INCIPIO

Fiat inceptum:
This blog will be devoted entirely to the construction and discussion of my Roman Legionary uniform, the Miles Gregarius. This will be very technical weblog. I plan to leave all the posts up and edit them as progress is made. I am targeting a high level of authenticity. I intend to fabricate everything that I possibly can; to help defray the cost and to feel a sense of ownership.

Cost:
This is very important. I estimate that I can do the project for about US$1000. I may spend more than that, since I have no confederates and nothing short of my own budgetary concerns to worry about. If anyone is interested in joining me in the project, we can probably save costs by buying things together (bulk, shipping, etc.) Here is a break-down of the latest cost estimate that I have, so far:

Scutum (Shield): EST $150
~$115 in materials, at least a weekend of my time.

Tunica (Tunic): EST $30
~$30 in materials, and ~4 hrs of labour

Focale (Scarf): EST $10
~$5 in materials, and ~2 hrs of labour

Subarmalis (Under-armour): EST $20
~$15 in materals, and ~4hrs of labour

Lorica (Armour): EST $350
$350 @ La Wren's Nest
$500 Albion Armorers
$650 @ Lonely Mountain Forge
$550 @ RLQM
If I make it, it'll be ~$250 and A LOT of labour. This piece has me the most worried.

Cassis (Helmet): EST $325
Italic G $275 (Albion)
Gallic G $275 (Albion)
Gallic G $600 (Lonely Mountain) includes padding, strap
Coolus E: $275 (Albion)
Coolus E $200 (SotW)
Coolus G $279 (by-the-sword)
Felt liner and chin strap $50 (Albion)
I could probably make the padding and strap for about $15 and some work. The Deepeeka Italic G and Gallic G, according to Matthew Amt, require too much work to make them servicable. That's too bad, as I rather like the Gallic G.

Pugio (Dagger): EST $100
Knife and Scabbard: $80 (Albion)
Knife and Scabbard: $350(Lonely Mountain)
Knife and Scabbard: $104 (by the sword)
Knife and Scabbard: ~US$300 (Manning Imperial)
Knife and Scabbard: $75 (SotW)

Gladius (Sword): EST $200
Pompeii blade, scabbard, & balric: $820 (Albion)
Pompeii blade, scabbard, & baldric: $800 (Lonely Mountain)
Pompeii blade, scabbard: $148 (by the sword) Deepeeka
Pompeii blade, scabbard: $125 (SotW) Deepeeka
Mainz blade, scabbard, & baldric: $820 (Albion)
Mainz blade, scabbard, & baldric: $1055 (Lonely Mountain)
Mainz blade, scabbard: $117 (by the sword)

Caligae (Sandals): EST $200
$200 (Albion)
$72 (By the Sword)
$59 (By the Sword)
I could probably make them myself for ~$50 and ~8hrs labour. I like the Albion ones the best. The cheapies over at By the Sword look really cheap.

Balteus (Belt): EST $100
Roman Belt, $150 Albion
Roman Belt Components, $3/part Albion, requires multiple parts
Roman Belt, $110 La Wren's Nest
Legionnaire's Belt, $150 La Wren's Nest


References:
If you would like to see pictures of people in uniform, and see some other information on the costume, please check out these sites:
Legio VI
Legio XX
Legio IX

Time Table:
I intend to take about nine months to collect and construct all the gear. The first item to be made is the scutum. Following that will be the tunica. Whenever possible, the item under discussion will be referred to by its Latin name. I do not know which items will follow after that.

Colour:
The first thing I want to establish is the colour theme I will be targeting. Earlier I had discussed perhaps a blue tunica and scutum. The consensus seems to be red, however. This doesn't make blue wrong (as some on the discussion fora I have been reading are inclining to believe), it just means that re-enactors have almost unanimously come to the conclusion that red looks cool. I strongly believe the historical evidence here is flimsy for red-only. However, we have no other colours from the archaeological record to draw from. As my wife says, though, red is the colour of power and war. Red wins the day... for now. Once I get the hang of making a tunica and a scutum, I may attempt a second one another colour theme.

Auxillium:
As it stands right now, I have the support of two friends who promise to stand by, point, laugh, and drink my beer while I work on the project. My wife has generously offered also her sewing skills for the tunica and focale. If there is anyone else out there who would care to join in on the project in some capacity other than peanut-gallery (those posts are full), I'm accepting applications now.