Event marching camp reconstruction problems and solutions

[jkaler48]

A wooden model of scale 1/1000?

That is a good idea although a scale large enough to model the pilas muras
so they could be seen perhaps 1/35. Wouldn't have to model the whole camp just a section of wall with the gate.

[M. Demetrius]

Soldiers, if present, would have to be about 2" tall. It might make sense to use one of the existing scales, like 1/72 or 28mm, maybe. But only if you want people in the camp. If you don't, well, then, whatever scale you like works for your model.

[jvrjenivs]

So the questions I have are for when you cannot dig:

What methods can be used that are period possible to keep the inside
of your tents dry?
A wood floor covered by canvas?
Set the tents on several brought in sod layers?
(If setting up multiple years in the same location this might eventually
produce a slightly raised and well drained area for the camp)

Why should someone don't allow you to dig but allow to raise some parts of the land? I really think straw will do the job. I've plenty of good experience with that.

How can you display for the public how the camp fortifications should really
look?
1. A large painting/poster on wood?
2. A wall section that you transpost in on a trailer?
3. Buying a load of sod and building a temporary wall section above ground?

What has been tried and what is practical given time manpower and money constraints?

I also would say make a modell, just like (couldn't find one with tents so now). Second, this is easier to transport and set up which means less manpower and less investment.



Also paintings can do a nice job, but a modell gives more insights.

[P. Clodius Secundus]

Then I see stationairy artillery on the picture you posted. I don't know if this is appropriate for a marching camp. As we now used to take the whole thing apart and set it up on the next locations, the Romans weren't using them that way, as far as I know. The only took the iron parts (and torsion bands) and renewwed all the wooden parsts everytime to came on a new locations where the needed one. I only would suggest to use smaller carroballistae (so mounted on a cart) in a marching camp as the big ones are simply not there.

Given the skill and time required to produce and fit up the intricate parts of most catapultae I suspect that except for the very largest stone-throwing engines, they were simply broken down into sub-assemblies and carried disassembled in the baggage train. We have used my cart several times to haul LegioXXIVs catapult around at events. It only takes a matter of minutes to have it assembled and ready for action.

Building large siege engines on site with local lumber may have been possible in Europe, but in the desert (Masada for instance) this might be impractical.

The first solid evidence for the carroballista (an arched iron-framed weapon carried in a mule cart) appears after 100A.D. It may have been in use in 87, and there is one possible, but weak referrence to mounted artillery from Cremona in 69. Those who mount wheels and handles to the base of a wooden-framed Vitruvian style catapult do so without any supporting evidence. I'm sorry if this offends anyone, but just because it looks cool and makes it easy to move around camp doesn't mean they did it.

[Nihonius Legio]

I sure wish there was a legion in Montana, nobody would care if you dug on their land here, as long as they owned enough land to spare. Most ranchers do. You can walk through miles of land here without seeing any human habitation.

[Ajantis]

Magnus, and is it possible to give some links on pictures from fort at Lafe, Arkansas - very interesting! Who made it?

By the way - here are the pictures of the fort in Buldaria, it was created for event last summer - Eagle above Danube.


gallery1:
http://www.visitsvishtov.com/novae/en/g ... l?cat_id=9
gallery2:
http://www.visitsvishtov.com/novae/en/g ... ?cat_id=16




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The problem of good roman camp is the one on which we think over here in Russia. My good friends have some land and they don't mind to let us build there a small fort. So now I am looking thru internet for pictures, drawings, info and so on different forts. Will be glad for a hand)

[jvrjenivs]

The problem of good roman camp is the one on which we think over here in Russia. My good friends have some land and they don't mind to let us build there a small fort. So now I am looking thru internet for pictures, drawings, info and so on different forts. Will be glad for a hand)

You can read about my experiences with this kind of project in the PDF which I posted in this topic:
www.romanarmy.com/rat/viewtopic.php?t=24525

There also is the very nice documentary Marc Sanders made of the project with the help of our friends from the Gemina Project, CORBVLO, Legio XI and the Romercohorte Opladen.

[Magnus]

Magnus, and is it possible to give some links on pictures from fort at Lafe, Arkansas - very interesting! Who made it?

It was made by some VERY dedicated reenactors, one of which is our own Caius Fabius here on RAT.

Here's a very limited number of pics that I took...It's the second batch of pictures down....

http://www.romanarmy.com/legioiiiiff/Photo.html

[M. Demetrius]

You can get info on Ft. Lafe here:
www.ad43.org

Contact them, and they'll tell you what they did, and how.

[Ajantis]

Jvrjenivs, Magnus, M. Demetrius, thank you very much!

Contact them, and they'll tell you what they did, and how.

I'll sure do.
The barracks are really cool! A pitty no pictures of inside.