember how I did that! Might have laid the helmet on its side and just tried to keep a pencil vertical as I traced, might have used a lamp to cast a shadow. Anyway, cut out the initial shape on cardboard and fit and trim repeatedly until it matches very nicely. Then draw a matching curve 1-1/2 inches out from that to get the outline of your crest box--or 2 inches or whatever you choose. I'm pretty sure the height of the block should be pretty much the same from front to back, not taller in the front as Deepeeka does. But check the vase paintings!
I'm seeing some GREAT crests, here!! Have fun,
Matthew
There's no need to go to brazing, which is more like welding--higher temperatures, etc. Pretty much any regular solder should work, whether leaded or lead-free (mostly tin). Such fittings would have been soldered with lead in ancient times, so you don't have to worry about the color of the solder matching the brass or bronze of the helmet. Excess solder can be filed off easily, so it hardly shows. I don't remember what I used, might have been flux-core electronics solder. I generally use a propane torch for soldering, but a soldering iron will probably work.
Deepeeka probably started painting the inside black because someone told them that IRON helmets would have been black from the forge inside. You can remove as much as necessary with no fear of rust, eh?
For the block itself, I started by tracing the outline of the helmet onto cardboard, though I don't remember how I did that! Might have laid the helmet on its side and just tried to keep a pencil vertical as I traced, might have used a lamp to cast a shadow. Anyway, cut out the initial shape on cardboard and fit and trim repeatedly until it matches very nicely. Then draw a matching curve 1-1/2 inches out from that to get the outline of your crest box--or 2 inches or whatever you choose. I'm pretty sure the height of the block should be pretty much the same from front to back, not taller in the front as Deepeeka does. But check the vase paintings!
I'm seeing some GREAT crests, here!! Have fun,
Matthew
Matthew Amt (Quintus)
Legio XX, USA
<a class="postlink" href="http://www.larp.com/legioxx/">http://www.larp.com/legioxx/
Legio XX, USA
<a class="postlink" href="http://www.larp.com/legioxx/">http://www.larp.com/legioxx/
