WTB--torso armour--cheap

John S. · Post by **John S.** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 3:25 pm

Well my old coat of plates finished falling apart and my new lamellar . . . let's just say I've got some work to left to do. So, I need to pick up some sort of stopgap to get me through the next few months.

Here's what I'm looking for:
-more coverage than a kidney belt
-"me shaped" when hidden under a tunic
-cheap (under $100, college student saving for new helm)
-available before Gulf Wars (mid-march)

Ceddie recommended Cet's RFTH one-piece breast and back. Any other recommendations?

Thanks,
-John

Russ Mitchell · Post by **Russ Mitchell** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 4:30 pm

Make yourself a thick construction-paper breat and back....

John S. · Post by **John S.** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 4:52 pm

Russ--WTF?? Dude, that isn't funny.

I'm aware of the whole price-time-quality triangle, so I'm not looking for a piece of art, just something functional to hide under a tunic. Budget isn't much, but the only stupid question...

Joachim · Post by **Joachim** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 5:31 pm

Well, I've seen quite a few people buy a side of sole leather (11-13 oz) and take a jigsaw to it. They run about $100-115 up here in NY. It's usually enough to cover a good size torso.

Just use the typical breast/back plate patterns and you'll have a loaner set for years to come.

Russ Mitchell · Post by **Russ Mitchell** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 5:57 pm

Who's kidding?

You need something that's a temporary stopgap measure. Have you ever *seen* 1" thick paper mache? Done right it's easily the equivalent to a heavy unhardened leather breastplate, and will definitely conform to the shape of your body under your tunic.

Is it disposable/ablative?
You bet.

Will it do what you need w/o making you spend money you don't have to? You bet.

Mad Matt · Post by **Mad Matt** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 6:45 pm

I'm thinkin about doin a cheap no complex curves B&B but I've got too many other things part way done at the moment to start on that.

M S Anderson · Post by **M S Anderson** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 9:04 pm

You know, if you're handy at all, and have a few simple tools, you can make a decent coat of plates for less than$50. I use the galvanized tie plates that they sell at Home Depot and Lowes' riveted to a fabric or leather foundation with galvanized roofing nails. Leather will make it more expensive but less sewing is involved. Anyway, this one cost about $35 for materials including all the plates, nails, and $1.00/yard fabric from the sale bin at the fabric store.

Here's the general shape of the "poncho" style cover before adding the plates:

[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v336/androu/DSCF0153.jpg[/img]

I curve all the plates slightly by beating them a little on top of my vise:

[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v336/androu/DSCF0155.jpg[/img]

I rivet all the plates on by laying out the pattern and pushing the nails through from the outside, then clipping them off and peening:

[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v336/androu/DSCF0157.jpg[/img]

Here's all the front plates riveted on the inside:

[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v336/androu/DSCF0159.jpg[/img]

Here's what it looks like on the outside:

[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v336/androu/DSCF0160.jpg[/img]

Here's the layout of the back plates before curving:

[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v336/androu/DSCF0158.jpg[/img]

Just add a couple of leather straps and buckles on each side and your in business.

Here's one I made with aprox. 5-7oz. leather and copper roofing nails, it cost about $80 for materials:

[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v336/androu/small11.jpg[/img]

Anyway, just thought this might help, it's a really easy and cheap way to get some body armout that doesn't look too bad.

Valdryk Albritsson · Post by **Valdryk Albritsson** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 9:47 pm

Camp pad and duck tape. Don't sniker. Cut out a neck and rap it under the arms, close with duck tape. Keep the kidney belt. Tunic over the camp pad and under the belt. $10

John S. · Post by **John S.** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 10:21 pm

Russ--my apologies, guess I read a sniping tone that wasn't there, sorry.

Everyone--thanks for the suggestions so far--keep em coming. Trying to avoid a large investment of time/money, so that I can concentrate on finishing the kit I want (c. 1200 Rus).

Wolf · Post by **Wolf** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 11:08 pm

1200s Rus would be all mail would it not. a coat of plates is kinda late for that. buy a cheap mail shirt from ebay and a wide weight lifters belt and add some steel splints. wear it under the mail and WHAM period looking and sca minimum

patric · Post by **patric** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 11:29 pm

ive got a chunk of 10oz leather that i made into what i once called a BandB. only problem is flexabilty.

lemme know if theres interest.

patric

Dalewyn · Post by **Dalewyn** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 11:52 pm

I have the prototype for my Churburg breastplate hanging on the wall of my shop. I'd be willing to let it go for $80 US, including shipping.

Oswyn_de_Wulferton · Post by **Oswyn_de_Wulferton** » Thu Jan 26, 2006 12:26 am

If you are looking for something easy, I got a lot of lifevest padding that already comes kind of preshaped for this (camp was getting rid of old lifevests). Easy to hide under a tunic (still need to wear a kidney belt for rigid protection) and not too bulky. It is about 3x the thickness of normal blue foam and is kind of a yellowy canvas color. I duct taped one up for war that works pretty well (if you ignore the red and silver duct tape on a yellow canvas padding). If you cover shipping, its yours (either the pre-assembled one or enough to trim and make one yourself). Consider it knowing what you are going through (College student about to start 12th cent. crusader). If you even ask really nicely, I will explain how I did the shoulders to keep it up.

Ceddie · Post by **Ceddie** » Thu Jan 26, 2006 1:38 pm

Jone, I'm tellin ya, Dave is the way to go!

T. Finkas · Post by **T. Finkas** » Thu Jan 26, 2006 3:32 pm

Those are some good looking kits!

M S Anderson wrote:[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v336/androu/small11.jpg[/img]

Murdock · Post by **Murdock** » Thu Jan 26, 2006 3:40 pm

Valentine has breastplat eblanks for uber cheap

for free (and it'll suck) you could go to a carpet shop ding in the dumpster until you find a big enough piece of scrap, or buy some carpert cut it into shape and wear it hard backing side out . People did it for years.

freiman the minstrel · Fri Jan 27, 2006 6:32 am

YOu know, I have never thought about using a used life vest. Does that work? I know that our local Outdoor Rec office somtimes DX's them, and throws them away.

We have a lot of relatively new people, and I hate loaner gear culture.

f

Ceddie · Post by **Ceddie** » Fri Jan 27, 2006 7:30 am

Murdock, do you have a link for Valentine?

Wolf · Post by **Wolf** » Fri Jan 27, 2006 8:23 am

u can get mild steel breastplates form cet cheaper than valintines

John S. · Post by **John S.** » Fri Jan 27, 2006 11:55 am

Ceddie--Yeah, Dave's stuff is looking better and better all the time.

Everyone--Once again thanks for all the suggestions/offers of help.

-John

M S Anderson · Post by **M S Anderson** » Fri Jan 27, 2006 12:01 pm

Timothy F. wrote:Those are some good looking kits!

M S Anderson wrote:[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v336/androu/small11.jpg[/img]

Thanks, That pic is from a couple of years ago. I'm looking to replace the coat of plates with a proper globose breast/back with faulds, circa 1410 or so, but haven't found just the right one yet. My buddy Shane (on the right) is working on obtaining a completely new 15th c. Italian harness. I guess the search for the perfect armour never ceases.

Jakob Hilditonn · Post by **Jakob Hilditonn** » Fri Jan 27, 2006 2:16 pm

http://www.ashcraftbaker.com/placard.htm

Oswyn_de_Wulferton · Post by **Oswyn_de_Wulferton** » Fri Jan 27, 2006 2:46 pm

freiman the minstrel wrote:YOu know, I have never thought about using a used life vest. Does that work? I know that our local Outdoor Rec office somtimes DX's them, and throws them away.

We have a lot of relatively new people, and I hate loaner gear culture.

f

Yeah the only problem is that they are really thick but if you need that kind of padding for armour, you want to cut it into strips as it doesnt bend as well. I have to trim the sides up a bit but two vests fit around me (left L, rectangle, L) on both the front and back and then taped duck tape to itself for shoulder straps. Cover in a big T-tunic and it will get you on the field with a form of body protection.