A new signum

[scythius]

<br>
Avete, omnes!<br>
<br>
Here's the real reason Hibernicus and I haven't been working on making our cornu look better...<br>
<br>
<img src="http://temurkhanlar.com/Roman/legix_signum2" style="border:0;"/><br>
<br>
More pics to follow.<br>
<br>
<p>Scythius<br>
LEG IX HSPA - COH III EXPG - CEN I HIB<br>
<br>
- FIDELITAS - - VIRTUS - - MAGNANIMITAS - </p><i></i>

[Anonymous]

What does the EXPG stand for? <p></p><i></i>

[scythius]

<br>
'Expugnatores'...<br>
<br>
...he writes, as he watches brows furrow and hands reach for the Latin dictionaries....<br>
<br>
Heh.<br>
<br>
<p>Scythius<br>
LEG IX HSPA - COH III EXPG - CEN I HIB<br>
<br>
- FIDELITAS - - VIRTUS - - MAGNANIMITAS - </p><i></i>

[Hibernicus]

Cool pic Scythius!<br>
<br>
Yeah, we were/are busy. It's not done of course. Our first attempt.... still needs a frame.. and some more geegaws on the pole...we're likely to do another with a raised frame. which means we'll have to make more tools, dammit! Pole is ash, 8' by 1.5".. total height with spear head and butt spike is about 9.5' ...gotta make carry handles!!!<br>
<br>
Hibernicus<br>
<br>
<p></p><i></i>

[scythius]

<br>
While I take a break from gardening, a few notes on construction:<br>
<br>
The repousse placard with our unit designator was the result of about 8 man-hours between Hib and myself. The entire sheet of metal was annealed using a large torch that we've constructed for annealing large surfaces. The design was layed out in reverse on the backside of the piece, and then the rough raising was done using a purpose-built hammer, a small sandbag and a flat anvil.<br>
<br>
Rough shaping was done from the back using the sandbag and hammer, with succesive passes made from the front and back to fine up the details. On a large piece like this using two people made the process more efficient - one to hammer, and one to hold/steady and flip the piece over.<br>
<br>
Frequent annealing is an absolute must, else you'll tear through the work - it work hardens VERY quickly.<br>
<br>
The disks visible below the placard started life as plain brass disks and were dished by hand using a variety of tools (both dishing and raising).<br>
<br>
Tools used:<br>
1 self-modified hammer (pics to follow next week)<br>
1 small sandbag - leather, about 5 inches in diameter<br>
2 shaping punches made from chisels (pics to follow next week)<br>
1 anvil<br>
<br>
It's the kind of fiddly work that would drive many nuts, but I like it - any excuse to swing a hammer in the shop... <p>Scythius<br>
LEG IX HSPA - COH III EXPG - CEN I HIB<br>
<br>
- FIDELITAS - - VIRTUS - - MAGNANIMITAS - </p><i></i>

[Anonymous]

Ave,<br>
<br>
Bitchin'. I can't wait to see it first hand! And I can't wait to see the custom tools.<br>
<br>
QFA <p></p><i></i>

[scythius]

Quote:</em></strong><hr>Bitchin'. I can't wait to see it first hand! And I can't wait to see the custom tools.<hr><br>
<br>
If you are going to Fort MacArthur this weekend you'll get your chance, my friend.<br>
<p>Scythius<br>
LEG IX HSPA - COH III EXPG - CEN I HIB<br>
<br>
- FIDELITAS - - VIRTUS - - MAGNANIMITAS - </p><i></i>

[Anonymous]

What did you guys base the signum disks off of? They don't look like any other ones I've seen.<br>
<br>
Excellent work on the lettering! <p>Magnus/Matt<br>
Legio XXX "Ulpia Victrix"<br>
Niagara Falls, Canada</p><i></i>

[scythius]

<br>
Magnus wrote:<br>
Quote:</em></strong><hr>What did you guys base the signum disks off of? They don't look like any other ones I've seen. <hr><br>
<br>
Very simple answer, actually - we wanted something that <strong>didn't</strong> look like the Simkins disks... <p>Scythius<br>
LEG IX HSPA - COH III EXPG - CEN I HIB<br>
<br>
- FIDELITAS - - VIRTUS - - MAGNANIMITAS - </p><i></i>

[Hibernicus]

Discs... and a dome was simple to start with. First attempt at a new to us technique with new tools. I made the discs first. We learned a lot when we made the "sign" ...discs with dimples? ....easy as pie!<br>
<br>
Hibernicus <p></p><i></i>