Horn Scale Armor

[Terry37]

I am wanting to do some Sarmatian cataphracts and would like some of them to be in horn scale armor. However, I am finding it difficult to find any information on what color this type of armor would/should be, I have one reference that suggests a greenish blue color??? Can any one help me with some specific detiails, or suggest a paint color that I might be able to use. Thanks, Terry

[Chris Brantley]

Working on the assumption that modern horn would be similar enough to provide a guide, here are some pictures that may be helpful:

http://www.andrew.cmu.edu/user/cburke/horn.jpg

http://www.head2tail.com/decor/horns.jpg

http://www.greenerpasturesfarm.com/files/hooftrimfeb2003jake1.jpg

Depending on the animal, horn can be anywhere from black to light brown, grey or even white.

[Terry37]

Thanks Chris. I thought about those, and figured if I went that route it would be best to go with a non-metalic grayish color with a dark brownish wash???? The refernce book (Armies and Enemies of Rome) says they used horse hoof and then reference a greenish blue shade???? Any additonal thoughts? Terry

[Simon Miller]

I have an idea that it could be coloured; no idea where I've got this from tho.

[Chris Brantley]

Lamellar and scale armor made of medal plates was often lacquered to inhibit rust, and hence could be very colorful through addition to color to the lacquer. Same for armor using leather, which could be dyed. I'm not sure if horn plates were typically lacquered like metal, but could have been.

[ November 03, 2004, 10:28: Message edited by: Chris Brantley ]

[Chris Brantley]

Like horns, (horse) hoofs also vary in color. Some representative examples:

http://www.javajane.co.uk/horses2/horse_hoof.jpg (Dun horse)

http://www.stonewall.fayette.k12.ky.us/shaker/pics/horse_hoof.jpg (Percheron)

http://www.hooftalk.com/Homepage/hoof16.jpg

http://www.tribeequus.com/latLR.jpg

http://www.yale.edu/pieris/frontierchina/JohnGonMongolianhorse.jpg (Mongolian)

http://www.arabians.com.au/images/market/RichdaleCenturion/richdalecenturion4.jpg (Arabian)

It is fairly common to use hoof black on horses hoofs, especially for show or in movies.

[Simon Miller]

Chris; yes it was lacquer I was thinking of.

I recently painted and inked some scale armour on a 28mm scythian in a bright red; it looked very effective.

[Stelzone]

Chris,

Those are all live horses pictured. The hollowed and dried hooves of cattle and horses become somewhat translucent, seen them but have not found pics on line. They can be steamed (boiled?) to flatten or bend into shape. (Boiling them may have just made glue though! Not sure all methods used.) That may help explain the coloration mentioned, light passing through the hoof may have taken on a blue/green/gray color according to the original color.

The rough side (inner) was softer and probably the down side, the harder outer side placed out. It would most likily have held paint as well as metal.

Mike

[Terry37]

To all, many thanks for the great input here. Just don't want the local guys hee-hawing when I field my Sarmatian kights in day glow orange or green scale armor!!! Well, maybe not day glow...... and maybe not orange.

Anyone have any sugestions on what color to use to represeet horn scale armor?

Thanks, Terry

[David Kuijt]

Originally posted by Terry37:

Anyone have any sugestions on what color to use to represeet horn scale armor?
I used a dark teal (blue-green) and then drybrushed with a dull grayish blue-green; after dipping this gave me a very nice-looking result -- not too dayglow or anything.