Pep Samurai armour

[Goodwolf]

Apologies if I'm making a noob gaffe here, but I've tried searching the forums and couldn't find anything.

Anyway, I've been wanting to give pepakura a go and do something I'm interested in as well. What I'm thinking of trying is making a set of samurai armour. Failing that a nice set of Lorica Segmentata would be a good project. Only problem is I can't seem to find anything on google. I've found tons of SW and Halo armours, but anything else is in pretty short supply out there.

Anybody have any site suggestions?

 

[Riceball]

Apologies if I'm making a noob gaffe here, but I've tried searching the forums and couldn't find anything.

Anyway, I've been wanting to give pepakura a go and do something I'm interested in as well. What I'm thinking of trying is making a set of samurai armour. Failing that a nice set of Lorica Segmentata would be a good project. Only problem is I can't seem to find anything on google. I've found tons of SW and Halo armours, but anything else is in pretty short supply out there.

Anybody have any site suggestions?

Samurai armor wouldn't be particularly well suited to Pep in my opinion. Classically samurai armor is form of lamellar which is made of lots of small plates sewn together. Given that I don't see any benefit or any real way of using Pep to make a set of yoroi; I'd recommend trying casting the pieces yourself. It would actually be pretty easy to sculpt and cast since they're just square or rectangular pieces with holes in them for the lacing; you could probably use a simple open faced mold to make them too. The only issue you would have is the time to cast and then lacing them together; you could speed the casting by sculpting multiple pieces and then molding them all at once, this way you get several pieces from each mold which will help speed the casting part up a bit.

If you don't want to try casting your own pieces I have seen a site that sells the pieces in large quantities that all you have to do is, maybe, drill your lacing holes and lace them together. Plastic Lamellar SCA Armor Home

As for lorica segmentata, that's also something that doesn't really benefit much from Pep. But you could use paper/casrdstock and resin like Pep, you can find patterns online if you look around and then you cut out the bands, form them and then glass them up. After it dries you'll just need to add the appropriate hardware and paint it up.

 

[tk1055]

Acctually that is only one type of Do, there are several.

Some were made from plates like that while others were made similar to European armor, meaning they were dished out of steel.

What you seek my friend is this place
Nihon Katchû Seisakuben -- An Online Japanese Armour Manual

on this site you will find EVERYTHING you need for a proper set of gusoku (armor)
including patterns! Enjoy.

 

[Riceball]

Acctually that is only one type of Do, there are several.

Some were made from plates like that while others were made similar to European armor, meaning they were dished out of steel.

What you seek my friend is this place
Nihon Katchû Seisakuben -- An Online Japanese Armour Manual

on this site you will find EVERYTHING you need for a proper set of gusoku (armor)
including patterns! Enjoy.

That's true but from what I've seen, even the European style Do used some lamellar construction in it; I believe the main part that was dished steel was the cuirass (sorry but I don't know the Japanese term) with shoulder guards and skirts still being lamellar.

Regardless, that link you posted will definitley be a lot of help for anyone who wants to attempt their own Japanese armor from scratch; it's probably the most detailed site that I've seen regarding this subject. I'd just be prepared to spend lots of time working on this because no matter what style of armor you make it's definitely going to take a while.

 

[Goodwolf]

Thanks for the replies.

I agree with Riceball that a pep file isn't the way to go here. I'm a total newb at it and I'd seen people doing the Halo and TK stuff and thought there might be a way to go about it.

Having said that, the Japanese armour is still something I'd like to have a go at, and that site posted by TK1055 is beyond awesome. Looks like I have my halloween project all picked out for the year.

 

[Effingham]

Acctually that is only one type of Do, there are several.

Some were made from plates like that while others were made similar to European armor, meaning they were dished out of steel.

What you seek my friend is this place
Nihon Katchû Seisakuben -- An Online Japanese Armour Manual

on this site you will find EVERYTHING you need for a proper set of gusoku (armor)
including patterns! Enjoy.

Glad you like my site.

 

[dreaminspired]

Glad you like my site.

really? are you anthony j bryant then?
i've enjoyed that website for years as well.

 

[dreaminspired]

oh yeah and i have those paperback books... osprey series i believe?

anyways, with the proper searching the original poster should be able to build a suit of samurai armor using methods similar to pep utilizing patterns found on that website.
i know because i've done it.

 

[Amish Trooper]

DI did make a very cool set. Didn't you use cardboard ?

 

[Jessica]

Oh cool! Please post photos of your progress. I just love samurai!!!

 

[tk1055]

Effingham, that site is my favorite one to pass on to anyone looking to build a suit of armor. You did a fantastic job making it easy to follow and understand.

 

[Effingham]

Thanks, guys. I really appreciate the kind words.

Yup, that is me. I. ummmm.... Ego sum.

 

[dreaminspired]

awesome!

yup, i used cardboard to do mine. it's really similar to pep IMO.

 

[dreaminspired]

here's a pic!

 

[Minkus]

I've been a long time lurker on this board, decided to post on this thread because this is a project I've been wanting to do as well and I thought I would share some reference pics I have found on the net. These are from the last samurai suit which is what I have been researching.