#jackofplates

A few months on from finishing this build and I finally had a chance to put it through its paces on field. It worked really well. The weight is noticeable off-field but not so much while fighting. Movement is pretty good and it's very comfortable to wear. Cinching it in at the waist very firmly with belts did a great job of helping the weight distribution so it wasn't felt on the shoulders. Heat load from the armour was less than expected but I think wearing it open at the neck helped a lot with that. It provides a good level of protection from strikes but I didn't put it to the real test with any solid strikes from a pike or similar. I suspect it will help but not anywhere near something like lamellar or a cuirass. All in all I'm pretty pleased with how things went. I think it'll be my go-to body armour for casual nights of fighting in future. . #jackofplates #larparmour #tudorarmour #warhammerlarp #renaissance #handmade #swordcraft #medievalreenactment #warhammerfantasy #16thcentury https://www.instagram.com/p/CEvIJdkHNz5/?igshid=6nzj1pi9ix6f

Well that's enough hand sewing for the moment. It's finally ready to add closures up the front. I've decided on buckles in the end. I couldn't figure out a way of doing lacing through the jack that I was going to be happy with so buckles it is! Hopefully the next pics of this build will be the last and I can finally move onto something new . . #jackofplates #brigandine #stabvest #bodyarmor #tudorarmour #elizabeathanarmour #costuming #reenactment #reenlarpment #larparmor #larpcostume #handmade #handcrafted #washersfordayz #popcollar #stabbingtonbrothers (at Toohey Forest Conservation Park) https://www.instagram.com/p/B_ro8iZH-40/?igshid=xairzkrrf71h

Okay so it's another bathroom #workinprogress selfie. I so rarely make anything for myself that documenting the process is a strange concept for me. Body of this jack is most way done now. Leather trims to the arm holes and ties up the front will just leave me with the intimidating process of sewing the next 200+ plates into the bottom panels.... eep! . . #jackofplates #brigandine #tudorarmour #elizabeathanarmour #16thcentury #fashion #bodyarmor #popcollar #selfie #handmade #wip #larp #sca #larparmour #swordcraft #swordsman #duellist (at Brisbane, Queensland, Australia) https://www.instagram.com/p/B-ysiNmHlBn/?igshid=1dllb7a4qj60e

Done! ~18 months and ~150 (or more?) hours later my jack of plates is finished. Such a huge project, started on a mad whim with so many many lessons learned. It's full of mistakes, blemishes and generally fuckery that I hope no one ever looks too closely but I'm kind of proud of it. Now all that awaits is to pick up a sword and give it a spin some time once this covid19 business simmers down. Given the hefty 9kg or so it weighs due to my equally hefty 3XL frame once it's all on and secure it's surprisingly comfortable. Really is akin to wearing equivalent maille in many respects. The moment I was nearly finished I'd already started to tell myself what I'd do differently on the next one....😆😂😭 . . #jackofplates #whiteelephant #brigandine #larparmour #tudorarmour #renaissance #reenlarpment #reenactment #bodyarmor #stabvest #disneyvillain #popcollar #handcrafted #crazyideas (at Brisbane, Queensland, Australia) https://www.instagram.com/p/B_uPlLeHhmZ/?igshid=seu268c58rg8

One! One bottom panel! Mwahahahaah. Dear gods I'd half forgot how time consuming sewing these plates in is. I'm definitely faster and more efficient than I started which helps but yeah... this might take some time . . #workinprogress #jackofplates #brigandine #handcrafted #handsewn #larparmour #tudorarmour #medievalreenactment (at Toohey Forest Conservation Park) https://www.instagram.com/p/B_BYYzmn4x5/?igshid=lxjetiis2lyw

~6 hours of hand sewing heavy leather trim and we're looking the business! Time to start on those bottom panels and bring this build to the home stretch. Ps quilting clamps are the shit and y'all need some in your life . . #larp #larparmour #larpkit #larpcostume #hema #swordcraft #swordsman #duellist #tudorarmour #elizabeathanarmour #brigandine #jackofplates #doublet #popcollar #hex #leathercraft #vest #handmade #handcrafted #workinprogress #workshop #3xl #thiccboi (at Toohey Forest Conservation Park) https://www.instagram.com/p/B-3zr5Cn0aS/?igshid=14s4rc5w1azy5

It's still a bit of a monstrosity but with #stayhome in full force I'm making time to get back into working on this jack of plates. Once I've stitched these edges I'll be starting on the collar and skirt panels before finally doing a nice solid leather trim to all of it. Dozens of hours work ahead of me. Wish me luck on my mad quest! . . #jackofplates #tudorarmour #elizabeathanarmour #larparmour #reenactment #reenlarpment #larpkit #swordsman #hiddenarmor #brigandine #handmade #madlad (at Toohey Forest Conservation Park) https://www.instagram.com/p/B-jfbrznrI8/?igshid=13bl2i3gkfxj

After a gentle prod from a friend I've got a start on the lining of this jack of plates body. So much work left to go before it's finished but it's nice to get stuck back in to this project after an extended hiatus . . #tudorarmour #jackofplates #brigandine #larparmour #elizabeathanarmour #larpcostume #handmade #handsewn #wip #witcherlarp #fantasyarmour #sewing #cosplay #cosplayarmor #fightinggear #fencing #renfaire #renaissance https://www.instagram.com/p/B3jCvc9nP5x/?igshid=1e9l2fl05ljye