So yesterday I was rummaging through my costume closet when I spotted that dusty old knight armor set from Halloween two years back. Figured it was time to revive the ol’ tin can suit with some fresh combos. Pulled all the pieces onto my workbench and started playing mix-n-match like a kid with LEGOs.
The base pieces situation
First I laid out all components: standard breastplate, three different helmets (close-helm, sallet, and bascinet), chainmail skirt thingy, plus leather gloves and metal boots. All silver-toned except one helmet that had ugly gold accents – looked like cheap fast-food packaging. Grabbed my silver spray paint immediately and fixed that eyesore behind the garage.
Failed attempts and frustrations
Tried combining the fancy feathered helmet with the breastplate but looked like a plucked chicken. Swapped for the chainmail coif but the shoulder gaps showed too much. Almost gave up when I realized I was missing pieces – my leg greaves were still buried under last year’s vampire cape. Dug through three storage tubs sweating bullets till they turned up behind the inflatable dragon.
The winning trio
Combo #1: Tournament Ready
Went full plate with the polished bascinet helmet plus gorget piece. Added the chainmail sleeves under plate arms for mobility. Looked proper heavy like tournament knights but could actually raise arms without poking myself.
Combo #2: Scouting Knight
Stripped down to just breastplate with the lightweight sallet helmet. Used the leather gloves and boots with no leg armor – felt way more mobile. Threw on the tabard for color and realized how practical this lighter setup would be for horseback scenes.
Combo #3: Castle Guard Vibes
Full chainmail hood under the simple close-helm helmet. Combined breastplate with that skirt-like mail fauld thing. Looked less flashy but super functional – perfect background guard look where you need to stand for hours.
Surprise discoveries
Biggest shock was how weather matters! First tried modeling outdoors at noon – sun turned that metal into a frying pan. Nearly cooked myself alive before retreating to shade. Also learned all armor rattles when walking upstairs – neighbor thought I was dropping pots till I opened the door looking like medieval Iron Man.
Final takeaways:
- Mixing plate and chainmail = instant authentic look
- Helmet choice changes the whole character vibe
- Tabards hide cheap spots and add personality
- NEVER test armor on carpet – knee plates snag every fiber
That bascinet combo still feels awesome – might accidentally wear it grocery shopping tomorrow just for kicks.
