Cardboard Armor

Experimenting with making armor from cardboard. I doubt it's durable enough for LARP but I could use it as templates for EVA foam or leather armor.

Helmet

First up is a flat top helmet. I figured that flat top is the easiest to do.

Here is the inspiration.

Crusader Flat Helm from Medieval Collectibles

Here is my version.

It's a prototype, using tape to keep it together. It needs to be painted.

I think I made it too short. I should try a version that's a little taller. I may also add faux chain to it.

Greaves

Kind of cheating - using Velcro straps. Still, it came out good.

Next, I should try a version that extends over the knee.

Cuirass, Pauldron, and Bracer

Sorry about the flash.

The Velcro straps work well for the bracers too!

The slits on the cuirass aren't a feature of the armor. I just so happened to have a bunch of cardboard panels with slits. If I did this design for real, the plates would just be solid.

I am really happy with the pauldron. I wanted something to fit onto the point of my shoulder. I took a flat piece of cardboard, cut out a diagonal wedge at top, then bent the cardboard so that the edges of the diagonal meet. It worked!

Next Steps

In all, the prototypes work. On to the final product.

But the big question is what material to use.

• Leather is an obvious choice for LARP. But it is so expensive!
• Cardboard is cheap but I don't think it will be durable. Perhaps I should try Plastidip on it.
• EVA foam is commonly used for cosplay armor. But will it be durable?

As I write this, I think Plastidip cardboard greaves might be a good test.