Breastplate assistance requested

[waveicle]

Good day everyone,

A friend and I want to make a breastplate/back plate for him. I have modest armour making skills and tools. He’s a big fellow, about 300 pounds and a bit over 6’. Can any of the more advanced smiths advise us? We’re kindly asking if anyone could share a pattern like this fair knight:

http://www.medieval-siege-society.co.uk/Images/Herstmonceaux/Medium/MD_Knight.jpg

But more importantly when using a pattern, especially when the person is MUCH larger than the pattern, what techniques do you use to scale the pattern, account for a gambeson and movement of the body? What would be the simplest form I could use for shaping the two plates? (Partial credit is awarded for partial answers.)

Thanks in advance,

Waveicle/Deidrich

waveicle@@hotmail
(remove a @!)

[Mike F]

How is he built? I know 300 pound guys who are very fatty around the midriff, and I know 300 pound guys who are built like a barrel and can lift truck drivetrains.

As far as patterns go, you need to be careful on thickness if you plan to dish it to accomodate a larger fellow. I'd suggest making a multi-plate project akin to <a href="http://www.armourarchive.org/patterns/breastplate_andrewward/"> this.</a>

It's a 1300-1400 period piece (corrections anyone?) and has the advantages of flexibility and smaller plates. If you don't need to dish all that mass, it'll be far easier.

You'll want to measure with padding on, then modify the pattern and make it out of posterboard. You can work from there.

You can see a breastplate similar (not identical!) to this design at <a href="http://www.arador.com/gallery/cht.html"> Arador</a>

It's a spiffy kit. I'm thinking about making a similar one myself, but with my visored sugarloaf helm.

[waveicle]

He leans toward roundish. What we were hoping for was a more extensive, continuous back plate and all around faulds (sp?) but I understand your point about more and small plates.

I took a peek at Arador (again), but didn't see breast plate patterns, hrm. I think a transistional paper pattern would help. My favorite style of torso is two pieces, two shoulder straps and a belt about the gut.

Danke,
Waveicle/Deidrich

[MigueldZ]

I can help on this one not as an armourer but as someone who looks a lot like your description of your friend.

That's going to be a problem. Many breastplate styles, this one included, curve inward and end right about at the widest point of a big fellow. So it's uncomfortable to say the least, and the top of the breastplate will stick out quite a bit because of the stomach. The only big guy breastplate I ever encountered that looked like it worked was a black and white suite I found a pic of online. I believe it's in the Met. The trick is to come up with a breastplate that curves in the upper half/third and is flat at the bottom edge, or at least only rolled in one plane.
On the other hand, I'm getting geared up to start playing again, which means a new suit, so if anyone else's experience differs, I'm listening/reading because it's kind of a close to home issue.

[MigueldZ]

I can help on this one not as an armourer but as someone who looks a lot like your description of your friend.

That's going to be a problem. Many breastplate styles, this one included, curve inward and end right about at the widest point of a big fellow. So it's uncomfortable to say the least, and the top of the breastplate will stick out quite a bit because of the stomach. The only big guy breastplate I ever encountered that looked like it worked was a black and white suite I found a pic of online. I believe it's in the Met. The trick is to come up with a breastplate that curves in the upper half/third and is flat at the bottom edge, or at least only rolled in one plane.
On the other hand, I'm getting geared up to start playing again, which means a new suit, so if anyone else's experience differs, I'm listening/reading because it's kind of a close to home issue.

[Thomas H]

You might want to try this russian site it is all in russian but the patterns are good and can be easily modified.
http://www.helmschmiedt.narod.ru/technology.htm