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I made this for protection during cardboard tube tournaments ( http://www.tubeduel.com/ ). It protected me well; I took second place and I believe I would have won had the final match been allowed to progress to its natural end. Damn refs, grumble grumble.
I used the following as a general reference, and for the names of the parts (several of which I did not previously know):
http://www.reliks.com/suitofarmor.ihtml
http://www.swordsandarmor.com/mall/suit-of-armor-Dragon-Slayer.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plate_armour
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuirass
I used the following as a general reference, and for the names of the parts (several of which I did not previously know):
http://www.reliks.com/suitofarmor.ihtml
http://www.swordsandarmor.com/mall/suit-of-armor-Dragon-Slayer.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plate_armour
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuirass
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Signing UpStep 1Breastplate and Backplate
Having quite a bit of experience making clothing, I figured fitting cardboard around the body would not be too difficult. As it turns out, there are some differences between the stiff cardboard and the much more malleable fabric. I worked out a technique of scoring the back of the cardboard with the cap of a pen along lines I wanted it to bend on. This, along with a way of making darts, allowed me to shape the cardboard fairly accurately.
For the front and back plates (together these are called a cuirass), I first drew a flat shaped based on my body measurements. For the front I used these:
Cut out the pieces with a knife of some kind - a utility knife or box cutter works well. Cut only the lower side of the dart marking all the way through. The upper side, cut through only the top layer of cardboard. Then peel the top layer and the corrugations off, revealing the inside of the corrugated sheet. It looks like a small flap. To construct the darts, bend the cardboard so the dart edges meet, and hot glue the flap down to the outside of the front plate.
It's easier to bend the cardboard if you score the inside first, just run the cap of a pen firmly along the line you want to bend on. A stiff ruler helps a lot for scores that run diagonally to the corrugations. In addition to the bust area, score and bend the shoulders and sides.
For the front and back plates (together these are called a cuirass), I first drew a flat shaped based on my body measurements. For the front I used these:
- front of the waist (a little more than half my waist measurement)
- length from waist to shoulder across bust
- length from waist to bottom of neck hole
- front of the bust (quite a bit more than half my bust measurement)
- width from arm to arm, above the bust
- length from waistline to underarm hole
- back of the waist
- length from waist to shoulder
- length from waist to bottom of neck hole
- width from underarm to underarm
- width from arm to arm across the shoulder blades
Cut out the pieces with a knife of some kind - a utility knife or box cutter works well. Cut only the lower side of the dart marking all the way through. The upper side, cut through only the top layer of cardboard. Then peel the top layer and the corrugations off, revealing the inside of the corrugated sheet. It looks like a small flap. To construct the darts, bend the cardboard so the dart edges meet, and hot glue the flap down to the outside of the front plate.
It's easier to bend the cardboard if you score the inside first, just run the cap of a pen firmly along the line you want to bend on. A stiff ruler helps a lot for scores that run diagonally to the corrugations. In addition to the bust area, score and bend the shoulders and sides.
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My 9yr is almost finished with his costume and I basically just supervised (and did the exacto knife work leaving him with the scissors stuff).
To give it a nice finish we decided against paint but rather are using aluminum foil with a dab of glue and he will call it the SilverNight.
As well, a shield will be attached to one of the arm vambraces.
What's missing though is gold paint and a dragon design on th breastplate. Still, really cool...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lorica_segmentata
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lorica_segmetata
:))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))
For the 3D pauldron bit :D I started with a 13"x13" square and scored the diagonal... I cut the score halfway to create a triangle and curled/trimmed the corners... Hrmm.. probably hard to picture from that description - so yes, instructable coming soon (along with everything else waiting - including meatloaf cupcakes :p).
I made the chest and back plate with mostly 2D planes - which solves the 3D issues of faulds. But, in my case, it makes the butt piece stick out funny (so I cut it a little shorter). Yes, there were a few "Assless Chaps" jokes - but the cape covered that up :p
More images here - but that's before I curled the pauldrons down properly...