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Well I finaly was able to find something to start building a nice musculata from in the basic shape I want and price I could pay.
Musculata I know its not the correct period metal but I am not a reenactor so much as an illustrator so looks are my first thought. By the way these are some of the details I plan on copying.
![[Image: musculata_example01.jpg]](http://www.pwlawrence.com/temp_art/musculata_example01.jpg)
. I always liked this design as it seems to give more protection to the well personal regions haha. By the way does any one have more and better pictures of this one or other musculata of the same basic design. I have as many as I could find but I think only one of this statue.
By the way I am looking for suggestion on how to handle the metal. Seems I have a lot of options from the basic ones like polish or brush to even plating with todays technology in Gold, bronze, silver etc. I also have to figure out how to do the edges since the armourer I contacted said heavy aluminum like this could not be rolled on the edges without a very high chance of breaking it.
Any way look forward to your suggestions.
Patrick Lawrence
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Thanks Marcus Mummius I have seen that site and its is a very good site. Full of usefull information.
And yes the medusa seems to be very common on muscalata and normaly in the same place.
But the one thing I cant make out on the statue in the picture are the large decorations on the shoulder straps. Hopefully I can find a better photo.
Patrick Lawrence
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NP thanks for taking the time to help.
Yes hmm could be lightining bolts but hard to tell from that photo. And it seems most of the ones I have seen dont stand out near so far.
Patrick Lawrence
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Well got busy and did more sesearch on the tongue pteruges. Here is a large composit image of many images of the style I plan on making.
Large Image . I plan on using 3 rows as shown in some of the examples. I plan on them being of thick tooling leather and very thick to match the statues. The decorations will be a combination of embossing, metal work and color.
Also does any one have more information about the " vestigial "hinges" or hardware " as seen on all of the examples.
By the way it looks like the tongue pteruges are going to turn out to be the most expensive part of the entire project.[/img]
Patrick Lawrence
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Well I have been looking at leather work etc getting ideas for the tongue pteruges and I came across some fancy saddles and saddle pieces like this. [url:2oltaz72]http://www.pvsaddleshop.com/ALL%20PICS/Pony%20breast%20collar.jpg[/url]
[url:2oltaz72]http://www.pvsaddleshop.com/ALL%20PICS/Indiana%20front%20%20rt.jpg[/url]
more...[url:2oltaz72]http://www.pvsaddleshop.com/COLLECTIBLES.htm[/url] They seem to have very much the same look and stiffness as the tongue pteruges on the statues. Also its made me think made just to polish the breastplate and use mainly silver ornaments with black leather.
Patrick Lawrence
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Is there a larger photo that anyone knows of, of the painting near the top of this web page? The officer in musculata with a fabric over it, being tended to by a physician.
http://mural.uv.es/roaljo/Sanidadlegiones.htm
His musculata looks cupric alloy with silver decoration ( :?: )
Is it purely Hellenic or Roman, or a mix of both?
TARBICvS/Jim Bowers
A A A DESEDO DESEDO!
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Interesting image. I wish we had a larger version and a date or time period for it.
Patrick Lawrence
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Quote:By the way I am looking for suggestion on how to handle the metal. Seems I have a lot of options from the basic ones like polish or brush to even plating with todays technology in Gold, bronze, silver etc. I also have to figure out how to do the edges since the armourer I contacted said heavy aluminum like this could not be rolled on the edges without a very high chance of breaking it.
As for the final treatment - thought about anodizing? A good, high gloss polish, and anodizing without any color (sometimes called clear anodizing) would have the look of a tinned or maybe silver piece. I've seen some clear anodized pieces that look just astounding.
Personally, (if you care) my argument AGAINST aluminum: cost! I thought about working with aluminum at first, but when I went my nearest supplier, aluminum sheets cost a LOT more than steel. ....and then you could also have your rolled edges.
Marcus Julius Germanus
m.k.a. Brian Biesemeyer
S.P.Q.A.
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First thanks for all of the images and advice.
Also thanks for the tip on anodizing Marcus I will look into it. I had not thought about doing that at all.
As for aluminum I bought the piece that was already done. But I like the idea of not having to worry about rust and still being able to get a shiny surface for low cost. But I am not sure I would have chosen it. Oh and you can get it much cheaper just go to the local scrap metal yard. Thats where I get most of my metal for projects and I use aluminum all the time. As a matter of fact I picked up part of the drop tank from an F105 fighter at the local scrap yard.
Also I think I am going to trip the breastplate in some kind of gold plate or polished brass not realy sure yet. All depends on cost but I need something to cover the nonrolled edge. And looking at roman 1st century pieces that were two tone gold and silver it makes sense.
Patrick Lawrence
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Well I visited the tandy leather outlet today so my leather source is taken care of when I figure out how much I need. I also ordered a book on working with leather to get back up to speed in that.
Now I just have to find a source for the metal decorations for the tongue pteruges. I want to find something about the right size that is mass produced so its cheap. Maybe its time for a visit to home depot and lowes.
What would be perfect is something the right size already silver and gold plated with interesting imbosing.
Patrick Lawrence
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Just a question , please forgive if its been asked before. Has anyone tried using a thin leather for the curiass over a mould and backing it with epoxy resin and glass/carbon. It would let you get much finer detail in the work and then use it as a form for the thicker leather, youd most likely have to vacuum back the heavy stuff over it but you should end up with a very accurate producet?
Neil / Caius Scipio
Neil / Caius Scipio
