The whole figure when completed is placed on a square box covered with red or green baize.  The armor should be supported by a light frame of wood built up on the inside, says the English Mechanic, London.  Two vertical pieces are firmly attached to the box so they will extend up inside the legs, and at the top of them is attached a crosspiece on which is placed a vertical stick high enough to carry the helmet.  The two lower pieces must be built up and padded out with straw, then covered with red cloth or baize to represent the legs.

In making up the various pieces for a full model it will be found very convenient to use rope, a stout cord or strings in making up the patterns on the parts.  Instead of using brass-headed nails, brass paper fasteners will be found useful.  These can be purchased at a stationery store.  Secure the kind having a round brass head from which hang two brass tongues.  These are pushed through a hole and spread out flat on the opposite side.  Other materials can be used in the place of tinfoil to represent steel.  Silver paper will do very well, but if either the tinfoil or silver paper are found difficult to manipulate, go over the armor with a coat of silver paint put on with a brush.  When dry give the surface a coat of varnish.

** A Home-Made Tripod Holder [284]

An inexpensive tripod holder, one that will prevent the tripod from slipping on a smooth floor, and prevent the points from doing damage to the polished surface or puncturing an expensive rug or carpet, can be made in a few minutes’ time, says Camera Craft.

Secure two strips of wood, or ordinary plaster laths will do, and plane them down to a thickness of 3/16 in., for the sake of lightness.  Cut them to a length or 40 in. and round off the ends to improve their appearance.  Take the piece shown in Fig. 1 and drill a 1/4-in. hole in the center, and eight small holes, 1 in. apart, at each end.  In one end of the piece, Fig. 2, make the same series of eight small holes and, in the other end, drill six 1/4-in. holes, 3 in. apart.  A 1/4-in. flat headed carriage bolt, about 1 in. long, completes the equipment.

The two pieces are bolted together, not too tight, and the points of the tripod legs inserted in their respective small holes.  So set up, there is absolutely no danger of one of the legs slipping out of position.  By moving the position of the bolt from, one to another of the larger holes in the strip, Fig. 2, almost any desired inclination of the camera can be secured.

The same sort of simple apparatus built slightly stronger, and with a small caster under each of the three series of small holes, makes an

[Illustration:  The Tripod Cannot Slip]

excellent tripod clamp for use when the camera has to be shifted about, as in portraiture and the like.

** How to Weave a Shoestring Watch Fob [285]