Question about mail coats

[ChaosCossack]

Hey All

I've been watching the "Viking" series on History TV and reading Bernard Cornwell's "Saxon'' series and my mind is bursting with ideas. However, I am a Napoleonics guy and my detail knowledge of this era is more than limited.

These questions, I pose to the Dark Ages experts:
In Vikings, the Saxons are depicted wearing "mail" that looks more like small rectagular plates sewn to a leather jerkin.... Is this correct? Or would they have worn ring mail? Would the Danes/Norse have worn ring mail?

Now to the sculptors:
What is a good technique to render ring mail in 54mm using Magic Sculpt?

Thanx in advance for any info or advise

Colin

 

[Helm]

Either would be possible Colin the rectangular stuff ( I guess not having seen said series) is called lamellar and remained popular in the East longer after it had feel out of use in the West
Steve

 

[Paul Kernan]

Colin:

Now I have never tried it but from what I have read in the past, here goes. You take the appropriate sized tube and carefully sand/grind the opening leaving a C shape. Depending on the scale desired, you could use everything from a hypodermic needle up to railway layout size tubes. Working in small areas at a time, you apply the Magic Sculpt and then carefully use the tube to leave the link impression in an overlapping pattern.

I know some folk use Duro for this type of work. A bit on the sticky side to use but good for small detail stuff.

Paul

 

[diamond cutter]

What Paul said!
It looks better if the little 'c' rows are reversed every row ie-one row of 'c''s facing one way and the next row facing the other way.
I use talc to stop the syringe clogging up so much.
Hope this helps?
Pete

 

[ChaosCossack]

Thanx Guys,

@Steve- thanx, So the lamellar is viable for Saxon armour, hmm. If u haven't seen Vikings, it's the same kind of armour they had the english wearing in Braveheart... I always thought it was a little "Hollywood-ish" but I stand corrected.

@Paul and Pete- That sounds tedious but a hell of a sight easier than I was expecting. And toolwise, it's right inmy wheelhouse... I work at a hospital so the hypodermic supply is limitless. One question, would I start from the top down or bottom up?

Thanx again

Colin

 

[Helm]

Here Colin this might help

 

[diamond cutter]

That's cool artwork there Steve.
I usualy start at the bottom and work up
Mike Wilkinson got a hold of an old ladies purse made of chainmail with very small links which he kindly gave to me, and I'm using it on a 200mm figure.
It's pretty hard going as it looks to be made from old gold! It looks the biz though!

 

[Helm]

Cheers Pete it's one I have knocking about in my bookmarks it's quite handy, all kudos to the artist though I just linked it, kinda curious about the 200mm figure though Pete

Steve

 

[ChaosCossack]

Steve
Is the one on the left a Northman and the one on the right a Saxon?

 

[Helm]

They are both Norse the one holding a shield is a member of the Varangian Guard http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Varangian_Guard, the equipment of just about everyone in Western Europe (and a large part of the East) was virtually identical , sword,spear and axe being the most common weapons and leather armour for the bulk of the troops with mail/lamellar equipment for the richer/better equipped troops usually nobles and bodyguards. For all practical purposes on the battlefield you wouldn't be able to tell a Saxon from a Northman with any certainty

Steve

 

[housecarl]

There's a bit on it here, and here.
Carl.

 

[ChaosCossack]

Both very helpful, Thanx Carl

 

[Sturm Grenadier]

Sorry Colin, here are the photos:Regards, SG

 

[ChaosCossack]

Thanx SG... There was some intersting stuff on the answerlady's site but the other attachments didn't show up.
You got me... I have an image of a 5 or 6 figure dio of a Dane v Saxon shieldwall battle... A bit of a diversion from the "Horse and Musket" era

 

[ChaosCossack]

Ignore my last comment... there they are!