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Post by RufusScorpius on Dec 9, 2019 1:39:16 GMT
OH it's on...It's SOOOOO on right now! Just got my new armor...and me likes it! Quite comfortable, even though I don't have it adjusted quite right yet. I just threw it on because... you know... little kid at the amusement park and all that... Not bad. It's Indian made, but it will do for now. I wanted something low cost to learn with and not be afraid to modify if I had to. It fits very comfortably even though I don't have it exactly fitted just yet- but it has potential I don't like the way the plume screws into the helmet, and the buckles will need some additional securing for the strap. But I can live with that for now. I got a tunic, I need caligulae and a beltus. I got wood to make a scutum- but no time to play this week. But I can so play with this idea....oh yes... time to spend some money.... It's a nice winter project. It feels "right'. So right. In fact, I hear the blood of my ancestors calling out to me to lay siege to a small patch of green grass just east of Dallas....   |
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Ouroboros
Member
Imperial, Mysterious In Amorous Array
Posts: 581 
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Post by Ouroboros on Dec 9, 2019 1:42:35 GMT
Yeowza! Nice steel shirt n hat u gots yourself, sir!
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Post by RufusScorpius on Dec 9, 2019 1:49:00 GMT
The question is: why did it take me so long to buy some armor??? How could I have gone all these years without this wonderful stuff?
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Ouroboros
Member
Imperial, Mysterious In Amorous Array
Posts: 581
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Post by Ouroboros on Dec 9, 2019 1:53:36 GMT
I'm afraid you will never answer that question but, rest assured, now that a new avenue has opened up I bet you will find all sorts o new and enticing things catch your eye like custom leather work and hand cast buckles and ....  It might just be a bigger world than collecting blades... |
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Post by RufusScorpius on Dec 9, 2019 1:59:48 GMT
I know this road well. Get infected, start collecting kit, then improve on kit, upgrade kit, deeper research, collect different kit from +/- 200 years or so... and on and on......
Still want my Samurai armor, but fortunately it's too expensive and fiddly for me right now- and I can't really pass myself off as Japanese. Roman on the other hand- I've always had a deep interest in Rome...
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Post by nerdthenord on Dec 9, 2019 3:09:39 GMT
Looks nice! I’m glad you like it!
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AndiTheBarvarian
Member
"Lord of the Memes"
Bavarianbarbarian - Semper Semprini
Posts: 10,346
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Post by AndiTheBarvarian on Dec 9, 2019 5:43:11 GMT
AVE (edit: CENTURIO) OPTIO SCORPIUS RUFUS
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Post by tancred on Dec 9, 2019 5:44:05 GMT
Its the Roman Redskins!  Seriously, though, nice armor (lorica segmentata, I think is the term)! Glad you like it, and hope it brings you years of good service. |
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Post by treeslicer on Dec 9, 2019 7:35:37 GMT
Cool, looks like a good set. OK, now you need a thick grapevine swagger stick to go with it. And dammit, get those straps dressed, you're supposed to be the pride of Rome........ |
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Post by RufusScorpius on Dec 9, 2019 11:27:56 GMT
Now that I have something tangible in my hands, I can really start to learn and study how things were done. It's one thing to read about it in a book, quite another to try to recreate it. The best way to learn is by real life. For example:
Was the design of the armor such that a single soldier could put in on and off themselves?
How long does it take to put on and how much lead time is needed to prep for combat?
How did it articulate in combat?
What were the daily maintenance needs?
What did they wear under it?
What are it's vulnerabilities and how do you protect that?
What is it like to wear it all day long on a campaign march or did they?
How did a solider carry it around when not wearing it?
Lots of questions.
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christain
Member
It's the steel on the inside that counts.
Posts: 2,835
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Post by christain on Dec 9, 2019 12:04:54 GMT
I KNEW you were getting Roman armor! The helm looks like it's a perfect fit. Not big and clunky looking like some repro Roman helms I've seen. The lorica is nice looking, just needs some fine-tuning. You'll get there.  Ahh, Red...Part of me feels I owe you an apology. I cast the notion into your head of a steel-plated body...and now you've gone and done it. All I can say is...it only gets worse...and BETTER! One of these days, when you are driving a used Chevy, eating beans and rice, and waiting on your next paycheck to come in so you can buy that next piece of armor...you'll understand.  Seriously...Nice kit! Any plans on a mail lorica hamata to go underneath the segmentata? The Roman tunic and belt will come easy. So will the bracers and greaves. And DON'T SKIMP on the SANDALS! Get some good historically correct sandals with the hobnail soles! The Gladius, shield, and pilum spear are also mandatory. You poor s.o.b.----I'll send you a care package when your divorce is final, and you're sitting in the trailer park wearing full Gothic plate. |
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Post by Gunnar Wolfgard on Dec 9, 2019 14:24:23 GMT
Okay, so I'm to lazy to look it up. Which Legion had an American Indian as it's emblem, Legio Americana ?  Nothing wrong with Indian made armor as long as it's made well. Deepeeka helmets are approved for use by all the major Roman reenactment groups. You probably already have it but an excellent book on the Roman Legions is Legions of Rome by Stephen Dando-Collins. Just be careful you don't end up looking like this guy from the IX .   |
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pgandy
Moderator
Senior Forumite
Posts: 10,296
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Post by pgandy on Dec 9, 2019 16:15:43 GMT
That looks good, and might have started a whole new venture for you. I find armour just as interesting as blades and has helped me to understand history better.
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Post by markus313 on Dec 9, 2019 16:28:45 GMT
Awesome armor and the pics look so cool!
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Post by RufusScorpius on Dec 9, 2019 22:53:17 GMT
Okay, so I'm to lazy to look it up. Which Legion had an American Indian as it's emblem, Legio Americana ? Yes, I need a better football team. I am doing research, trying to find all I can. That, to me, is the best part of something like this. I love delving into the deeper parts of history and trying to see how and why people lived, worked, fought and died in days past. |
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Post by RufusScorpius on Dec 9, 2019 22:59:01 GMT
I literally had 5 minutes with my armor. It came in the box, I threw it on real quick, and then I had to leave for a week long conference for work. In that respect, I was hoping it wouldn't arrive for another week. Now I have it- but can't play with it  Yes, I was super surprised at how well the helmet fit. It has a leather suspension inside, but I could use one of those doughnut arming caps, but other than that, it fits really well and it's comfortable. There is no attachment for a cord to tie the cheek protectors- but it's a small matter to modify it. Overall, I am very pleased. I planned to make some improvements on it as my knowledge grows and having a decent suit up front makes everything easier. Yes, I need to buy a pilum and all the other junk. As I said before, I got the tunic and the materials for the scutum. I also have a lead on some fairly decent hobnail sandals. I do have the armor infection now. No doubt. It's hit me hard like a steel MRSA infection.I can't wait for next Halloween, I'm pretty sure what I'm wearing to work that day.... |
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Post by RufusScorpius on Dec 10, 2019 0:44:41 GMT
Seriously...Nice kit! Any plans on a mail lorica hamata to go underneath the segmentata? The Roman tunic and belt will come easy. So will the bracers and greaves. And DON'T SKIMP on the SANDALS! Get some good historically correct sandals with the hobnail soles! The Gladius, shield, and pilum spear are also mandatory. From the best of my research so far, the Romans EITHER wore the hamata or the segmentata, but not both at the same time. Underneath they wore a kind of padded leather serape to prevent armor rash. The hamata was popular for much longer times than the segmentata which was pretty much an early Imperial period armor. I want to get some lorica squamata- which is the fish scale armor as well. And no bracers. None. Zero. Such things were considered unmanly. They did, for a while when fighting the Dacians, use a segmentata extension for the right arm like gladiators used, but it fell out of favor after that war was concluded. I will be getting it all soon enough, trust me on that.... |
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christain
Member
It's the steel on the inside that counts.
Posts: 2,835
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Post by christain on Dec 10, 2019 3:14:38 GMT
Well, I stand corrected. The padded under-gambeson and tunic are really all you need. I always thought the hamata (mail) was worn under the segmentata. It would be bad-ass worn together though. I'm glad you are getting a kit together, and something that fits you ethnically. It looks really good...especially the helm. My ethnics are a bit more diverse....Scot/Irish-Swede-and a little German thrown in for sauce. So, my kits can cover a lot of ground. Seems like you have zeroed-in on your period target....GO FOR IT! You're lookin' good, Red! Keep on keepin' on and do the rest right. Who knows? I may let you come over and mow my yard for me without threat of impaling you on my lance (of pine 2X4 wood with a tennis-ball tip.) ..........  |
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Post by RufusScorpius on Dec 10, 2019 11:28:36 GMT
I am learning a lot. I wonder why it took me so long to get here. I've always studied Roman history and, as you say, it fits me ethnically. No matter, I'm here now and there's no going back!
I've always found it best to do "living history" in order to understand it better. Wear the clothes, eat the foods, sleep and live for a while like they did back then. When that happens, then you can get a better understanding of the hows and whys. It puts it all into perspective. But while it answers some questions, it usually raises more.
So off I go....to work. I probably won't get to touch my armor again until Saturday.
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christain
Member
It's the steel on the inside that counts.
Posts: 2,835
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Post by christain on Dec 10, 2019 12:43:17 GMT
You're doing it right, brother. To fully understand the ancient ways is to dive neck deep into the culture. Live it, feel it, BE IT. |
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Seriously, though, nice armor (lorica segmentata, I think is the term)! Glad you like it, and hope it brings you years of good service. 
Nothing wrong with Indian made armor as long as it's made well. Deepeeka helmets are approved for use by all the major Roman reenactment groups. You probably already have it but an excellent book on the Roman Legions is Legions of Rome by Stephen Dando-Collins. 
