European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 06, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                R Heinz Schneider living his dream As a full time Armor maker adjusts an Arm before attaching it to a nearly completed suit of Armor. Schneider polishes a helmet bringing out the Metal s pattern. Craftsman s armo made with old time care Heinz Schneider s workshop in Heidingsfeld. West Germany is dim cluttered and dirty yet contain the stuff of childhood  tools and Metal shavings cover a pockmarked Workbench. Away from the radiating warmth of a single propane Heater the Cool Damp air smells of Oil. Rays filtering through the windows in the Concrete Walls shed More Light than the electric bulb overhead. None Corner is a battered Anvil. In the other a shining suit of Armor. As a boy in the Wurzburg area Schneider dreamed of owning his own suit of Armor. But until he was in his mid-3qs, he settled for Admir ing Armor in museums and Reading books on the subject. One Day he bought a suit of Armor took it apart and practice forming the various pieces out of Metal. His dreams rekindled. He left his Job As a machinery Salesman and began to Pur sue the Art in Earnest. Schneider took the first few suits of Armor he made to antique dealers to get constructive criticism. After making suggested improvements he sold the suits made a few More and sold them. And it went up from  he said. Today Schneider is one of the world s few full time Armor manufacturers. First it was a  he said from his shop 7 Vav v v 1%&%&&&i&-,. 4-Llik on the outskirts of Wurzburg. Now it s  after 25 years in the business. Schneider. 59, still works with care. He said he makes 25 to 30 suits a year mostly for collectors and people who own castles run museums or make films. Schneider s appearance fits his work. His Metal Gray hair looks like the steel Wool he uses to polish his works. Lines above his brow and around his eyes Tell a tale of years of concentration on detailed work. His battered and worn hands still maintain an Iron grip on hammers and other tools yet nimbly and gently work on intricate pieces of his creations. Schneider custom makes his Armor creating one suit at a time. He begins by talking to the customer showing his wares and taking measurements. Then he selects the material the same Metal that is used in car fenders trunk lids and hoods. The Armor is about 1 millimetre thick which is very close to the Armor that knights wore. The breastplate was the Only part that was made stronger he said but everything else was Mere or less a  while the suits match the ones of old. Sonic of the methods Schneider uses to make them arc More up to Daie. For example to make intricate designs he used to cover Metal pieces with lacquer and can what he would later punch out with a no. H took him 14 Days just to draw the designs. But nobody s going to pay for that now. He said. So he buys Metal with a pattern already Page 6 sunday