Away from a medieval armoury, Aldeus armours owe more to polyester resins than metal alloys.

Thanks to the first shoot's tight schedule, the original armours were realised in record time. Starting from scratch, a skeleton special effects crew sculpted, moulded, cast, sanded and finalised five complete armours (21 pieces each) in less than 3 weeks. Photos taken during the process are shown below.

Since then, an updated design has been developed, with prototypes made using alternative techniques.

Suggestions for intrepid souls considering DIY armour-making:

· Avoid painful accidents! All safety regulations pertaining to the chemicals and resins used must be carefully followed.

· For those with little experience, books on plaster-moulding of the human body can be helpful in covering the basics and providing safety guidelines.

· Making a full body armour will cost about US$500 in materials, provided every piece made is a success the first time around. Starting with a more modest endeavour, such as a helmet, is probably a good idea.

· Those living near Paris (France) will be able to find the products needed for armour-making at: Polyester 93, Zac Ariel Building, 2 à 24 av. Henri Barbusse, 93012 Bobigny Cedex. Tel : 01 48 44 55 74.