What are ways to weather my plate armour?
The weathering of plate armour and making it look worn can be done with two relatively simple processes. First, it needs to be dented and scratched a bit. And the second step is adding rust.
Dents and scratches
Making dents and scratches isn't that difficult to do. Grab some tools, like an axe, hammer or metal file and a block to place the armour on, such as a large stone or a wooden block. It's important that the part of the armour you're going to strike is supported by the block, so you don't bend the armour too much out of shape or break it. When you hit the supported part of the armour with an axe or hammer, you create a dent that looks like the dent the armour would get in a fight. You can use the edge of the metal file to make scratches on the steel.
Adding rust
Adding rust to steel armour can be done in two ways.
The simplest way is to let the armour sit in the rain for a while and let it dry without wiping the water off. You can also bury the armour in wet soil for a while. The steel will rust, giving it an aged appearance. After the steel has rusted, you can remove part of it with some steel wool or very fine black sandpaper.
Another method to age steel is by using vinegar and salt.
Fill a spray bottle with vinegar and a generous amount of salt. Spray the mixture on the steel object and let it work for a few days. The more vinegar and salt solution you use and the longer you let it sit, the greater the effect. If you want a slower process so you have more control over the effect, you can dilute the solution with water. You can neutralize the rusting process with a solution of baking soda and water. Just like with the first method, you can remove some of the rust with steel wool or very fine black sandpaper.
Check out this video for more detailed instructions on how to weather your plate armour.
Our plate armour can be found here.
