Haldir - Galadhrim Armor from Helm's Deep - Lord of the Rings

[liloandsith]

I tend to make my own weight (I know, more work) I usually take the same design/form that you'll find in men's collar in a regular shirt (to keep the points of the collar from curling). I simply took 3 collar's stays (glued together to make it thicker), made a plaster mold of it. After the mold was done, I poured lead into the stay and voilà! Works well and my ends are always pointy and don't curl

that method won’t work on a single layer cloak that needs to blow dramatically in the wind and gather so it lays correctly.

you could just use interfacing for any collar of any shape which is how they’re done in the industry. they make sew in (which i recommend) or iron on. they also have different weights of interfacing depending on how stiff you need something. i used the heavy duty interfacing for my Padme kimono sleeves. but using interfacing requires a lining that will sit in between.

 

[liloandsith]

Looks realistic! I like that it's still pretty subtle.
Are you using all acrylic paints again? I think I read in your Ringwraith thread that you used acrylic paints. Would you say that is the easiest way to apply realistic weathering and dirt to a costume? I've also read about using products like fullers earth to simulate dirt on fabric, though I don't have any experience with it.

yep all acrylic paint!

it will make it a bit crunchy on the hem where it’s pretty thick and i didn’t water it down until you wear it and it breaks down a bit. the hem is straight acrylic paint applied with a paper towel. the mud splatters are acrylic paint watered down to just the right texture (i’ll get a video next time im weathering with it) and the uruk blood is acrylic mixed with a smattering of flour.

i used fullers earth on my ringwraith too! i applied it with a spray on adhesive and sprinkled it around. but i also used powdered sage and cinnamon too it gives it a nice “been walking/riding on dusty roads for many miles” vibe where the acrylic application is more mud.

 

[mathew]

It is coming together great!
Btw I feel like there is a slight miscommunication about the "skirt". I think -and correct me if I am wrong- that the tip about weights was meant for the gold scale armor in the side of the legs? You seem to be talking about the cloak (which is very nice and needs no weights) which should billow in the wind

 

[liloandsith]

It is coming together great!
Btw I feel like there is a slight miscommunication about the "skirt". I think -and correct me if I am wrong- that the tip about weights was meant for the gold scale armor in the side of the legs? You seem to be talking about the cloak (which is very nice and needs no weights) which should billow in the wind

thank you!

that would make more sense and i wish they would’ve corrected me when i brought up the cloak again didn’t even consider they were talking about the gold armor skirt. thank you for pointing that out! i totally thought they were talking about the cloak which is why i was very confused and snippy.

 

[liloandsith]

I tend to make my own weight (I know, more work) I usually take the same design/form that you'll find in men's collar in a regular shirt (to keep the points of the collar from curling). I simply took 3 collar's stays (glued together to make it thicker), made a plaster mold of it. After the mold was done, I poured lead into the stay and voilà! Works well and my ends are always pointy and don't curl

someone else pointed out you were probs talking about the gold scale skirt and not the cloak being curly. which makes waaaaay more sense.

however, the gold skirt is pretty pliable bc of the fabrics used and can be shaped easily if needed. honestly wire would prolly be more affective in this situation since weight isn’t necessarily the issue. and i might add wire if it becomes bothersome after the con im making it for. food for thought. thank you!

sorry for being snippy and for the miscommunication!

 

[joberg]

someone else pointed out you were probs talking about the gold scale skirt and not the cloak being curly. which makes waaaaay more sense.

however, the gold skirt is pretty pliable bc of the fabrics used and can be shaped easily if needed. honestly wire would prolly be more affective in this situation since weight isn’t necessarily the issue. and i might add wire if it becomes bothersome after the con im making it for. food for thought. thank you!

sorry for being snippy and for the miscommunication!

No problem...you have to wake-up early for me to be "huffy" when people are responding vial email or other types. Words can, sometimes, be misconstrued; that's why nothing replaces face-to-face communication

 

[liloandsith]

I did another “quick” try on this morning before my husband had to leave with the wig. It took almost an hour to get fully into He’s requested more grime on the bottom of the gold scale skirt and the gloves so I’ll be adding that soon. Not today, it’s a bit windy and we’re looking at some more bad weather later.

I think I’ll add more dust to the boots but I use these for ren faire as well and I won’t be doing any heavy weathering. The dust currently on them is just dust from ren faire. I’ll use some Fuller’s Earth to blow more dust on them before the con.

I also lacquered the sword hilt yesterday and it looks so good I’m so happy with the wood grain paint job.

 

[joberg]

Very good that wood grain...with the wind, in the vid, I was praying "please wig, hold on!"

 

[liloandsith]

Very good that wood grain...with the wind, in the vid, I was praying "please wig, hold on!"

thank you!

that wigs not going anywhere! i clip the wigcap to my head and then secure the wig to in. i’ve learned the hard way

 

[liloandsith]

I have a few small updates from yesterday but not much. I spent most of the day sanding and priming (until I ran out of Filler Primer) the sheath

Blade 2.0 is now glued together. Waiting for it to completely cure so I can sand the excess, fill and dips, and get this attached to the hilt.

To attach 2.0 together, I drilled 2 holes in each piece and inserted metal rods to give the joins more ummph. I only did this to one of the seams on 1.0 and it helped so much with stability and a tiny bit of added weight to give it a good feel in hand.

I also got my ears ready to go. I use AradaniStudio ears and I cut out the middle so they only go around the shell of my ear and it makes them way more realistic.

I also thought I'd share another close up shot of the weathering on the armor. I had forgotten to do the mud splatter on the bracers the other day and had to do it later. It's not as dark now that it's dried. Weathering this armor was absolutely the right call. It gives it so much more life.

 

[liloandsith]

slow boring progress of sanding, filling gaps, primer, repeat…

got one side of the sheath put together and glued in the flannel. the other side is being difficult but getting close to this step.

I also had a setback with the gloves. One of my cats didn’t approve of their smell and peed on them soooo that has been a process to remedy. one is much darker now bc of the process of getting the smell and pee out of leather.

I washed the darker one fully with Dawn bc there was no other way to get them oder free. I tried several other options that did nothing. I had to get a leather oil (Fiebing’s mink oil because the leather is nubuck leather) to rehydrate it and that worked well but left it much darker. I did try to put the oil on the other which helped but it’ll just have to do. Just repainted the gold swirls back on and i’ll have to weather it after to match the other glove. yay…

I wrapped the braid twist tie in hair as well this week.

 

[liloandsith]

I HAVE HAD MUCH SUCCESS TODAY! HUZZAH!

the sword is complete except for weathering and the sheath is finally together. Glue is still drying but it is together and the sword fits in!

 

[Dr Jones Sr]

I won't be wearing the cloak around my neck like he does in the arrival scene. I tried it on wrapped around my neck and couldn't do it! It was awful and I feel for the actors that had to have it done up that way for shooting the arrival scene.

Game Of Thrones costumer Michele Clapton discussed this exact problem

"I realised that the cloaks were quite heavy and you couldn't have them just tie at the neck. They most likely wouldn't stay in place, and even if they did, they would run the risk of pulling tightly across the actors' necks, particularly in action scenes.

To solve the problem I designed leather straps that crossed the chest and buckled around the waist."

It makes me wonder what the LotR costumer went through trying to keep that cloak in place, and not choke the actor, during shooting.

Your costume is amazing!!

 

[joberg]

Great news about the sheath and the sword Keep up the great work

 

[liloandsith]

Game Of Thrones costumer Michele Clapton discussed this exact problem

"I realised that the cloaks were quite heavy and you couldn't have them just tie at the neck. They most likely wouldn't stay in place, and even if they did, they would run the risk of pulling tightly across the actors' necks, particularly in action scenes.

To solve the problem I designed leather straps that crossed the chest and buckled around the waist."

It makes me wonder what the LotR costumer went through trying to keep that cloak in place, and not choke the actor, during shooting.

Your costume is amazing!!

yeah, they did put the pin in the right place over the shoulder to distribute the weight so it didn’t actually choke them. The issue for me is that i just don’t like stuff up at my neck and there’s already one layer that has a high collar on this costume and I wouldn’t be able to handle another layer too close to my neck. It won’t choke you but it still touches your neck.

If you look at Haldir when he arrives, the cloak is over his shoulders where it should be. That’s how medieval people kept them from falling back and choking them. You put the pin over toward the shoulder and not under your chin. That distributes the weight properly. And that works for this cloak as well, but that doesn’t work while you need to be very mobile and have the cloak off your shoulders. It does choke you then. LOTR solved that with this costume by switching the way it attaches while they’re fighting.

I’m doing fighting version so i need it to be attached for fighting style.

 

[liloandsith]

Great news about the sheath and the sword Keep up the great work

Right?! I’m stoked I’m finally make actual progress on them both

 

[RamonvanVeghel]

Woah that sword & sheath is looking top notch, really good work! Your costume work is really inspiring. Also some really interesting trivia regarding the attachment of cloaks in LOTR and GOT.

 

[liloandsith]

Woah that sword & sheath is looking top notch, really good work! Your costume work is really inspiring. Also some really interesting trivia regarding the attachment of cloaks in LOTR and GOT.

thank you!!!

 

[liloandsith]

My soul hurts… I weathered the sword last night and slinging grubby paint over the beautiful hilt made my soul die a bit.

I also added the belt loops to the sheath with an epoxy putty. My print file didn’t have them (I believe the makers are adding them though to the files they are going to sell) so I went ahead and just added them myself. They’re not great but they are functional.

In between all of Haldir and Nazgûl stuff, I’m also working on a few upgrades for Anck Su Namun. I’ll prolly add a thread once she’s all done.

 

[liloandsith]

The sheath is COMPLETE-ish. It needs weathered but otherwise it is done!

The gold on the sheath is all done with Sharpie This photo was also before I touched up the little spots where gold got on the brown.

For those following along, all I have left is to weather the sheath and belt, add some "dust" to the boots once at the con, and I need to cover the black elastics in the two side braids of the wig.

Full try-on will prolly be my last post on this thread in the coming week.