Balista Plans

[Primvs Pavlvs]

I am looking for plans to build a 1st cent, or 2nd cent AD balista. I will more than happy to pay for them. Just got a new metal lathe in the shop, and a good source of oak. So I need a project over the summer.

[Celer]

Salve,

There are two practical souces that I can think of at the moment:

JRMES 11 contains opposing articles by Aitor and Alan Wilkins for the Cheirobalista. Also Alan Wilkins published a small pamphlet called 'Roman Artiliary' with Shire Books (who did the original B&C).

Flavius Crispus based his balista on the Shire Books interpretation.

Hope this helps,

Celer.

[cacrispvs]

Have you been to this site : [url:3bivi2ww]http://198.144.2.125/Siege/ConstructionPics.htm[/url] ?

Lots of big photos, and takes a looooonnnggg time to load.

[Magnus]

Wow...guy said he spent $8,000 in tools and materials alone. Unreal!

I wonder how much a scorpion would be to make? Does anyone sell them?

[Peroni]

I wonder how much a scorpion would be to make? Does anyone sell them?

Yes.. Our very own Len Morgan. He made the majority of Alan Wilkins artillery pieces IIRC
http://www.romanarmy.net/fabrica.htm

[Magnus]

Yo Adrian, can you pm me his email? I tried to use the link on that site, and it wouldn't work (probably because i'm on a Mac computer).

[D B Campbell]

I am looking for plans to build a 1st cent, or 2nd cent AD balista.

Make your mind up, Paul!

The 1st C ballista was a wooden-framed stone-projector, which *probably* continued into the 2nd C, alongside the new 2nd C iron-framed arrow-shooting ballista (although, by this time, the Romans were perhaps switching to the onager as their stone-projector).

Incidentally, I hear that Alan Wilkins and Len Morgan are working on a small/medium stone-projecting ballista -- this is an exciting prospect, given the high standards of their previous work.

[Salvianus]

Our experience with Len Morgan last year was excellent: beautiful work :-) )

Constantine

[Peroni]

Incidentally, I hear that Alan Wilkins and Len Morgan are working on a small/medium stone-projecting ballista -- this is an exciting prospect, given the high standards of their previous work.

Yes Duncan, I was speaking to Len about this at the weekend. Things are moving along slowly. From what I can gather, it's going to be about 9ft long!

[M. Demetrius]

How about this source? Not all of the info here pertains to Roman equipment, but there are many books, sources, kits for models, and information about all sorts of ballistae, onagers, etc.

http://mangonel.com/

http://www.building-a-catapult.com/index2.html

The latter is not really Roman, but some of the principles and math are the same, whatever era you choose. One thing to consider is the overall weight of the thing. A full-sized one weighs tons! How do you get it from here to there? How do you unload something roughly the weight of a truck from your trailer? We're wrestling with those ideas before we start cutting wood and forming metal. Otherwise, well, you know.

[Kevin J. Aschenmeier]

Paul:

I would suggest that you start with Vitruvius and Heron. I built my own scorpio based on Vitruvius with constant refernece to Alan Wilkins and Aitor. Abundant information on the actual archaeological finds can be found all over the net.

It is nice to always check the original texts and archaeological record before refering to modern interpretations.

Kevin

[aitor iriarte]

That's it, Paul:
Before trusting or even taking for granted everything such or such 'expert' says as a departing point, start reading the original available information and, after that, you will be able to decide what will you use to fill the inmense gaps you'll find there! :wink:
Ah, don't forget Philon, otherwise you couldn't realize what a mess are Vitruvius measurements!

Aitor

[Magnus]

There was a guy making Scorpio and Onager kits in the USA for about $1000 - $1500 USD or so...anyone know what happened to him or what his website URL is?