Two questions on Môgami sode

[mik]

At http://www.sengokudaimyo.com/katchu/katchu.html, chapter twelve it say

Lace the sode (to match the kusazuri).

I used Sugake Odoshi on the kusazuri, so obviously I will also use it on the sode. But if I used say five pairs of lace on kusazuri should I use the same number on sode or is it more a question of proportion ?
Also I have neither mimi ito nor uname, so can I used them on sode if they are not on kusazuri without destroying the look ?

Also from same reference:

Your bottom-most plate must also match that of the kusazuri, so you must reproduce the pattern here. If it is laced with hishinui, fine. You can also cut the bottom corners to a curve. You may wish to leave the last lame plain, a common style with retainer armours. You may also wish to pain your mon (crest) on the lame

If I don't put the uname/hishinui then I can paint my "mon" on the bottom lame, this would be nice in deed. Do you have pictures that show this ?

Mik

[Ujiyori]

I made Mogami sode for my armour also. I used sugake odoshi lacing in the dou itself so I did the same for the kusazuri and sode. I made the sode wide enough so that I could use 5 sets of sugake odoshi lacing and left space for the mimi ito and made the bottom most lame about 1/2 inch longer to accommodate the hishinui. Effingham's instructions seem to indicate that you should follow the same formula for all pieces of the armour. The kusazuri, sode and general feel of the dou should look like they belong together. I am sure he and others can better explain this and use the correct terms, I am simply a novice in this subject.

[mik]

The kusazuri, sode and general feel of the dou should look like they belong together

Yes this is what I should try to remember, the overall look, thanks. But I wanted to be sure before I pierce all those holes..... I guess I will not make the holes for mimi/uname and I can go back and make them in sode/kusazuri later if I decide to.

I'll still hunting for pictures of sode with "mon" on lower lames....
browsing the net ....

Mik

[Effingham]

I used Sugake Odoshi on the kusazuri, so obviously I will also use it on the sode. But if I used say five pairs of lace on kusazuri should I use the same number on sode or is it more a question of proportion ?

It's proportional. Why should you use the same number of rows on sode? It's a different piece. You won't be using the same number on the shikoro.

Try to use the same spacing on the kusazuri. If the rows are 1.5" apart, try to get them close to the same distance on the sode. That looks best.

Also I have neither mimi ito nor uname, so can I used them on sode if they are not on kusazuri without destroying the look ?

You shouldn't. Especially if everything else (color, style, lacquer color, etc.) is the same -- it would really stand out.

If I don't put the uname/hishinui then I can paint my "mon" on the bottom lame, this would be nice in deed. Do you have pictures that show this ?

Only if you do it to all the other bottom lames on the armour, including the shikoro and kusazuri.

Effingham

[mik]

Thanks Effingham, all noted.

Only if you do it to all the other bottom lames on the armour, including the shikoro and kusazuri.

Make sense of course. So do you have any pictures that show the "mon" on bottoms lames ?

Mik