SHIELD

Next I had to construct a kite shield. The challenge for this build was to get the curve in the wood. I did this by screwing two planks to a board in a ‘V’ shape, this would be my bending rig.

 I then measured and drew out the shield full size on some paper and transferred it on to a sheet of flexi plywood and cut it out twice using the large vertical saw and the band saw in the workshop. Using the band saw was rather difficult as the shield was quite big so controlling the plywood was a bit hard so I roughly cut it out and would neaten it up after I'd glued it.

 Then I generously covered one side of one of the shield pieces with wood glue and placed the other piece on top. These were placed onto the bending rig so the edge of the shield rested on the planks. Two heavy weights were put on top of the shield to keep it bent down. Clamps were used to keep the edges of the shield pieces together whilst the glue dried. 

In between waiting for the shield to dry I helped out the Razzmatazz group with some of their lion mask. I worked with Rhenoflex which you heat up with a heat gun and mold into position and it cools and hardens in place. Then I started to gum paper the mask.