The aspis (shield) will be formed by making a master shape from housing insulation then shaping chicken wire over the master to create the shield itself. The chicken wire will be covered on both sides by paper mache which may then be covered by paperclay, if deemed necessary. Then regular acrylic paints will suffice for decoration.
This first image is the three layers of insulation glued together.
The insulation with the shield shape superimposed.
Insulation cut to shape the form.
Chicken wire base molded to the form.
The chicken wire base removed from the form, displaying the characteristic aspis bowl shape.
And, finally, the base with paper mache exterior.
The dory (spear) should be much easier, in comparison. I am starting with a 10-foot length of 3/4-inch PVC pipe, reducing it to eight feet, and fashioning the spearhead itself from leftover insulation foam, shaped and inserted into each end. The ends will be tapered by removing diagonal slices then compressing them down to grip the spearhead and present a more aesthetically pleasing appearance.
The plain pipe and marked to remove wedges for tapering.
The pipe with tapering wedges removed and in tapered status.
And the insulation spearhead, already shaped, with the tang inserted into the pipe and everything will be secured with glue and bonding tape.
More to come as the prototyping begins!
