After creating the first shield, I decided that covering the front, and back in regular duct tape was too messy looking, and unwieldy. So I ordered vinyl sheeting, and it works so much better! It gives the shield a much more sleek appearance. The only thing left is to figure out a better way to cover the edges. Right now, I'm using black duct tape, but there are too many angles to make it look clean. I may experiment is cutting the tape in specific places, but I'll be looking for a better solution before I'm be ready to sell it on Etsy, or here on my website. I also changed the handle on the back of the shield to fit a more natural grip. The handle, and the strap have been moved a bit farther apart to position the shield against the forearm, instead of the wrist, like the first prototype. The shield is 16 inches tall, and 12 inches wide.
I have been looking to create a new addition to the Bokken Baton line for a while now. After creating a spear, and making some refinements to the swords, I decided to finally build a new shield. Heavily inspired by the shields seen in Game of Thrones, I love the idea of being able to add symbols to the face of the shield, representing a family, guild, or personality. These symbols, combined with specific color patterns will create a very striking image on the battlefield, or in the living room.
The end product needs to be refined, but it's pretty close. I just need to figure out a better way to cut the plastic sheet, and cover the back of the shield. It took many duct tape strips to cover it. The tape works well for the front, to create patterns with. My daughter said that the color pattern on the prototype looks like it's from a circus, lol.
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