Haldir from LOTR - Helm's Deep 3rd Age Armor

[Guri]

Unfortunately the costume I made for myself that I love the most did not end up having any high quality photos taken of it in full length. And there are some updated versions of the costume that didn't get any close up or decent photos of it at all. So, here are a few of the best ones I do have:

With the sword:

The above hip armor, like the chest armor and other pieces, was cardboard and clay. The below hip armor and shoulder bells were made out of craft foam... a brilliant idea from Gen/Penwiper, to whom I am eternally grateful for her creative ingenuity!!

Here's a group of us. Gen is to the left of me (my left) and her armor is all craft foam - amazing. Four of the others made their costumes by CASTING it (so impressive) and they have REAL leather - (far out-doing mine). This crew was incredibly fun 'trooping' with.

And this is us with Craig Parker who played Haldir:

• What inspired you - The moment Haldir showed up on the screen walking into Helm's Deep, I fell in love with the costume and the character. It was the most beautiful armor I'd ever seen. It took me 2 months to decide I had to make it and I didn't care how hard it was going to be.

• How long it took - 8 months. I was determined to go to Dcon for the first time and bring this costume with me. I did it, but given it was my first major costume I had no idea what I was doing so pieces kept falling off and it kept coming apart. I remember Art helped me out with his emergency supply of duct tape, string and pins. :lol

An artist friend of mine thought the story was so funny she made a series of cartoons to commemorate the event:

Because of the clay it was also really heavy...

• How much it cost - I have no idea. I didn't keep track, but probably over $300... more if you include having to redo pieces over the years.

• Tips. - If you love something, don't hold yourself back from doing it just because it looks hard or out of your league. Go for it, even if it isn't perfect. ...And then take lots of pictures.

And here's my tutorial website that gives step by step instructions for almost every piece, with various materials even down to what the writing on the hip armor means in Sindarin. It's a bit incomplete, but it still could be helpful.

 

[CelticRuins]

So amazing!

And I love the comics! :lol!

 

[AdamWest]

WOW! Most impressive

 

[Pimperella]

Lovely Work. How did you find using Cardboard with Clay and it lasting? Belly Leather is really good to carve but is a good thickness for Armour. Cheap aswell if you search about.


I have spent days watching all the making/Concept sections on both DVD then all again and more on Blueray lol. Massive passion of mine and Hubby's is the world of Tolkien, so much so that our son is named Beren.
I was looking at doing Rohan Horse Tack. Like Saddle, Bridles etc. Got loads of leather hides and suede splits all waiting for me to get the courage to do it. Even got a Western Saddle Tree to build the saddle on.

So far I just have the Aragorn Costume I made him years ago. Cost me £50 for the Wool Fabric for the cloak (would have loved to get the real weave stuff made out of one certain NZ Breed they made the real ones with but sooooo pricey! Even the wool on it's own)


and I always carry a sewing kit and Glue Gun when it comes to being out in Costume. Sometimes it isn't even your costume at fault but someone pushing past in a busy hall.

 

[Guri]

Thanks Adam and CelticRuins.

Lovely Work. How did you find using Cardboard with Clay and it lasting? Belly Leather is really good to carve but is a good thickness for Armour. Cheap aswell if you search about.

I put duct tape on the cardboard and it was an epoxy clay called Gapoxio that I used. Fix-it is similar and I have something that I'm using for another piece I'm making (I forget what it's called)

To answer your question, where it was thick, it lasted, where it was thin, it cracked. The trouble is, getting a big piece like the chest armor to be thick makes it SUPER heavy. And getting it to be evenly distributed is not easy.

I do not recommend this method for this piece if you can do vacuum form or are happy with the look of the craft foam.


I have never heard of belly leather, I'll have to look it up.

I was looking at doing Rohan Horse Tack. Like Saddle, Bridles etc. Got loads of leather hides and suede splits all waiting for me to get the courage to do it. Even got a Western Saddle Tree to build the saddle on.

Oh, that would be amazing! I hope you end up doing it!

and I always carry a sewing kit and Glue Gun when it comes to being out in Costume. Sometimes it isn't even your costume at fault but someone pushing past in a busy hall.

Great idea! I have something similar now, but I also try to build my stuff to wear.

Something I forgot to mention was - I couldn't sit down in the armor. So whenever I wore it, I had to stand the entire time, or lean on something. With all that weight it was dreadfully painful. Go light, if you can for armor!

Oh, and when I met a few of those who played elves at Helm's Deep, they said they couldn't sit down in the movie made costume either... they had to stay in it for much, much longer, but theirs was made out of lighter fiberglass.

 

[DOS Ferg 242]

I love the pic of you holding the head - nice touch.

 

[Guri]

Thanks!! That was from a friend's costume.

Also, I brought the last piece of the armor (the wrist guards are all that has survived) with me to Dcon and was able to ask Craig Parker to sign it!

I'm not that big into autographs, but this one means a lot... Now, I have to run into Daniel Falconer again and get him to sign the other one!!! That would be amazing.