The Armour Archive

I've ordered some black wisby d plates from plasticlamellar.com. I'm not sure quite the direction I'm going in yet-front or side opening, etc. It says they can be formed into a tapered torso but no instructions are provided as to how this is accomplished. My persona is Rus so I plan on having the lamellar extend down on either side to protect my hips/upper thighs. Does anyone here have experience with these plates? How would a tapering torso be constructed-if such was used for Rus lamellar? Absolute period correctness isn't what I'm going for. I just wanted torso protection more in line with my kit as opposed to the C.O.P. I'm currently using. This will be used in S.C.A. heavy fighting, if that makes any difference. I'll be making hardened leather shoulder plates to cover the straps since I like my collar bones the way they are. I may also make upper arm protection using these plates. Any thoughts and input would be greatly appreciated!

This old thread may give you some ideas...

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=139828&hilit=+lamellar

Grimr

I buld my wife's and my lamellar front-opening. I achived a sort of taper by letting the 4th body band, that sits at the waist, be ith inner-most row, and loosly lased to the body. The lower panels are loosly lased to this. It acts a bit like a belt, and gives some flexibility to the armour. Not a true taper, but I don't do 'taper' very well.

In any case, I did expiriment wiht dropping two plated form a row, and 'pinching' plates together at the end to meet the one-less row. it looks odd, and will put more stress on the cordage. I image this won't be such an issue with the plasticlamellar.com products, but it may put more stress on the lacing holes, depending on how tightly you lace that spot. Buy extra cord and expiriment.

Thanks for the link, Patternweld. Sharp kits, Vilhelm550! I now have some ideas to work with. A local fighter suggested I make a layout pattern with cardboard which I thought was brilliant. I'll probably be posting here with my progress, mis-steps and further questions.

I received the plates in the mail yesterday and got to work. They go together quickly and look sharp. I'll take some pics as soon as possible and post them here. I always planned on some sort of reinforcement to wear under this and after assembling some I can see this is wise. We'll see how it holds up to fighting. It will be worn over a tunic, reinforcing panels where I'm likely to get hit most often with a Zoombang shirt underneath.

update?

Sorry, the camera I normally use to snap shots is having a fit. I have the back piece and four chest/abdomen rows completed. I'm a very small, skinny guy by S.C.A. heavy list standards(6'3", 235lbs.) So each main row consists of 92 D scales and one center scale. I've been averaging only one main row a day but more can be done at once, I'm sure. Plasticlamellar.com has a disclaimer about these scales which pretty much states that padding is required when using the Wisby D plates and I have to agree. I will have hidden stainless protection over my ribs. I will be wearing a Zoombang shirt underneath as well. The bigger, heavier scales might fare better as main torso protection and, luckily for me I only ever planned on using these for the "look". If I can get my camera running and Photobucket cooperating I will post pics!

Well the camera is behaving, so here goes:
I may need to remove the top two rows on the back\/



I experimented with puting the rows together like this\/, It proved to be a big pain and seems like it would be more difficult to repair.




Now I need to get to work on the leather pieces. I may need to wait for payday for the extra hardware-brass rings, etc.

Looks really good, Sevastian!

Thanks, Vilhelm! The leather for the straps, front and rear top plates, etc. comes next. I was going to go a bit nuts with the tooling but then I remembered it'd all be hidden by my helmet's aventail so basic black it is. I'll do my best to post progress pics.

Not much progress to report, sorry. I managed to make the hardened leather upper for the back and lace the front pieces. I hope to make templates for the hardened leather uppers for the front soon. I'd really like to use lacing for everything but I may make a nod to modern technology and use speed rivets to attach the straps for the closures. I can already tell this won't be my last lamellar project, though-its actually quite fun! I'll snap some pics when I make more progress. Just for giggles I put on my Zoombang shirt, tunic and the lamellar over everything and "wrapped" myself a few times. Granted, these weren't Ducal-level but there were no broken plates and it didn't feel terrible. Subjective, I know but promising.

More pics. I will dye the shoulder straps-just not sure what color yet and, yes thats the belt I nomally wear fencing. I do not have a gorget on in the pics with my helmet on. So far I'm happy with how it looks and feels. Now to start on the trim, upper arm pieces and the hip protectors. The closure buckles aren't installed yet, either.

I gotta say, I'm impressed!

Thanks again, Vilhelm! It's been fun so far. I may get some of the Newcastle plates and do an "upside-down" harness as well. I'm tossing around ideas for the shoulders and how to attach the hip protection. I'll post progress pics.

Looks great! I like the look you've got going...

Any chance on doing hidden cuisses? Some simple leather spaulders perhaps?

Oddvarr

I plan on using the plates for upper arm defenses and some form of leather proto-spaulder for the shoulders. I do plan on hidden legs sometime in the future.