Made a template out of craft foam by tracing a single scale over and over again

Used craft foam template to cut out hundreds of leather scales

Cut them up and stapled them together (leather with less texture would be better but eh I had this)

All stapled together

Spray painted with a few layers of Krylon Premium Metallic Silver

Weathered with some Martha Stewart Black Nickel paint on a paper towel

Glued scales onto the tabard with Alene's Super Fabric Adhesive

Tada!