Top Back Plate Question on Segmentata

[Grumio]

I am working on a suit of Segmentata (Corbridge type A) and have run into a problem. I am using the patterens from the Legion XX site.

The top back plate where it attaches to the middle collar plate is shown cut at an angle. When I put together my paper mock up the plate didnt really fit correctly and created a decent sized gap. It seems stupid that this plate would be cut at an angle. I see no reason why it cant just be cut straight.

While I was looking at some other pictures on the Legion XX site it shows the top black plate cut straight where it attaches to the mid collar plate.

So is the plate supposed to be cut straight or at an angle? And if its supposed to be cut at an angel, why?

Heres a link to the patteren from the Legion XX site. The plate I am talking about is the top back plate. The cut in question is the one with the hinge on it.
http://www.larp.com/legioxx/lorA1.gif

Thanks for you help

Lee

[mcbishop]

So is the plate supposed to be cut straight or at an angle? And if its supposed to be cut at an angel, why?

'Supposed' is a tricky word. Archaeology (principally the finds from the Corbridge Hoard) shows us that they were shaped thus; we can speculate (and reconstruction archaeology can help suggest) why this might have been, but we cannot know for certain. Therefore, how can anybody confirm that it was 'supposed' to be so? It just was!

In fact it was probably a kludge to work around the fact that individual plates of lorica seg tended to be bent about only one axis - an attempt to fit it to the complex shape of the human torso.

Best I can do, I'm afraid... good question, though!

Mike Bishop

[Grumio]

Thanks for the info. I think I might just modify it so it works better.

So what is the "Corbridge hord"? I had always wondered what was ment by by the name Corbirdge.

Thanks,

Lee

[Quintius Clavus]

Corbridge is a place in the north of England, eastern side, and the Corbridge Hoard was a box full of artifacts found at Corbridge. The items, which had presumably been left for repair at the armorer, had been carefully packed for transport, then, for some unknown reason, left behind. Of course, the Romans with their usual thoroughness, buried the box and its contents. It is the fact of several sections of the armor we know as the lorica segmentata being found in the box, which made it such a phenomenal find!
When I was in Newcastle upon Tyne in 1978, I took a photo of the originals of a shoulder unit and girdle section, which were on display in the local museum - Yes, a picture of some rusted iron with corroded copper alloy fittings/hinges/buckles. I am very pleased it turned out.

Marcus Quintius Clavus/Quinton

[Matthew Amt]

Ave!

Naturally I'm shocked and appalled that anyone would question my patterns--just kidding! They worked for us, but if you find they don't work for you, sure, try modifying them. Just be forewarned that all those plates have complicated relationships, and changing one dimension can lead to problems elsewhere.

Dr. Mike neglected to mention is own Armamentarium site as the place to find photos of the original pieces:

http://museums.ncl.ac.uk/archive/arma/c ... uirass.htm

(Ack, sorry, long URL!) Note that the Hoard was a box full of many things besides the lorica parts, though the armor was generally the most important and interesting stuff. The excavation report is listed near the top of the Legio XX Bibliography page.

Happy armoring! Vale,

Matthew

[richsc]

Wasn't their speculation that the box was buried as an offering or part of Batavian (or German) traditions?

[Hibernicus]

And if its supposed to be cut at an angel, why?.... Lee

The Seg plates should be adjusted to fit your shape, for some the TOP BACK PLATE may need a steeper angle and for others a shallower angle.

The short or overlapping edges of the MIDCOLLAR PLATE can be trimmed at slightly diferent angles to better fit. The overlap can also be slightly adjusted and the over lap does not have to precisely parallel the edges of either the BREASTPLATE or the TOP BACK PLATE

The MIDCOLLAR PLATE can be also twisted to better fit the shape of the shoulder

SEE:
http://www.rlqm.com/08midcollar_twist02.jpg
http://www.rlqm.com/07midcollar_twist01.jpg
AND ATTACHED:
http://www.rlqm.com/backdetailjurjen.jpg


As to why? In my experience its generallly necessary for comfort and function.... HOWEVER.... the angle does one very important thing.. it reduces lateral stress on the hinge.

[Grumio]

Hey thanks alot for thoes pictures, that helps alot. Hibernicus, if you have pictures of the front of your Lorica could you post them? It would help alot.

Thanks

Lee