What Hobbies do you do that are nerdy

[slewthy]

I used to make reproduction medieval armor.

I basically fancied owning a suit of armor but they were too expensive, so I taught myself to make some.

Bit like most of my projects- seem like impossible tasks until you research them, deconstruct into their separate components and realise that, if someone else can do it, so can you!

Started with maille (chain mail to you heathens); moved to a Roman Lorica segmentata and then progressed to proper articulated armor, usually of the Milanese type but also made a great helm and a Norman Spangen helm. Pig faced bascinet somewhere in the loft too.

I have no interest at all in wearing the stuff,so most is unpadded and horrific to wear, but you could in  an emergency.

So, when the Zombie apocolypse comes......

 

Oh, and I made this...in case I shrank and had to sail away!

[Bibs]

Armor pics please

[s4simon]

Ooooh - my daughter makes chain mail and armour stuff for her cosplay nerdy thing that she does.

 

 

 

[s4simon]

Some of the LED kits arrived today so spent the morning sticking them in.  :-)

 

 

[Simon350S]

Very cool Simon, no comment on the picture of your daughter, that wouldn't be appropriate

[pete]

unlike you Simon

[Simon350S]

Thanks Pete

I very recently, now have a girlfriend...... How times change...

Plus, I may be crude and vulgar at times, but I'm always respectful with it....!!!!

Edited January 16, 2015 by Simon350S

[pete]

wow looking forward to the next get together

[Roger 912]

 

I am playing the part on the left, Danny Stiller and there are two more clips of our last production under Old Actors 3 and Old Actors 4

 

The play is called Old actors Never Die and is a comedy written by Lyn Brittney.

[Simon350S]

Love it

[slewthy]

Whilst sorting out the attic, took some pics of my armour attempts from a few years BE (Before Esprit), hence the darkness!

Dont have the maille coif anymore - dad has that with the spangenhelm but they were my first projects after this:

Roman Lorica segmentata based on items found in the Corbridge hoard. This required very little metal shaping, just cutting, bending and finishing. Oh, apart from all the hinges and hooks that had to be made from scratch. This is now gaining some rust as I failedto fully protect it after assembly. As well, looking old I guess..

I then moved onto some easy metal dishing - coaxing metal into a bowl shape. This is a 14thC great helm; these might have been worn over the top of a much smaller helmet!! These have been found in some unusual places - buried under a tree, handing in the belfry of cathedrals.  Only 4 such items survive.

Now, I moved onto something a little more tricky. A Deeply dished  bascinet. This is actually formed from 2 halves which were then welded together and the complex nose is made from composite shaped, then welded. Getting much closer to the original idea I had of owning a proper suit of armour!

Here are a pair of gauntlets, Milanese style. The left is not jointed at the wrist as this would have held a heavy lance whereas the right needs more mobility for the sword. the mitten gauntlets are far more common than the fingered ones since they were far stronger and cheaper(quicker) to make. The are followed by a matching elbow rerebrace/vambrace.

[molemot]

That armour is probably just as good as the originals would have been!! A nice piece of work....

[Kimbers]

Love the helmet!

 

My collections are still WW1 postcards and Model Cars, but I haven't had any new Model cars for a few years. I now have new Computer games but I am equally as geeky!

[Mark Blanchard]

Collecting guitars - Nerd level 3

Collecting model cars - Nerd level 8

Doing Photography - Nerd level 5

Creating websites for my hobbies - Nerd level 8

Spending lots of time on an internet Lotus forum - Nerd level 10

[GordonMasson]

Don't know if you would call it nerdy but many years back a guy I worked with picked up 3 oranges and started juggling them out of the blue and then just put them back in the bowl without saying anything and carried on the conversation.

I thought that it was so cool so I started got learn myself.

Got to the point where I was pretty good but the juggling balls got lost somewhere and I stopped.

Just started doing it again and unfortunately it's like I had never done it before.

5 mins a day while I am waiting for the kettle to boil etc and I am starting to improve

[Al]

Looking forward to the next curry night then Gordon!  I'll get ready to duck.

 

My semi nerdy thing was collecting miniatures as in booze miniatures.  Quickly got to about 1,200 about 27 years ago from an initial 30 that are just post war and were my granddad's which is what started me off when he died in 76.  Then realised becoming anal and no space to display when we moved house.  It took a re-organisation of the kitchen 15 years ago to find the space again and had a bespoke cabinet made.  Still a talking point due to travelling the world for the last 40 years with my job.  Now currently planning a new house self build and yes we are allowing space for them in my study.  For the last few years I have only picked up the odd one or two on holidays or wherever as a memento rather than the mass buying I used to do.

 

Another thing I found out recently was the value of my childhood Commando mags collection.  I have several hunted of very low numbered ones and found the box in attic from my childhood.  Quick look on e-bay has my interest piqued shall we say.  Finding the time to do anything about it though is something else.............

[mayevora]

Gordon. I can juggle 3 in 2 hands and 2 in 1 hand but could never do 4 in 2 hands. Hand/eye coordination not good enough and too many hours practice needed for the people who can. Note to self - showing off trying to juggle eggs after a few beers is never going to end that well.

[GordonMasson]

Not got as far as doing it with knifes yet Al but when I do, be afraid, be VERY afraid!

 

Way ahead of me at the moment Ian, even when I could do it I didn't get beyond 3 equal weight and size balls in 2 hands!

[hyteck9]

As mentioned earlier in the thread, I'm a Star Wars nerd, so to continue the theme here's a picture of my R2 I'm building, yes it's 1:1!

I've just finished working out all the markings and have now printed them off and stuck them to the body ready for cutting and removing of panels. I hope to have it looking like R2 by the end of the summer, then it will be a lot of electrical work making it all work radio control

I have an R2D2 trash can in my home.  *snickers*

Play video games

Play piano and drums

design strange alternative Internal combustion engines

Dog trainer

cars cars cars cars cars.

[Stephan90]

I play a lot of video games.

 

Into photography as well but weather has been miserable.

 

This weekend I got a 24 hour race coming up on http://www.iracing.com.
I also used to run in a BTCC knock off series with live weakly broadcasts:

 

First race of the season, pole and win. Good memories Unfortunately only came fourth in the drivers championship that season but managed to win the teams championship.

Edited January 22, 2015 by MrStephens

[Vulcan Grey]

Nice MrStephens!

 

I also play a lot of video games, including iRacing and Assetto Corsa!

 

Assetto Corsa Zonda F on my 7680x1440 3x27" monitors:)

[iainskea]

RC aircraft building and flying, more of a builder than a flier - love balsa wing assembly, have been into this since I was 12!

[s4simon]

RC aircraft building and flying, more of a builder than a flier - love balsa wing assembly, have been into this since I was 12!

 

Ahhh - So my Spitfire wing is hard core porn for you Iain.

 

[Moxie]

Typography, typesetting, and collecting of books on both.

 

My type bible: http://typedeskref.com/

 

[slewthy]

My nerdy hobbies continue to expand - I cannot be without a project of some kind! Guess there are lots like that on here.

Opened my first attempt at cheese last night - a Gouda. 3 month matured and tastes great!

I plan to continue to refine the process until I can commit to investing time to make parmesan......