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Heroic Knight
 
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Thinking about constructing a small buckle on shield for the next eos event and I have a few questions. I've seen shields constructed out of carrymat foam and latexed over before, and I'm thinking this is the method I'd use (doesn't require much in the way of tools, etc). What kind of glue's best to use for sticking layers of foam together? And when it comes to arm straps, does anyone know how one would go about attaching them on to the back? Any other helpful hints from people who've done this before? I've just discovered the joys of playing about with latex, and think this could be quite a fun project! 
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Varas II - This time it's personal
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Prodigal
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| Evostik impact adhesive. laminate the buckler, cut slots in the back sheet of foam and pass the leather straps through the slots, then glue the front layer on. It hides the straps, stops them pulling out and reinforces the buckler all in one.
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Prodigal
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and if you really want a proper face to face answer, just ask! I'll bring a buckler along (I had one for sale at the EOS event, just haven't bothered to trade there as i'd prefer to leave my roleplaying IC and my trading OC) to the next Stromm and talk to you about it. Ask anything you like, i'll explain how it's done and what different types of grip, glue, method etc. Then you can decide what you want to make for yourself.
- PD: Captain Dubious (so i'm told) and all round Arms Dealer of Mill-en
- EOS: William Duyven, Fellowship of the Traveller
- RL: Ian, maker of fine LARP weapons
- www.makai-larp.co.uk
- Now providing replica firearms - delivered to every Maelstrom Event!
- Ok, i'll add "Free Delivery to Maelstrom and EOS"
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I do talk a good fight
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I've used the same method as Andy, and it works well.
Personally, if I'm using layers of foam, I like to laminate a layer of heavy cotton in between each layer of foam -- this adds a lot of strength to the foam. You might want to make the pieces of cotton slightly smaller than the pieces of foam, to ensure the very edge doesn't get too stiff, if you plan to use your shield offensively (i.e. if you're playing in a game that allows you to strike with a shield). If you do use the cotton lamination method, you can pass the straps over a layer of cotton AND foam, which again should reduce the likelihood of them tearing through the foam.
Edited to add -- the method being, glue the layer of cotton onto the foam (using an impact adhesive, again), then glue the next layer of foam onto the cotton.
I would strongly recommend covering the outside of the shield in either leather or canvas, for ease of construction and for durability. It looks a lot better than latex, too (in that the finished shield looks like a real shield, rather than a piece of foam & latex). Plus, you can paint heraldic or other designs directly onto the leather or canvas. Shields I've made this way have lasted indefinitely, so far.
http://www.hyboriantales.com
PD: Ghostdance ("The most irritating curse I've ever encountered" -- NPC played by H.)
Riftworld: Rossar Kuug ("Clearly mad, because he thinks he's a Com-Trow Skirmisher" - Aela)
Hyborian Tales: Crew, cook, dogsbody, general labourer, toilet cleaner ("Dangerously overoptimistic ref" -- Tom Nowell)
Otherwise usually crew ("Quite spry & fit, & willing to wear a big costume & run around a lot" -- various event organisers)
"My other oversized foam weapon is THE LORD" -- Questionable Content
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Heroic Knight
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Thanks for the info about laminating and strapping, and the offer of a look at one of yours, Ian (if I get the time oc I shall stop by at the Carnival - I meant to say hi at the weekend, but never got the opportunity)! As far as the surface goes, I'm absolutely not planning on having the face of one of the dead PC's from the weekend's event nailed onto it, and therefore latex isn't absolutely going to be the way forwards (although if I were and I was using thick black cotton for laminating, I might do an outside layer of that for the corners and then have the body parts on top of that). Oh no. I would never do anything like that.
*looks innocent and tiptoes away*
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Varas II - This time it's personal
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Prodigal
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Dont worry - I generally ignore those people i'm not supposed to know IC or want to interract with, even though i'm squeeling inside  Another classic double-take you were, along with a few others. ("Christ! That's Katherine!!!") I sort of agree with Ian S that it looks better if it has a more natural finish, I just prefer to latex it and seal for durability and if I want natural the cheap way is to put a nice cover on it - then you never have to repaint it and if you want to change for a new character you just take the cover off and put a new one on. I do shields either metal or wood and metal-looking. Covers most sins and so does anything you put over it, like a cover, with body parts attached, hanging nicely, with blood etc dripping off.......
- PD: Captain Dubious (so i'm told) and all round Arms Dealer of Mill-en
- EOS: William Duyven, Fellowship of the Traveller
- RL: Ian, maker of fine LARP weapons
- www.makai-larp.co.uk
- Now providing replica firearms - delivered to every Maelstrom Event!
- Ok, i'll add "Free Delivery to Maelstrom and EOS"
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I do talk a good fight
Group: System Moderators
Last Login: Today @ 9:40 PM
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I think that if you want changeable covers, then a leather outer part of the shield, with a variety of canvas covers, is WAY more durable than latex. That's if you want shields that last 10+ years without needing any maintenance...
http://www.hyboriantales.com
PD: Ghostdance ("The most irritating curse I've ever encountered" -- NPC played by H.)
Riftworld: Rossar Kuug ("Clearly mad, because he thinks he's a Com-Trow Skirmisher" - Aela)
Hyborian Tales: Crew, cook, dogsbody, general labourer, toilet cleaner ("Dangerously overoptimistic ref" -- Tom Nowell)
Otherwise usually crew ("Quite spry & fit, & willing to wear a big costume & run around a lot" -- various event organisers)
"My other oversized foam weapon is THE LORD" -- Questionable Content
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Apprentice
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Last Login: Wednesday, July 30, 2008 5:29 PM
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I managed to make a nice durable and sfae buckler using the 3 pound foam kids shield from toymaster. They are 15 inch foam shields that come in frankly appalling colours with a simple but surprisingly sturdy strap.
The foam is in no way thick enougth to make it larp safe but the glue is pva like and so all you need to do is take the handle of clean it up and glue another 2cm of plaztazote onto the shield and then readd the handle.
They have easly passed Lt regs and make good monster shields or nice little bucklers. I even hang mine of my belt so I can be a proper swashbuckler.
any way they are cheap to make and easy to I have three now.
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