Len Morgan\'s latest project....

[D B Campbell]

Here's another interesting question: How many authentic Vitruvian ballistas exist in the world?
Answer: One. You've just been looking at it!

(I don't count the BBC ballista, as I believe it's now in pieces somewhere.)

[A_Volpe]

"How many reproduction siege engines exist in the world now?"

Well, Leg III Cyr currently has 2 engines (Onager, and a Palintone Ballista "Ballistica Atomica" - a little larger than Len's newest :wink: )
We have 2-3 more on the way (Manuballista, Scorpio, Carroballista)

XXIV has 3 - George's Ballista (Engine O' Terror), the 'Canuck's Revenge' Scorpio or is it the BIG one? And the *Big* one, palintone.

VI in LA I think has a cheiro? carro? (iron-framed, seen in "Mail Call") Ballista

IX Hispana - Hibernicus, you guys have a Scorpio, right?

XIIII (D. Peterson) - has a Scorpio.

...At least AFAIK.

so about a dozen or so are around the US from what I know

[rogue_artist]

I saw George's Ballista this weekend. Its very nice too! Ended up joining XXIV

[jkaler48]

One day perhaps there will be enough Roman Artillery for a competition as some of the Antique Black power Artillery groups have.
http://www.tabblo.com/studio/stories/sh ... bf4gz1o5su

[Emmanuel]

What a fantastic toy... I Think there is also another ballista in the german group of the Opladen...

[AuxArcher]

Salve, all. A database of all the exisiting scropios, ballistas, etc. would be a very nice thing to have, along with specificiations, photos, construction details, country of origin, builder(s) names, all that. It can reside here on RAT.

[Jona Lendering]

I am just wondering: is it permitted to have a weapon like that? I can imagine you need a license.

[rogue_artist]

Thats a good question. When the government here in America caught wind of my Civil War groups' cannon, they sent us a contract to sign. The contract basically bound us to never use it as a terrorist weapon! LOL!!!

Have they ever SEEN a re-enactment? What the hell are you going to use pre-modern equipment for, other than re-enacting? Is not really useful for holding up a 7/11. Ferchrissake! :roll: :lol:

[Gaius Julius Caesar]

The time it would take a group to position this piece, load it, and fire at a 'strategic' target, even the key-stone cops could have apprehended you, so I can't see why a licence would be needed....but bureaucrats being bureaucrats...who knows..

[AuxArcher]

I suggest you not bring catapults and such to the attention of "authorities." Licensing would be a fine way to raise revenues, and then, maybe they would think that all those sharp Roman toys and such are dangerous. We should license them."

Gladius conrol is the next step, and we'd need bumper stickers that say "the only way you will take away my pilum is if you prey my cold, dead fingers from it."

[Gaius Julius Caesar]

More than likely.... :roll: as in 'let sleeping dogs lie....' :wink:

[A_Volpe]

Ended up joining XXIV

Congrats! Hope to see you at a Northeast event sometime?

Soon enough You'll be joining us in III Cyr. :twisted:

Just kidding George!

(we're mutally supportive but a little competetive between the legions 8) He's been known to say that we in III are always "stealing [his] best men")

But yes, George's Engine'O'Terror is really great, and he's done so much in re-working it to constantly improve it. It's always great to have it set up and sent bolts down-range. I'm still utterly amazed how he *fits* all of this stuff including that Ballista into his vehicle. Amazing.

[A_Volpe]

Dane -

Gladius conrol is the next step, and we'd need bumper stickers that say "the only way you will take away my pilum is if you prey my cold, dead fingers from it."

Oooh! I LIKE that! We need to translate that into Latin and make bumper stickers!

[AuxArcher]

Thanks. How about, in Latin, "Pilum control is skewering your barbarian."

Another classic is "Gladius don't kill enemies of Rome; Romans do."

[P. Clodius Secundus]

I am just wondering: is it permitted to have a weapon like that? I can imagine you need a license.

Luckily, since they are not firearms in the traditional sense they manage to stay "under the radar". Even here in the People's Republic of Massachusetts the blackpowder weapons I use for Civil War Reenacting are not as heavily regulated as modern weapons. Unfortuantely I can forsee torsion artillery eventually getting classified as Infernal Weapons. Every fall, in the State of Delaware, they hold a Punkin' Chunkin' competition. The object is to Hurl an 8 lb. pumpkin as far as possible using only mechanical energy or compressed air. I have seen footage of them firing at an SUV. It blew right through the side. The most powerful ones are hoping to shoot over a mile this year.