07-02-2007, 10:09 PM
Robert,
One of my design drawings of the cart included a hinged tailgate. I had even left the bottom side rails long enough to attach it but I ended up cutting the tabs off. In the absence of any historical evidence I decided to stick as close to Trajan's as possible. It shows them firing from behind the cart directly over the mules. To me this indicates that they were used more for high angle, longer range, area supression. The rate of fire is too slow and the mules too big a target to have them in the front line firing line-of-sight like they did in defensive positions. One change I am considering is cutting off the rear of the bed sides at an angle as seen on the Column of Marcus Aurelius. I want to do more testing with a shortened monopod first though. From what firing we did get to do before the jury-rigged wooden pintle broke and the rains came on Sunday, the straight-from-Trajan's design was quite functional. I can't wait to make a few improvements and try again. Just for the sake of research I may knock together a "dummy gun" and mount with the relative dimensions faithful to Trajan's as well just to proof the design. If it works, and barring any contrary evidence supporting the "tall-monopod" and "H" designs being used with iron-framed engines some folks may want to rethink their mounts. :o
One of my design drawings of the cart included a hinged tailgate. I had even left the bottom side rails long enough to attach it but I ended up cutting the tabs off. In the absence of any historical evidence I decided to stick as close to Trajan's as possible. It shows them firing from behind the cart directly over the mules. To me this indicates that they were used more for high angle, longer range, area supression. The rate of fire is too slow and the mules too big a target to have them in the front line firing line-of-sight like they did in defensive positions. One change I am considering is cutting off the rear of the bed sides at an angle as seen on the Column of Marcus Aurelius. I want to do more testing with a shortened monopod first though. From what firing we did get to do before the jury-rigged wooden pintle broke and the rains came on Sunday, the straight-from-Trajan's design was quite functional. I can't wait to make a few improvements and try again. Just for the sake of research I may knock together a "dummy gun" and mount with the relative dimensions faithful to Trajan's as well just to proof the design. If it works, and barring any contrary evidence supporting the "tall-monopod" and "H" designs being used with iron-framed engines some folks may want to rethink their mounts. :o
P. Clodius Secundus (Randi Richert), Legio III Cyrenaica
"Caesar\'s Conquerors"
"Caesar\'s Conquerors"
