| Breast Plate Parts:
Sizing: Add .5" horizontally to each part to adjust for Men's XL, 1"
for Men's XXL, Subtract .5" for Men's Medium, etc) Adjust for
height as well if you are considerably taller or shorter than me.
IMAGE 1
IMAGE 2
Chest plate: 8" x 13"; (measurement from nipple to nipple) X
(3 in above nipples to 2 in above belly button); females should measure
using fabric tape accounting for curves) Drill 8 holes about 1" apart on
each side starting from the bottom, and 2 at top center and 4 bottom
center.
PLATE 1: (Make 2) 3.5" x 12" drill 8 equidistant holes
on the side next to the chest plate and 6 holes on the other to line up
with plate 2, drill 2 holes near the top. cut to match the photo
below so that the top slopes toward plate 3.
PLATE 2: (Make 2) 3.5" x 9.5", drill 6 holes on either
side, cut top to slate towards PLATE 3 as in
Image 1 and
Image 2.
PLATE 3: Adjustment Plate: (Make 2)
4" x 8" drill
4 columns of equidistant holes and two holes at the very bottom.
The 2 sets of holes allow you to adjust the girth of the breastplate.
PLATE 4: (Make 2) 3.5" x 8", drill 6 holes on
either side, cut top to slate towards PLATE 5 as in
Image 1 and
Image 2.
PLATE 5: (Make 2) 3.5" x 9", drill 6 holes on either
side, cut top to slate towards the Back Plate as in
Image 1 and
Image 2
PLATE 6: Cut a 4" x 8" rectangle, then trim to a
trapezoid as depicted in the image below. Drill 2 holes on the
right and left upper corners, 4 along the bottom, and a column of 4 sets
of 2 down the center.
Back plate: 7" X 12" (chest plate height minus 1 in) X (chest
plate width minus 1 in), drill 6 holes about 1 inch apart starting at
the bottom up each side. Drill 4 holes about .75 apart centered at
the top and bottom.
PLATE 7: (Make 2) Cut a rectangle 4" x 8" then
trim into crescent shape as depicted in the image below. Drill 2 holes at bottom center, left and right ends.
PLATE 8: Tasset: (Make 2)
4" x 8" drill 2 holes at top center,
cut the bottom edge with a gentle curve as show in the
Image 1 and
Image 2. (You can make
more of these plates and and them to the bottom for more protection.
PLATES 9, 10, & 11: Draw a 9" x 12" rectangle, then draw lines
dividing it horizontally every four inches, then draw diagonal lines
from the top corners to 2.75" in from the bottom corner. See the
images below for reference and for drilling holes.
 
PLATE 12: (Measure Width Horizontally across butt) x 4"
tall, drill 4 holes near
top center, 6 equidistant along bottom.
PLATE 13: Same as 12, drill 6 holes equidistant along top (can make
more of these to cover further down butt as needed)
Breastplate Shaping:
On plates 1 to 5, the chest plate, and back plate
once you have smoothed the edges of each piece with the torch you will
want to heat the bottom inch and either using a bench vice or push them
against the floor until the bottom 3/4" curves a 30 to 45 degree angle
away from the body. This will make the breastplate more forgiving
and reduce armor bites as you lean over and bend around while fighting.
Plates 12 and 13 should be flattened or curled to match
your posteriors shape.
Breastplate Assembly:
Overlap the plates as you lace them together as shown in the image
above.
Lace together the chest plate to plate 1 using a single
piece of paracord vertically.
Lace together Plates 1 and 2 using either paracord or
highly recommend shoe lace or even better elastic shoe lace. Use
the diagram below to and leave plenty of extra. This is the
expansion section that will allow you to slide the armor on and off over
your head. Tie a knot in the end of each string once installed to
prevent them from coming loose. You will tie a bow with the extra
to cinch the armor tight around you when donning.
Lace together the rest of the plates with a single piece of paracord
for each vertical section until you have the entire wrap section.
Then attach the butt plates and groin plates to the front and back of
the breastplate using a similar method horizontally.
Lace plates 8 to plate 3 at the bottom. Lace
plates 7 to the top of the chest plate and
plate 6.
Cut two 10" x 2" strips of leather and punch two holes at either end
and lace them to the side holes on each plate 7. This is
basically a shoulder strap to mount the pauldrons to.
Use some each wide show laces or paracord and run two lines from
plate 6 to the top holes in plates 1. This will be the
vertical adjustment strap. Leave lots of extra cord, tie knots in
the very ends of each strand, you will tie a bow in this to set the
height of the breastplate.
Pad the interior of the chest, back, and plates 8, 12, & 13
with closed cell foam at a minimum. Use duct tape folded over to
attach the foam. You can do more but this is the minimum to make
the armor more comfortable when taking blows.
Pauldron Parts:
 
Plate 1: (Make 1 for each arm)
3" x 10", drill 2 holes at the
center closest to the body. Drill 4 holes at the center about 1/2"
to 3/4" in from the outside edge. See the photo above.
Plate 2: (Make 1 for each arm)
3 1/2" x 7", drill 4 holes
on one side, 6 holes on the other.
Plate 3: (Make 1 for each arm)
3 1/2" x 7", drill 6 holes
on each side.
Plate 4: (Make 1 for each arm)
3 1/2" x 7", drill 6
holes on one side, and 2 at the corners on the other.
Pauldron Shaping:
After the edge smoothing heat each piece in the on the outside of the
natural curve and bend until the curve matches the size of your arm.
For you bigger fighters this step might be unnecessary.
Pauldron Assembly:
Lace the pieces as shown in the image above. Leave quite a bit of
slack in the lacing, you want each piece to float around so your arm has
good freedom of movement.
Pad plate 1 with foam at a minimum. Don't try to use one
piece for the whole pauldron it will reduce flexibility at bind up when
you don't want it to.
Use a 24" inch piece of paracord and run it from the back hole on
plate 4 to the front hole, letting the excess hang of the front, tie
a knot in the end after putting a cord lock on it. You will use
the cord lock to cinch the pauldron down to your arm.
To install the pauldrons on the breastplate first put the breastplate
on and mark the exact top of your shoulder on the leather shoulder
strap. Punch 2 holes in the leather and then lace the pauldrons to
those 2 holes. |
