My Scutum Press and Scutum Blank Construction

[sulla felix]

And here, after 36 hours in the press, is the curved blank:



I used Titebond II wood glue. Now I just need to figure out the final shape I want and do the final trimming.

I made the press (instead of the straps around a tree trunk or oil drum method) because I want to progress on to a shield constructed using strips of timber (just for the hell of it!).

Now on to the difficult parts - linen or leather covering, rawhide or brass trims, what shape umbo, what colour, and what design?