10-28-2007, 07:58 PM
[size=200:34zxvfqg]Testing Plumbatae[/size]
[size=150:34zxvfqg]Test 1 – Veerse Dam, Zeeland, Saturday 20th October, 2007.[/size]
( http://maps.google.nl/maps?oe=UTF-8&hl= ... 203.639007 )
Future updates of this article can be read here: http://www.fectio.org.uk/articles/testplumbata.htm
A picture of the testing site. :wink:
Plumbatae types:
Fectio I/II, Len Morgan I/II, Deepeeka I/II.
All plumbatae are of the ‘Burgh Castle-Catterick’ tanged type and have barbed heads.
FI came apart at the first throw and has been left of the test.
1 - F II:
Length: 63 cm (tip-tail), 51 cm (shaft), 10 cm (shaft behind stabilisers).
Weight: 240 g, 3 feather stabilisers of 7.5x1.5 cm.
LM I and II are nearly identical. For commercial purposes, the iron head continues into the wooden shaft, thereby making the missile more shock-resistant, but affecting the overall balance.
2 - LM I:
Length: 67 cm (tip-tail), 52 cm (shaft), 12 cm (shaft behind stabilisers).
Weight: 220 g, 4 leather stabilisers of 7x2 cm.
3 - LM II:
Length: 67 cm (tip-tail), 53 cm (shaft), 12 cm (shaft behind stabilisers).
Weight: 226 g, 4 leather stabilisers of 7x2 cm.
For commercial purposes the iron head continues far into the wooden shaft, thereby making the missile more shock-resistant, but severely affecting the overall balance. DP I has broad stabilisers, DP II has adapted smaller stabilisers to improve the overall distance.
4 - DP I:
Length: 52 cm (tip-tail), 35 cm (shaft), 9 cm (shaft behind stabilisers).
Weight: 274 g, 4 leather stabilisers of 7x4 cm.
5 - DP II:
Length: 52 cm (tip-tail), 35 cm (shaft), 9 cm (shaft behind stabilisers).
Weight: 268 g, 4 leather stabilisers of 7x2.5 cm.
(I have an original plumbatae (no shaft) that weighs 146 g, other recorded finds weigh between 40 and 180g - without the shafts, of course).
I think the weather was exceptional for plumbatae testing!!
[size=150:34zxvfqg]Test 1 – Veerse Dam, Zeeland, Saturday 20th October, 2007.[/size]
( http://maps.google.nl/maps?oe=UTF-8&hl= ... 203.639007 )
Future updates of this article can be read here: http://www.fectio.org.uk/articles/testplumbata.htm
A picture of the testing site. :wink:
Plumbatae types:
Fectio I/II, Len Morgan I/II, Deepeeka I/II.
All plumbatae are of the ‘Burgh Castle-Catterick’ tanged type and have barbed heads.
FI came apart at the first throw and has been left of the test.
1 - F II:
Length: 63 cm (tip-tail), 51 cm (shaft), 10 cm (shaft behind stabilisers).
Weight: 240 g, 3 feather stabilisers of 7.5x1.5 cm.
LM I and II are nearly identical. For commercial purposes, the iron head continues into the wooden shaft, thereby making the missile more shock-resistant, but affecting the overall balance.
2 - LM I:
Length: 67 cm (tip-tail), 52 cm (shaft), 12 cm (shaft behind stabilisers).
Weight: 220 g, 4 leather stabilisers of 7x2 cm.
3 - LM II:
Length: 67 cm (tip-tail), 53 cm (shaft), 12 cm (shaft behind stabilisers).
Weight: 226 g, 4 leather stabilisers of 7x2 cm.
For commercial purposes the iron head continues far into the wooden shaft, thereby making the missile more shock-resistant, but severely affecting the overall balance. DP I has broad stabilisers, DP II has adapted smaller stabilisers to improve the overall distance.
4 - DP I:
Length: 52 cm (tip-tail), 35 cm (shaft), 9 cm (shaft behind stabilisers).
Weight: 274 g, 4 leather stabilisers of 7x4 cm.
5 - DP II:
Length: 52 cm (tip-tail), 35 cm (shaft), 9 cm (shaft behind stabilisers).
Weight: 268 g, 4 leather stabilisers of 7x2.5 cm.
(I have an original plumbatae (no shaft) that weighs 146 g, other recorded finds weigh between 40 and 180g - without the shafts, of course).
I think the weather was exceptional for plumbatae testing!!
Robert Vermaat
MODERATOR
FECTIO Late Romans
THE CAUSE OF WAR MUST BE JUST
(Maurikios-Strategikon, book VIII.2: Maxim 12)
MODERATOR
FECTIO Late Romans
THE CAUSE OF WAR MUST BE JUST
(Maurikios-Strategikon, book VIII.2: Maxim 12)