01-18-2005, 06:04 AM
Thanks, um, Legio VIII, for this analysis. Do you have any images of your Newstead model? I haven't, as yet, seen any depictions of reconstructed "new model" Newsteads other than those of my group, Legio VI Victrix, which has been using them for two years now. As far as I know, we were the first group to build Newsteads with the large shoulder hinges, turnkey breastplate fastenings and "slot and tab" girth hoop closures.<br>
<br>
You can see some close-ups of a couple of our Newsteads via the link at the bottom of this message.<br>
<br>
Reading over your analysis, I have to say we have yet to experience anything quite like the litany of problems you list with stretching leather, popped rivets and the like. None of the seven cuirasses we have built so far has shown any signs of girth hoop "overlaps" turning into "gaps." We do use pretty heavy-duty leather for the internal strapping, maybe 4 ounce or greater, so this may account for the lack of stretching and/or rivet pull-through problems. So far, I've had only one broken internal leather in my girth section; I performed a quick "field repair" by simply looping a leather thong around the rivet on each side of the broken section and tying it off. So far, I haven'e seen any need to do a more permanent repair; I figure I'll take care of it when I re-strap the whole section in a year or so.<br>
<br>
We wear our cuirasses, on average, at least once a month for stretches of five hours or so; the activity includes fairly strenous uphill hikes, formation marching, vigorous pilum tossing and some full-contact mock combat emplying wooden swords (we'll be taking up the needlefelt system soon). To my knowledge, none of the Newsteads has suffered any damage or breakage, aside from my one broken internal leather. The main problem we have is the loss of the "split rings" that go through the girth hoop tabs-- these have a nasty tendancy to work themselves loose and fall to the ground. Consequently, we usually end up short of split rings and have to bum them off Florentius, who always wisely carries a few extra.<br>
<br>
We also have two Corbridge A cuirasses in the group; interestingly, these have suffered several failures over roughly the same period of use (two-three years). If memory serves, these include at least two broken hinges, several popped hinge pins (often in the hinged verticle and horzontal straps), and at least three rivet pull-throughs resulting in shoulder guards gaping open.<br>
<br>
We are, to a man, impressed with the robustness and solidity of the Newstead; however, there's no denying the Newstead feels somewhat more confining, and less comfortable, than the Corbridge models.<br>
<br>
T. Flavius Crispus<br>
Leg VI VPF<br>
CA, USA<br>
<br>
<br>
Here is a link to some close-ups of two of our Newsteads:NEWSTEAD<br>
<br>
You can find more images of them throughout the Legio VI Victrix website: LEGIO VI<br>
<br>
<p></p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://p200.ezboard.com/bromanarmytalk.showUserPublicProfile?gid=flaviuscrispus@romanarmytalk>FlaviusCrispus</A> <IMG HEIGHT=10 WIDTH=10 SRC="http://photos.groups.yahoo.com/group/legiovi/vwp?.dir=/Flavius+photo&.src=gr&.dnm=flavhead2.jpg" BORDER=0> at: 1/18/05 9:29 pm<br></i>
<br>
You can see some close-ups of a couple of our Newsteads via the link at the bottom of this message.<br>
<br>
Reading over your analysis, I have to say we have yet to experience anything quite like the litany of problems you list with stretching leather, popped rivets and the like. None of the seven cuirasses we have built so far has shown any signs of girth hoop "overlaps" turning into "gaps." We do use pretty heavy-duty leather for the internal strapping, maybe 4 ounce or greater, so this may account for the lack of stretching and/or rivet pull-through problems. So far, I've had only one broken internal leather in my girth section; I performed a quick "field repair" by simply looping a leather thong around the rivet on each side of the broken section and tying it off. So far, I haven'e seen any need to do a more permanent repair; I figure I'll take care of it when I re-strap the whole section in a year or so.<br>
<br>
We wear our cuirasses, on average, at least once a month for stretches of five hours or so; the activity includes fairly strenous uphill hikes, formation marching, vigorous pilum tossing and some full-contact mock combat emplying wooden swords (we'll be taking up the needlefelt system soon). To my knowledge, none of the Newsteads has suffered any damage or breakage, aside from my one broken internal leather. The main problem we have is the loss of the "split rings" that go through the girth hoop tabs-- these have a nasty tendancy to work themselves loose and fall to the ground. Consequently, we usually end up short of split rings and have to bum them off Florentius, who always wisely carries a few extra.<br>
<br>
We also have two Corbridge A cuirasses in the group; interestingly, these have suffered several failures over roughly the same period of use (two-three years). If memory serves, these include at least two broken hinges, several popped hinge pins (often in the hinged verticle and horzontal straps), and at least three rivet pull-throughs resulting in shoulder guards gaping open.<br>
<br>
We are, to a man, impressed with the robustness and solidity of the Newstead; however, there's no denying the Newstead feels somewhat more confining, and less comfortable, than the Corbridge models.<br>
<br>
T. Flavius Crispus<br>
Leg VI VPF<br>
CA, USA<br>
<br>
<br>
Here is a link to some close-ups of two of our Newsteads:NEWSTEAD<br>
<br>
You can find more images of them throughout the Legio VI Victrix website: LEGIO VI<br>
<br>
<p></p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://p200.ezboard.com/bromanarmytalk.showUserPublicProfile?gid=flaviuscrispus@romanarmytalk>FlaviusCrispus</A> <IMG HEIGHT=10 WIDTH=10 SRC="http://photos.groups.yahoo.com/group/legiovi/vwp?.dir=/Flavius+photo&.src=gr&.dnm=flavhead2.jpg" BORDER=0> at: 1/18/05 9:29 pm<br></i>
T. Flavius Crispus / David S. Michaels
Centurio Pilus Prior,
Legio VI VPF
CA, USA
"Oderint dum probent."
Tiberius
Centurio Pilus Prior,
Legio VI VPF
CA, USA
"Oderint dum probent."
Tiberius
