Sunday 4 September 2011

Medieval Tent (How to)

Not the best template that´s ever been made but it´s the best I can do :-D
It´s drawn on A4 and the tent it will make is 5cm´s Tall and 5.5cm´s wide.
Forgive my c**p handwriting :-D

The scale of the tent can be altered by simply extending the dotted lines to the centre point and using a compass to re-create the top and bottom of the "canvas". The same with the roof.
For the long sided tent you´ll need to add another side (where the dotted lines are on the roof part) and adding the half circle for the roof on the other end.(it wouldn´t all fit on the plan I have made) For the walls, you´ll need two pieces, using the number 4 side as a tab.
I´ve tested this template to see if it fits and it does...the bottom tent is made using it. 
Here´s how I make them with the ropes.
Cut out the shape. I´ve got one  made using thick card which I use as a template but this is thin card from a folder divider. Score along all lines to aid folding.
Paint
Glue together and glue to the base. I´m using an old CD with paper stuck to the bottom. The tent pegs are old paperclips cut to length, then warmed over a candle and welded into position. (to hold the pieces use pliers!!!!)
Tie thread from one opposing corner to the other. This can be a bit fiddly and I use tweezers to loop the knots. If you do it well, the ropes won´t need glueing.
Add roof, flock or whatever...finished :-D

14 comments:

  1. Good tutorial; fabricating what you could spend money on is in.

    Not clear how to weld the pegs to the mud and get them to stick?

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  2. Thanks.
    The pegs are heated then melted to the plastic base. You could use a wooden base and glue wooden pegs to it, but I´m a lazy skinflint and old CD´s being made of plastic lend themselves to the job.:-D
    Cheers
    paul

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  3. Back of a fag packet plans won WWII mate!Cheers for posting it.

    Cheers Rich.

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  4. Great article, they certainly look the part!!!

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  5. Theres probably not alot that you cant do...nice stuff

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  6. You make it look so easy. Great tutorial thanks for sharing!!

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  7. Tourney-riffic!

    Sorry...couldn't help myself :-)

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  8. That's a great post Paul. Thanks for that.

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  9. You make it sound so easy but thanks for the idea.

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  10. I can see this method being used for 18th Century tents as well. Even the "bell back" enlisted man's tents. Some basic geometry helps.

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  11. I'm going to save that template, thank you. That should save me some time and cash one day! The finished tent looks great...I particularly like the guy-ropes you've added.

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  12. Thanks for the template. This will be a good project someday.

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