Balista

[RelPel]

Hello dudes.

 

I am looking for some advices from specialist of roman warfare. I am going to make a roman balista (scorpio or sth like this) and i have some questions:

1. What type of balista is the easiest to make?

2. I need some plans. I have found some on the internet, but I dont trust all that websites, because I dont know if that plans came out from real balistas made 2000 years ago. Maybe you know some real good plans.

3. I dont know how to strand rope from sinew to a real wide (and what wide it should be) and long. I think it has to be pretty long (maybe 10 metre or more).

4. What type of wood is the best for balista?

5. How to make an arrow for this balista (wood, feather, pike)?

 

Thanks a lot.

Marek Sulak.

Edited November 24, 2010 by RelPel

[Bryaxis Hecatee]

I presume you've checked articles like W. Soedel and V. Foley, Scientific American, March 1979, pp. 150 - 160 ?

[RelPel]

I dont. I am a little newbie in this. Where i can find that articles?

[Melvadius]

You may also like to have a look at Alan Wilkins book Roman Artillery as it identifies some of the issues with any attempt at a reconstruction and a lot of it is based on his experience in Roman military re-enactment groups in Britain.

[Bryaxis Hecatee]

Your best bet would probably to go to your closest public library/university library and look at all the materials they have in-house (probably not much) and ask them to get you copies of the books and/or articles that interest you. You can indeed begin with the book Melvadius indicated, identify the relevant passages, take note of all the books and articles mentionned in the book, and start your search from there. Do also a search on Google Books, which is very usefull especially if you live in the US or the UK, and see what it brings. You'll discover what scientist think about the balistae. Then you'll be able to settle on a model (full metal one, wood and metal one, ... ?), define a size, see what you need in order to prepare for the construction, and so on. Also look on youtube for videos of balistae and contact the peoples who put thoses videos online, they might be able to help, as well as your nearest reconstitution teams. But know that it will ne be cheap nor easy. I can only promise you sweat and costs in your project, yet I do hope you'll be able to succeed.

[RelPel]

Thanks for advices.

 

to Melvadius:

I think i wouldnt find this book, because it doesnt exist in Slovakia. Maybe i will find english version in some library.

 

to Bryaxis Hecatee:

I will go to library soon. I was lookoing on google books but i havent find anything real yet, maybe i need to be more patient. I want only wooden catapulta, big like it was really. I have read that Vitruvius wrote a book about this catapulta, i will come out from this.

[Bryaxis Hecatee]

You might be able to find Vitruvius' text on the Perseus website (look for it in google, it's hosted by Tufts university). About the all wood, it will probably not be possible for they were quite a few metallic parts to strenghten the wood and prevent it from splitting, amongst other.

[RelPel]

I have found Vitrovius books. Will try to learn it.

[GhostOfClayton]

The advice comes with two conditions, RelPel. You must promise:

 

(.a.) Not to maim yourself/anyone else with it (there are con-sid-er-able forces involved!)

 

(.b.) To post photos of it on this forum when it's complete.

Edited November 26, 2010 by GhostOfClayton

[RelPel]

The advice comes with two conditions, RelPel. You must promise:

 

(.a.) Not to mame yourself/anyone else with it (there are con-sid-er-able forces involved!)

 

(.b.) To post photos of it on this forum when it's complete.

 

 

1. I am doing it like a project with 2 other people. I am making a study of sinew cords as main, and i want to have it complex. So maybe i can type your name with our manes under that work. On this project are working: my friend, my phisics teacher and me, and if you will give me advice, you can be in our group. But this advice must be good enough to answer at least 2 of my questions - I know what type of wood i will use, i know what type of roman weapon i will make and i have Vitrovius books (i dont need plans now). So my questions are: Question about sinew cord and question about arrow. Maybe i will be happy with plans, but it must be made from Vitrovius books.

 

2. No problem.

[GhostOfClayton]

 

 

1. I am doing it like a project with 2 other people. I am making a study of sinew cords as main, and i want to have it complex. So maybe i can type your name with our manes under that work. On this project are working: my friend, my phisics teacher and me, and if you will give me advice, you can be in our group. But this advice must be good enough to answer at least 2 of my questions - I know what type of wood i will use, i know what type of roman weapon i will make and i have Vitrovius books (i dont need plans now). So my questions are: Question about sinew cord and question about arrow. Maybe i will be happy with plans, but it must be made from Vitrovius books.

 

2. No problem.

 

Sorry . . . maim (meaning injure), not mame (or name!). My spellling is awful.

Edited November 26, 2010 by GhostOfClayton

[Melvadius]

Hello dudes.

 

I am looking for some advices from specialist of roman warfare. I am going to make a roman balista (scorpio or sth like this) and i have some questions:

1. What type of balista is the easiest to make?

2. I need some plans. I have found some on the internet, but I dont trust all that websites, because I dont know if that plans came out from real balistas made 2000 years ago. Maybe you know some real good plans.

3. I dont know how to strand rope from sinew to a real wide (and what wide it should be) and long. I think it has to be pretty long (maybe 10 metre or more).

4. What type of wood is the best for balista?

5. How to make an arrow for this balista (wood, feather, pike)?

 

Thanks a lot.

Marek Sulak.

 

Marek,

 

In an earlier post I suggested Alan Wilkins book and think that it may well be a good reference point however as you are looking for specific technical information I would strongly advise that you send your questions to one of the Roman Re-enactment societies who have already had experience in making such devices.

 

I know that a few years back Alan was involved with the Roman Military Research Society and was responsible for the design and eventual reconstruction of several different types of such weapons, including a massive ballista featured in the BBC documentary 'Building the Impossible' I believe Alan sometimes worked in conjunction with Len Morgan (also in RMRS), so you may be able to get the information you need if you contact Len via the Fabrica page on the RMRS website.

 

If they are not available to help then one of the other long established Roman Re-enactment societies, especially if they have their own 'artillery' reconstructions, may be able to help if you contact them instead.

[GhostOfClayton]

I know that a few years back Alan was involved with the Roman Military Research Society and was responsible for the design and eventual reconstruction of several different types of such weapons, including a massive ballista featured in the BBC documentary 'Building the Impossible'

 

Which can be seen here.

[RelPel]

To GhostOfClayton:

 

Sorry i was just reading name (i thought that advice is your research adn you dont want anyone to steal it). Now its no problem too. Do you think i wanna hunt for people with catapulta? I will be careful. Then i will post there pics.

 

I have seen this 'Building the imposible' and i can say there is a lot of informations.

 

To Melvadius:

 

Thanks for advices, i will try to contact people who have experiences with these.

 

 

Marek Sulak.