My Newest Newstead (say that three times fast LOL)

[Matt Lukes]

Here's my most recent piece- made for fellow RAT member markusaurelius (who was unbelieveably patient given how long it took to get to and complete the cuirass- thanks Markus :wink: )- an up-to-date Newstead, constructed using the details of artifacts from Newstead (breast and back plates), Carlisle (lobate hinges), Carnuntum (florate rivet bosses), Iza (copper alloy eyelets), and Stillfried (complete torso section). The copper alloy binding of the collar is a theoretical detail, but given the appearance of similar binding under the arms and on the lower edge of the bottom torso hoop, seems reasonable. The upper- and lesser-shoulder guards are also theoretical, but based on those of previous forms of lorica segmentata (the LSGs) and a logical progression (the USGs).

Front:



Back:



Back detail, showing the 'name' punched-marking Markus requested to personalize the piece (never strictly found on body armor, but they appear on so many other forms or arms and armor that it seemed a cool detail to add):

[Matt Lukes]

Top down view:



Note the more squarish neck opening that seems to have become the norm in the later Empire- this feature can be seen on musculatae as well.

The lobate hinges are nicely visible here- copied from an original from Carlisle, cut with chisels and interestingly, not fully-doubled; the barrel end is only folded over and only reaches the base of the triangular cutout. Presumably the hinges' size makes full-doubling unnecessary.

Underarm binding:



This is one of the really interesting elements of one of the Stillfried halves- instead of being curved and rolled as was done on the Corbridge type segmentata, a simple copper alloy binding, secured with rivets, was applied. This same detail is found on the lower edge of the bottom girth hoops as well.

Interior:



Here can be seen another unique detail of one of the Stillfried artifacts- square roves backing each of the copper alloy closure eyelets; the eyelets are inserted through rectangular holes in the armor plates and peened, so roves are desirable to strengthen the system so the eyelets cannot easily be pulled out.

Also, the internal leathering's rivets are simple, large-headed type attached from the inside and peened on the exterior.

The interior faces of the steel plates are oil-blackened for corrosion protection (not strictly accurate, but simply a concession to practicality since it's such a pain to remove rust from inside a segmentata, and it certainly could have been done since it only requires edible oil and heat).

[Matt Lukes]

Front closure loops:



Open front:



One more interesting detail of the Stillfried artifacts is that while the edges of the slot half (which, incidently is the right half, so the armor was 'assembled' right over left, not left over right as was the Corbridge) are straight vertical, whereas the eyelet half has angled edges reminiscent of those of the Corbridge A. Also note that only the bottom corners are clipped.

The slots are centered in the exposed portion of each plate (so a few mm below center to account for the overlap of the plate above), and are covered with a rectangular copper alloy plate, the slot of which is cut out with chisels.

Vertical connector hooks:



A new innovation for the Newstead type segmentata was that the vertical connector hooks were actually attached to the interior face of the top girth hoop with a single rivet and then passed through a hole in the plate before curving down. One of the Stillfried girth halves has yet another difference- the hooks are iron instead of being copper alloy. They're also made of round bar, and are considerably thicker than the hooks of the Corbridge B.

[Marcus Mummius]

Holy cow! Matt, I almost got elehtrocuted from the drool that's spilling on my keyboard! This is fabulous work hock:

Vale,

[Aurelianus]

Simply great!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Hibernicus]

Most excellent.

[Matt Lukes]

Gratias tibi ago fratres

[Hibernicus]

What are you getting on average for your segmentatas?

[sulla felix]

Fantastic work as usual Matt.

[Titus Martius]

Excellent wotk Matt!...

...I know it very well, I have Matt's Newstead too! :wink:

[Robert Vermaat]

Fabulous work indeed!

[Et tu brute]

Excellent workmanship, a beautiful piece.

[Martin Moser]

Excellent work, Matt!

[Magnus]

My Newest Newstead, My Newest Newstead, My Newest Newstead!

There, not even a typo. 8)

Great work matt!

[Marcus Julius]

Hmmm, I actually just said it 5 times fast, no problems - - - other than that nagging envy of the piece itself. :lol: