They both look good. I think I like the stripe one as well, but keep in mind it will be nearly impossible to get the line to actually BE straight across plates when you are wearing/walking. You should totally do it, we'll just make sure we get you all kitted up and one of us can tape off those lines to paint, that way they are going to line up as best as possible.
Good color schemes. Do you know what material you want to make your plates out of? Most of us use Sintra, which is a plastic that is easy to work with, but DracoMac and Bassplaya (both here in Vancouver) make metal plates, and I can show you how to make fiberglass plates if that is what you want.
I'd suggest you start hitting up the milsurp shops in New West when you get a few bucks and keep an eye out for a used black military flightsuit that fits you, once you decide that black is what you want there. They aren't too hard to find in their used sections and are reasonably priced, plus they come pre-weathered so you don't have to worry about beat up armor looking strange with shiny new fabric. I highly recommend Wesley's (Surplus? Military Supply? i forget the full name) on Front Street in New West for that kind of thing. Gorilla Surplus on Broadway might have them too but they are less reliably stocked and i find they mark things up more but are willing to haggle on prices if you are... which i don't like doing
I got my boots from them though, and talked them down from $100 to $60 so sometimes it works out.
Sounds like there will be an armor party in Olympic Village on the 30th. If you can make it and meet some of the folks, let me know an we'll get you the details.
