The sabaton re-worked

As I said before, having finished the sabaton, I was not sure I was totally happy with the toe section and I decided to revise this by continuing the stepped articulation with another pivot plate, so that there are a number of plates descending down to the tip rather than one single piece. This is far more in keeping with armour of the period and I think gives a more pleasing line. Rather than edit the main page depicting construction of the sabaton, I thought it preferable to leave it as it is and use this page as an addendum so that the two styles can be compared.

The intention is to replace the single toe section with six lames articulated in the stepped fashion down to the toe. After removing the toe section, it can be seen that the previous two lames are articulated with the second lame riding on top of the first. This has to be reversed as we need the lames to get progressively smaller as they proceed down to the tip of the sabaton. To achieve this a second pivot plate must first be made that will overlap the lames both above and below it. Subsequent lames will then articulate inside as they descend down to the toe - with each successive plate being a little smaller than it's predecessor, producing the gradual tapering effect to the tip of the sabaton. Fig.41a shows the sabaton with the previous toe section replaced by the pivot plate. The lower section of the new pivot plate has been domed, as will each successive lame be, but the upper section is left un-domed to fit closely atop the lame prior to it.

Fig. 41a

The lames must fit snugly into each other with no gapping and the rivet points should line up to form a smooth line along each side. Fig. 41a shows the first of the lames positioned in front of the pivot plate and Fig. 41b shows it sitting in place without any tension or gapping prior to placing the rivets.

Fig. 41b

Each of the lames is domed into the dish-shaped depression in the stump using the rawhide hammer, a process that takes literally no more than a minute as it requires only a few passes of the hammer. Fig. 41c shows one of the lames after doming and prior to curving to fit.

fig. 41c

The first time the sabaton is constructed the cardboard patterns for each successive lame are made as the work progresses. To ensure that the bottom edge of the articulation forms a smooth line it helps to leave a little excess metal and then trim it after the pieces are articulated. Fig. 41d shows the work progressing with the penultimate lame finished ready for riveting in position.

Fig. 41d

The tip is then cut out and domed into the depression on the stump - Fig. 41e-

Fig. 41e

- and Fig. 41f shows the completed sabaton.

Fig. 41f

The final image on this page, Fig. 41g, depicts the inside of the finished sabaton, showing the stepped articulation of the plates.

Fig. 41g