Torso Armour for a beer belly

AElfraed Hawkmoon · Post by **AElfraed Hawkmoon** » Mon Apr 09, 2001 4:32 pm

What would you recommend as reasonable torso armour for a middle-aged male paunch? I am mostly interested in late period plate, and am tired of the old Wisby CoP style. The Peascod seems to ride higher on the gut than is comfortable.

And yes, I am working at attacking the problem from the 'inside'.

AElfraed Hawkmoon

Garridan · Post by **Garridan** » Mon Apr 09, 2001 5:00 pm

Have you tried a globose breastplate? Perhaps a deeply dished plackart?

[This message has been edited by Garridan (edited 04-09-2001).]

AElfraed Hawkmoon · Post by **AElfraed Hawkmoon** » Mon Apr 09, 2001 5:26 pm

The symptoms of the dunlop disease (the belly dun lop over the belt) make fitting a globose difficult (the bend area is high on the side, and low on the belly). I've got some pictures of a Henry VIII garniture, and been thinking about trying to go that route.

AElfraed Hawkmoon

Garridan · Post by **Garridan** » Mon Apr 09, 2001 6:24 pm

I have an uncle with the last name Dunlop who happens to suffer from the same affliction...

white mountain armoury · Mon Apr 09, 2001 6:29 pm

henry was smashed into a corset in order to fit into his tourney armour

Drake Orion · Post by **Drake Orion** » Tue Apr 10, 2001 10:12 am

Wisby Coat of Plates

Mad Matt · Post by **Mad Matt** » Tue Apr 10, 2001 10:18 am

Just like spandex Late period armour just isn't meant to be worn with a beer belly.

Basically the problem is that any solid plate upper body defense needs to end just below the ribs. Which puts the belly right in the way.

The only thing I can think of that would work well is a brigandine. Not like your typical CoP. Take a look at Tallosh's (I think that's who it is.) Those brigs with lots of plates and lots of rivits are definitly later then the 14th century. If you want a better answer you'll have to specify what late period means to you. Get it down to about 50 years and you'll get more accurate responces.

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The budding mid 14th century German Transitional guy.
Mad Matt's Armory

AElfraed Hawkmoon · Post by **AElfraed Hawkmoon** » Tue Apr 10, 2001 10:55 am

>Get it down to about 50 years and you'll get more accurate responces.<

OK, the period from about 1475-1525, England. I've also toyed with the idea of trying to do a high gothic to fit the ole gut. (gads, what a thought). I've done the Wisby and the brigs, I specifically want to go for plate.

AElfraed Hawkmoon

Otto von Teich · Post by **Otto von Teich** » Tue Apr 10, 2001 11:05 am

I'd go with a milanese two piece. Send the armourer good measurements, and maybe a couple of pics, It should work out ok.
They made armour for dunlaps in de old days dey can do it now, just takes a little more steel. LOL.....Otto

white mountain armoury · Tue Apr 10, 2001 11:08 am

Ive got to disagree htat late period armour was not worn with a belly, if you could afford to comission the armour in period it would be made to fit you skinney or tall chubby or whatever, henrys tourney suit is an example of this, although its later than your period.
a good example of diff sizes can be seen in the met, there are 3 armours side by side in a case that vary in size a real lot. one being a childs one being for a more average size build, and one that is simply huge.
As i stated above, i was told when at the royar armoury that henrys belly issue was solved by a corset devise.
Some of the larger scadians choose to just let it hang out, myself i suck it in while i get squeezed into my cuirass, once in it i can relax, now im not particularly large but i could definatly stand to loose 40 lbs of beer belly yet i can still manage that 14th cent waisted look partially through the shape of my lentner, and partially through a belt that helps hold stuff where it needs to be.
Matts suggestion of a brigandine is a good idea, i think its easier to tailor soft armour as opposed to plate. and it also falls into your desired time period. Keep in mind brigandine not coat of plates

Mad Matt · Post by **Mad Matt** » Tue Apr 10, 2001 12:31 pm

Hmm. Didn't realize you could move it around like that.

I should have put on the disclaimer that I have no idea how fat works since I've never had any. I've spent my entire life with the opposite problem. I'm built like a beanpole.

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The budding mid 14th century German Transitional guy.
Mad Matt's Armory

white mountain armoury · Tue Apr 10, 2001 12:47 pm

lol, yeah it does move around alot, watch that nintendo add with all the large naked celts in bikinis, it give you an idea as to its motion.

Garridan · Post by **Garridan** » Tue Apr 10, 2001 1:55 pm

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR><font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by White Mountain Armoury:
watch that nintendo add with all the large naked celts in bikinis</font><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I'll pass, thanks.

Hammered Wombat · Post by **Hammered Wombat** » Tue Apr 10, 2001 6:44 pm

LOL - I love this place

I second (third?) the recommendation of Milanese two-piece, ca. mid 1400's. Drop the waist from the period position (natural waistline just below the ribs at the navel) to the more modern waistline (just below the beer gut) and you're in. Personally, I'd rather not have to try and fight with a sucked in, pinched belly like WMA - though it doubtless provides motivation to lose weight

Anyway, if you drop the waist and lose one or maybe two of the fauld lames, you've got very comfortable armour to fight in, and you preserve at least some of the "look" of the period. I wouldn't put in all the lames because it would tend to visually shorten your legs while exending your torso - and then you end up looking like an Orc or an Orangutan in Milanese plate.

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Steve Belden
The Hammered Wombat
armourer@hammeredwombat.com

DanNV · Post by **DanNV** » Tue Apr 10, 2001 8:37 pm

A couple other options would be a jack and an anime (sp? the thing with all the horizontal lames going from top to bottom. I think there's one in the Negrolli book from the Met.)

Dan

[This message has been edited by DanNV (edited 04-10-2001).]