I have been entertaining the thought of making a new suit of armor for Ren Fest and/or LARPing then Indoril amor came to mind. I know the plates are made of laminated chitin with gold leaf and decorations but is there any record of what the blue parts (tasets, inside pauldrons, and back)are made of. If there isn't, what your guess be?

Oz

the back of the helm, shirt, and skirt are a dark, fine chainmail (though I would make them out of a shiny cloth, as its more practical). the pants and the shawl are cloth. incidentally, i'm in the middle of making the helm

Spider silk?

If not, it is likely silk from Cyrodiil. They aren't blue jeans.

Woah, I totally want to make one now too.
It'll be a fine replacement since I seem to have misplaced my Gray Cowl...


On that note though, from my experience silk can get pretty uncomfortable at times, since some types don't breathe well and generate a lot of static. An alternative might be nice.

personally, i don't think it looks much like silk. i think a quality cotton or linen would be just as well.

[Cotton] spores from the Emperor parasols?

http://www.uesp.net/wiki/File:MW_Armor_IndorilM.jpg

Look at the way it draqes on the thighs there. It's kind of shiny--it looks silken to me. That said, if you don't want to go with silk, cotton could simulate that well enough. Linen might be a bit too dull.

By the way, in case you're looking for something to make the plate segments from, you might try Wonderflex. Basically plastic you can mold with nothing but a pair of gloves, scissors, and some hot water.

However, it will require some thick layers of paint to get a smooth look. Glossy paint will really show up on the rough surface. Of course, that could be desirable considering Chitin is made from insect exoskeleton. Might give it a fair organic look to it.

What I was thinking of doing for the plate was either grinding some chitin and mixing it with a bit of 2 part resin or just shaping some brass and bronze sheet. I have access to a shop for 8 hours a week over the summer. The chain maille is actualy not impractical, It's quite simple to make the problem is bluing the steel to the right shade, but that's why there are things like armorarchive.org and theringlord.org/forum. I'll probably be making the pauldrons and helmet more like the original http://www.imperial-library.info/gallery/mw_TAoM_p26.jpg.

Oh wow, really going all out then! I can't wait to see it!

chainmail may be relatively simple, but it takes time and money. as you said, the color is a problem and you also won't get it to draqe like it does in the texture. my biggest consideration was the weight, as having that much of it on ya is rather heavy and not practical for all day wear.

for what its worth, i'm using plaster. to make the actual armor. my biggest concern atm is the crest, can't figure out what i'd use for that.

Mail is actually really comfortable if it's made well. The weight is distributed evenly across one's body, so it almost feels like a second skin. It's also so flexible that there's no loss to movement.

And it often works to absorb heat from your body when it's hot out! (However, it will make you colder when it's cold out...)

Lady Nerevar, I'm a college art student with a part time job at wal-mart, I'v got time . Also if you make your own rings, maille is realy cheep to make at $3.20/ 50ft role or $5.75/lb of 16ga(coat hanger thickness) stainless steel plus about $10-$20 in tools. shipping ground from Canada to Houston is a pain though. If you are going to do maille, avoid galvanized steel, it makes your hands smell bad after you work with it. Aluminum is nice though, it can be anodized tand it's 1/3 the lbs. As for the draping, you'd be amazed what maille can do with a bit of spring steel caging/chikenwire. Comfort wise, Nocturnal is right, but with the plate I'll probably have to where a gambison.

I almost for got. I'm waiting on a reply from a armoring forum on how to do the crest. I'll post any thing helpful from there.

maybe we (bro and i) just aren't doing our mail right my concern with the draping was the definition of the folds, which are pretty delicate. I suppose if the mail is fine enough it could hang like that, but what i've seen doesn't seem to be able to do that.

as for weight... i'm 110 pounds. a full suit would probably end up at half my weight then again, i'm making this armor for bro, so if he wishes to make me enough chainmail its his thing.

mind if i ask where you're studying?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RssIl2v0C1k

Some good points. Check out his other two videos on chainmail as well.

I'm glad you asked.
supplies:
http://theringlord.com/
Advice:
http://theringlord.org/forum/
Patterns:
http://www.mailleartisans.org/weaves/

Lady Nerevar: Would it be possible for a picture of the helmet? Thanks