Thread Rating:
  • 0 Vote(s) - 0 Average
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
Making appliqués for a Lorica Cuirass Musculata cold castin
#1
Original Roman Gorgons on armor
[Image: gorgon4_JPG.jpg]

My cold cast appliqué
[Image: IMG_3977a.JPG]


Authenticity alert! I should have carved a negative image into stone with a hammer & chisel, melted down a few gold bars and poured the molten metal in... sorry but, that's just a wee bit beyond my abilities so I had to go with a more modern equivalent... cold casting.

To make the molds I softened the plasteline clay in the microwave for about 60 seconds and then pushed my small gorgon broach into the clay and engraved myself some wings, along with a small eagles head, and a snake ribbon under the chin (all of which are standard motif for a Roman Gorgon), using the wood clay tools in the images below.

Unfortunately, pretty much no one seems to make the appliqués necessary to copy standard Roman Lorica motif ( I found one set of Gryphons but they cost nearly $200 alone)… so, I needed to make my own.

[Image: IMG_3962.JPG]
Vale!

Antonivs Marivs Congianocvs
aka_ANTH0NY_C0NGIAN0

My ancient coin collection:
[url:3lgwsbe7]http://www.congiano.com/MyCoins/index.htm[/url]
Reply
#2
You can see my first failed attempt in the background! :oops:

[Image: IMG_3963.JPG]

I then mixed 3 parts cold cast liquid resin together with 1 part metal powder and poured it into the clay mold. (Note, I should have used a 1:1 metal powder to liquid resin ratio, unfortunately I didn't have enough metal powder so, the appliqués didn't come out very shinny but, I'm planning on finishing them off in gold and silver anyways.)

[Image: IMG_3964.JPG]

Once hardened, it came out of the plasteline clay but with some difficulty and a great deal of the clay was sort of stuck to the appliqué. I had to use a knife and then afterwards, while running it under hot water; I had to use an old toothbrush and soapy water to clean it all off.

[Image: IMG_3965.JPG]
Vale!

Antonivs Marivs Congianocvs
aka_ANTH0NY_C0NGIAN0

My ancient coin collection:
[url:3lgwsbe7]http://www.congiano.com/MyCoins/index.htm[/url]
Reply
#3
Then it was time for the Dremel to smooth everything out

[Image: IMG_3971.JPG]

Below are the rest of the appliques I made and an original example. Over all I think my armor's motif came out pretty good... at the very least the iconogy is accurate to what the high ranking officers and Emperors typically had in sculpture; a Gorgon/Medusa head with wings center top, two gryphons facing left & right while flanking a single stick candelabra with flame, and Lupa with Romulus & Remus nursing toward the bottom. (I purchased the shoulder thunderbolts last year from Nix Imperial)

UPDATED PHOTO
[Image: IMG_3982a.jpg]

[Image: loricatavatican1det3bw.jpg]


I still have to finish them off in gold & silver and then paint them in vibrant colors as the originals were... I might have them plated or I might try using gold and silver leaf, I'm not sure yet. Then again, I might just paint them.

If you want to see more details of this technique and how I made the other appliques… please click here:
[url:2ozfb615]http://www.congiano.com/Extras/Recreation/appliques.htm[/url]
Vale!

Antonivs Marivs Congianocvs
aka_ANTH0NY_C0NGIAN0

My ancient coin collection:
[url:3lgwsbe7]http://www.congiano.com/MyCoins/index.htm[/url]
Reply
#4
This is the Lupa, Romulus & Remus applique for the lower part of my lorica, that I made by making an impression of a small statue, filling in the head area, then turning lupa's head so it faced back.

[Image: IMG_3979.JPG]


This is me turning the head around after making the first impression

[Image: IMG_3859.JPG]

This is it coming out of the mold

[Image: cIMG_3863.jpg]


More examples here:
[url:pku15pj7]http://www.congiano.com/Extras/Recreation/appliques.htm[/url]
Vale!

Antonivs Marivs Congianocvs
aka_ANTH0NY_C0NGIAN0

My ancient coin collection:
[url:3lgwsbe7]http://www.congiano.com/MyCoins/index.htm[/url]
Reply
#5
looks super
Anton O\'\'N eil

the one the only the crazy
Reply
#6
Lookin' good. I really like the way you turned the lupa's head. How do you plan on attaching it to the breastplate?

I guess, I had always assumed the designs would have been embossed into the plate itself.
Marcus Julius Germanus
m.k.a. Brian Biesemeyer
S.P.Q.A.
Reply
#7
Quote:How do you plan on attaching it to the breastplate?

I guess, I had always assumed the designs would have been embossed into the plate itself.

Salve,

Thanks!

I'm most likely going to 'cold wield' 3 or 4 thin "L"-shaped brass strips to the back of each appliqué, pierce through my lorica, and then bend the brass strips over to hold them in place.

I puzzled over the embossing vs. appliqués idea myself... if you look back at the image of the 4 original Gorgons, the one in the upper right is very much likely to be an appliqué, just look at how thick it is; that is most likely not hammered out. The other three gorgons however; could very well be (and possibly are) embossed.
Vale!

Antonivs Marivs Congianocvs
aka_ANTH0NY_C0NGIAN0

My ancient coin collection:
[url:3lgwsbe7]http://www.congiano.com/MyCoins/index.htm[/url]
Reply
#8
Great job you've done there's, like to see the final look
and so we could say AVE CESAR Tongue
Christophe (due to my job, have to keep Incognito)
<a class="postlink" href="http://www.cinecreatif.com/images/produits/160675-018_2.jpg-tbn">http://www.cinecreatif.com/images/produ ... _2.jpg-tbn
The Legio i choose in regard of my area from Wikipedia, seems now to told else thing, can just tell that i am interested in a 1st Century AD Legionnary, Hamata and Lorica, Coolus to Gallus Italic, best of 2 Worlds
Reply
#9
Looks great Anthony! A laudes well-deserved.
Robert Vermaat
MODERATOR
FECTIO Late Romans
THE CAUSE OF WAR MUST BE JUST
(Maurikios-Strategikon, book VIII.2: Maxim 12)
Reply
#10
Thanks Robert!

I haven't attached the appliqués yet but... this is what they look like placed on my lorica...

[Image: IMG_3982a.jpg]
Vale!

Antonivs Marivs Congianocvs
aka_ANTH0NY_C0NGIAN0

My ancient coin collection:
[url:3lgwsbe7]http://www.congiano.com/MyCoins/index.htm[/url]
Reply
#11
that looks great so far i cant wait to see it when done
Anton O\'\'N eil

the one the only the crazy
Reply


Possibly Related Threads…
Thread Author Replies Views Last Post
  Making a lorica squamata for a seven year old boy - some questions Iskierka 1 840 10-15-2018, 04:04 AM
Last Post: Crispvs
  Leather Cuirass Lorica Musculata, I used to think no way but AntonivsMarivsCongianocvs 209 60,493 06-19-2013, 04:46 AM
Last Post: Vitruvius
  Major update by Travis Lee Clark Lorica Musculata Antonius Congianocus 6 4,230 01-06-2013, 02:27 PM
Last Post: Alexandr K

Forum Jump: