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Starting my kit

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Sir Cedric:
So after reading all of the getting started guides I've seen for buying armor, I still have a few questions.
I ultimately intend to portray a soldier of the hundred years war, adding on more and more bits of Gothic style plate as I can afford them.
 
1. I understand that in this period it was more typical to wear chainmail voiders under the plate rather than a full hauberk, but I was wondering if it would be a good idea to get the full hauberk instead so I could portray an earlier 12-13th century Knight in the meantime. I can make a heater shield and tabard easily enough on my own, so I would only need to buy a great helm to complete the kit.
The reason I ask this is because I really would rather portray a Knight rather than just a common soldier, but the full set of Gothic plate is going to take a very long time to complete.
 
2 If I do end up choosing the path of the peasant, what bit of plate should I buy first? I've seen mixed results between having a breastplate or a gorget and pauldrons. Unfortunately there aren't any effigies or the like of common soldiers so I really don't have much to base this off of.
 
Sorry to ask what may be obvious questions, but getting into this hobby really is rather daunting.

Thorsteinn:
When in the 100yrs war? It lasted right through a major change in armor types. Which decade & what country are you aiming for? Which area of said country are you aiming for?

Will you be using this for any kind of combat? If so what kind? What is your budget?

Sir Cedric:
I was thinking the later 15th century period of the war around 1415 and the battle of agincourt.  I'm leaning toward English because of their tendency towards non-mounted knights.

The worst sparring this would see would be HEMA sparring with blunted sparring swords. I have no interest in SCA or full contact so it doesn't have to be the thickest stuff. Mostly this will just be for show because my budget is very small and I wont be able to purchase a full suit of anything all at once.  If you could recommend something that is somewhat "modular" in the sense that it won't look ridiculous when its half finished that would be great.

Sir Rodney:
Great time period and location (personal bias)!  :)

The "modular route" is difficult.  One method is to work with an armourer on a "pay as you go" plan, e.g. piece by piece.  I can't provide any names that work this method.

Another method is to find a full kit in a catalog and purchase it piece by piece.  There are a few who offer components, but beware one size fits most and the shaping leaves something to be desired.  Lords of Battle, Epic Armoury, GDFB and Deepeeka all offer components, but they will need to be modified to fit correctly as they are bottom of the line.

Illusion Armoring, IceFalcon and Windrose Armoury are mid-line and offer components.

Some of the new Ukrainian and Indian armorers are doing some incredible stuff lately as well.

Sir Cedric:
Are the Lord of Battles, GDFB, etc. armors worth considering at all?  I thought of maybe using them to purchase a 16g breastplate, but I don't know how much work would be involved to get it to fit properly.

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