Well after bending my own plywood and finishing my first scutum the "bend" straightened up on me! Now I know why it needs interior bracing! Needless to say it was donated to a local kid in the neighborhood.
After getting a blank from Magnus (Thanks!) I made another, this time with bracing. I glued and brad nailed the bracing on the inside bending to form. I used a linen cover glued on both sides with carpenter's glue watered down. I did one side at a time allowing time for drying. Then it was trimmed very close to size. Then the entire inside and out was painted, the color is "Cranberry zing". I then drilled small holes every 1/2" around the perimeter and holding leather edging in place I stitched it on. I know some sites say to glue the leather edging to the shield and then drill but I found no trouble hand sewing it on loose. In fact it helped to stretch and pull the leather to shape.
I used LEG XX template for the winged thunderbolt and spine. All the painting and outlines was done free hand. I'm quite pleased with how it turned out but I may shade some of the feathers. Also waiting on an umbo. Constructive criticism is welcome.
"The evil that men do lives after them;
The good is oft interred with their bones"
Thanks guys. Yes I should have used rawhide but I had some scrap leather on hand. I thought about painting it yellow but I saw one Rusty has on his site with the black edging and I thought it looked good. Mine is actually a really dark brown. Magnus, I thought you'd be upset but I just love the feather's on this pattern...no offense! :grin: I guess I could put LEG II AVG across it... 8)
As for the covering and the bracing. I used 1/2" thick scrap I had lying around for the straight sides. As for the curve rather than wetting the pieces down and forming them I ripped some wood down to 1/4" making it bendable and then doubled it up. So in essence there are two pieces 1/4" thick each bent and laminated together.
The reverse was covered with a mixture of carpenters glue and water and then the linen applied over top, trying to get it tight around the braces. Then I put the glue mixture on top of the linen around the braces. This gave the material some weight and held it in place. I used my fingers to push it all in place and smoothed it out as best I could, but you'll never get all the wrinkles out unless you cut pieces to size around the bracing.
"The evil that men do lives after them;
The good is oft interred with their bones"
Within a cohort at least, most likely the same. For reenactors, shield device is how they are identified as well, and it helps to establish group identity.
____________________________________________________________ Magnus/Matt
Du Courage Viens La Verité
Quote:Magnus, I thought you'd be upset but I just love the feather's on this pattern...no offense! :grin: I guess I could put LEG II AVG across it... 8)
The feathers are historically accurate aren't they? What's wrong with them?
No nothing is "wrong" with them. It's just that it is the "wrong" pattern that the group uses so I'll be different (that is if I ever get my butt to an event).
"The evil that men do lives after them;
The good is oft interred with their bones"
Now a question on the umbo. Does it matter round or square? I see conflicting reports on this that round is primarily for cavalry, however it seems early infantry umbo's are round. The Guttman collection brass umbo with Minerva and snakes is claimed dated to 3rd century, but gives no reason for this determination. Would it be appropriate to use it on a mid-late 1st century scutum seeing the other highly decorated umbo's of the time? I ask even though I've already purchased one :grin:
"The evil that men do lives after them;
The good is oft interred with their bones"
Steel....minimum 16 ga, 10 x 11 inches or so works. Anything else is too thin and will get destroyed in anything other than display. But....you will probably put it on anyway....lol
You should make a 2nd shield for field use....one for display.
____________________________________________________________ Magnus/Matt
Du Courage Viens La Verité
Thanks Matt. I have a square steel one that I beat out myself which can be swapped on or off.
I guess my question is can a highly decorated round umbo be used for 1st century infantry? We have the gorgon head and Head of Africa with the elephant trunk head dress dating to the first century and they are all round. I've found that only a slight bend is required for the flat round umbo to fit the curve of the shield. From what I've gathered the original brass umbos are very thin to begin with. If acceptable I may want to tin the background like the original.
"The evil that men do lives after them;
The good is oft interred with their bones"
