Mrs. McCullough recommended plaster cloth, so I went to MJDesigns (arts & crafts store) and bought a few rolls. I think I'll make the breastplate over the weekend. I'm still trying to decide whether to do a backplate or a cloak. I'm thinking cloak, because I don't want to have to lie on my stomach for an hour while the plaster sets. I'm using myself as a model -- all hail Saran Wrap, which shall prevent it from touching my skin (icky).

So backplate or cloak? What do the "official" artists say?...

Paul Kidby: cloak
Lissanne Lake (MAA HC): cloak
Josh Kirby (scares the hell out of me): umm... is that some kind of a freakish armored corset? Ouch. But she also has a cloak, so both.

What would look best with the costume? Cloak. Hell yeah. Must plan a trip to a fabric store in the near future.