How to Decorate Steel Armour

Armor was functional but still highly decorative.

Medieval fantasy armor is often portrayed in a fashion that is far more stylized than that of the real thing. Real-life knights and armor smiths were worried about creating stylish and interesting suits of armor while also having a functionality that effectively protects the warrior in battle. Functional armor must cover vulnerable parts of the body, not place excessive weight in one area through overlapping parts and protect the knight from heat transfer as the heat of sunlight is conducted to the body.

Things You'll Need

• Degreaser
• Rag
• Orbital sander
• Primer
• Paint
• Sandpaper
• Adhesive
• Mercury
• Cloak

Instructions

1. Choose the materials you will make your armor out of. Consider combining leather with steel to make the armor more comfortable and cost less. Leather was commonly used as a foundational material throughout the Middle Ages; poor soldiers, for example, made use of ring armor. Brigandine armor had small steel and iron plates between layers of leather and was worn over plate armor for added protection. Some armor consists of splints attached to leather. Metal parts of armor sometimes consist of both mail and plate, which can be used interchangeably to create custom styles. Mail armor is made from linked chains.

2. Add color to the armor with paint. Clean the steel before painting it with a degreaser. Spray the metal, wipe it with a rag, spray it again and wipe it until the rag comes back clean. Purchase a 80- or 120-grit sandpaper pad designed to fit on an orbital sander. Peel off the sandpaper pad from a plastic strip that comes with it, line up the holes in the sandpaper with the holes on the sander and press the pad against the sander so the adhesive attaches. Use the orbital sander to smooth out the armor before cleaning the steel again with a degreaser.

3. Apply primer to the metal before applying paint. Sand the steel with 600-grit sandpaper. Sand lightly and make use of your hand to feel rough edges. Paint certain areas specific colors that will stand out and look stylish.

4. Apply heat to the metal. Heat changes the color of the metal and produces colors that let you create contrast between other shades on the armor. Armor can turn darker or bluish. Apply heat until the armor turns into the color you want.

5. Wear a cloak over your armor. Cloaks let you add more color to your suit. Simply find a cloak that is long enough to fit your height and large enough to fit over the armor. Choose a cloak with a color that blends into or contrasts with the armor.

Tips & Warnings

• Consider using brass and bronze as decorative trims.

References

• The Mercenaries: Finding the Reality in Fantasy: Armor
• The Mercenaries: Armor Types
• Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History: Techniques of Decoration on Arms and Armor
• Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History