Shikoro

[Shintaro Yamamoto Ujiyori]

I know this has been brought up before on the SCA-JML mailing list, but I am desperate. Does anyone have a pattern for a hineno shikoro? I am really bad about figuring out patterns but if someone who has a pattern or has built one can remember the rough shape the lames should be that would be excellent also. Thanks in advance.

[Otagiri Tatsuzou]

I don't have a pattern. But maybe this can help you:

1) Buy several sheets of posterboard (about 50cents at Walmart)
2) Put your helmet on.
3) Measure the distance from the helmet edge to the top of your shoulder. This distance = D
4) Put your helmet in middle of one poster board.
5) Trace your helmet from one temple, around the back, to the next temple.
6) Remove the helmet
7) Take a ruler and place one end on the line. Measure the distance D out from the line. Move the ruler one inch along the helmet trace. Measure D again. Repeat until you have moved along the whole trace.
8) Connect the dots to form the outside edge. Make a smooth curve.
9) Use the ruler to make a straight line from the outside edge to the inside edge at each temple.
10) Cut out this shape.
11) Copy this shape onto another poster board.
12) Cut out the second shape.
13) On one shape, use the ruler to measure 1/2 D all along the shikoro. Cut this shikoro into two pieces.
14) On the second shape, use the rule to measuer two lines. One line is 1/4 D and the second line is 3/4 D. Cut out this inside shape and throw away the outside edges.
15) You now have a simple pattern for a three plate shikoro.
16) Tape the pieces together (just a little tape) and check the fit.
17) If you want the "blown back" look, you will need to make the top (or two or all three) pieces longer. I think that rolling back all the shikoro edges makes for a better SCA helmet even though most Sengoku jikoro had dropped down to rolling just one lame or none at all.
18) You can use the same basic method to make a five plate helmet.
19) Posterboard and tape is cheap. Keep trying until you are satisfied.

Again, maybe someone has something on file... but you would still have to check the fit and adjust the pattern to fit your helmet.

Hope this helps.

[Shintaro Yamamoto Ujiyori]

That helps immensely Otagiri, I thank you much. Now to start on the pattern =)

[Otagiri Tatsuzou]

DOH!

The above directions would make the bottom lame larger than the top two.

Try this instead:

• On the first shape, trace a line 1/3D + 1" and another line at 2/3D.
  
• Cut out these two lines and throw away the middle.
  
• On the second shape, trace a line at 1/3D and another line at 2/3D + 1".
  
• Cut out the middle and throw away the outside.
  

Now you will have three lames of the same width with 1" overlap between the lames.

Remember cardboard is cheap!