Roman Soldier : Body Armor

 

 Roman Solider Costume :  Body Armor

Supplies :

• cardboard (a few big boxes)
• aluminum foil
• invisible tape
• exacto knife 

Directions :

• Measure around the chest of the person the armor is for, and then cut the cardboard to that length.  The strip should be 1-1/2 inches wide.  You will need approximately eight of these strips to form the body of the armor.

 

• After it is cut, cover the strips with foil so that the shinier side of the aluminum foil is showing.
• Then, bend the strips to a circular shape, and tape each one, half-overlapping the other. (see photo)

• When you are finished taping them together, cut a piece of cardboard that is half as long as the original strips.  Cut a second strip that is 1-1/2 inches shorter than that one.  Cut a third that is 1-1/2 inches shorter than the second.  Cut a fourth strip that is 1-1/2 inches shorter than the third.  Cover the strips in foil.  Shape them into an arc, and tape the ends together well. Make two of these shoulder guards, and then place them on the side of the breast armor and tape them down.  (see photo)

  

• Cut two strips of cardboard that are 1-1/2 inches wide and the length of the chest armor from bottom to shoulder guard base.  Cover the strips in foil.  Attach to the outside of the chest armor in the back.

• If you need to make the chest armor wider, add covered strips of cardboard to the front sides of the chest armor.  When the chest armor is the correct size, strengthen the armor by adding more covered strips on the inside, going up and down. 

• On the back of the armor, place reinforcements from shoulder to shoulder.  (see photo) 

 

You can see my tutorial for the helmet / arm guards and shield at these two posts.