Caius Man looks over a newly built field frame, or torsion skein holder.

From left, Greg Douglass, Randy Heer, Gil Whitley and Caius Man start winding the rope skeins.

The field frame mounting rings and cross bar (kamerion) assembly.

The two field frames, fully loaded with nylon rope. The Romans would have used sinew or horsehair rope.

Ron Glass installs the axel on the main pulley.

Mike Malin installs the turnstile arms.

Caius and Mike work on the slider box.

The slider box, newly varnished.

The all-important bow arms.

Nearly finished and ready for testing. Only the base is incomplete, lacking two balance beams.

Oblique view.

Looking down the slider box. The arch on the kamerion (cross piece) aids in precise aiming.

The balistarii (balista crew) go into action.

Optio Flavius (Dave Michaels) and Florentius (Jared Fleury) man the slider box, while Marius (Greg Douglass) and Scaevola (Ron Glass) man the turnstile.

Centurio Magnus, aka Caius Man.

Whaddya think? Not bad for three week's worth of crazed labor, eh?

Florentius watches Magnus make some adjustments.

Postumus, Florentius, Marius et Magnus with deadly their new toy.

Optio Flavius with one of our two bolts.

The muscle team starts cranking.

More preparation.

Postumus et Marius, Legio VI command tent is in the background.

Magnus, Florentius and Flavius use a special wrench to adjust tension in the skeins.

More adjusting.

Getting ready to shoot.

Ready...

Aim...

Volatile (shoot)!

Proudly posing after a successful test: Flavius, Posthumus, Arminius, Florentius, Marius, Crixus (Mike Malin), Magnus and Artorius (Jon Salvo).

Gunnery Sergeant R. Lee Ermey, host of Mail Call, checks out the goings on.

Gunny poses for a shot with ballista and crew.

Magnus explains the workings of this strange contraption.

Gunny checks the tension.

Gunny watches another test shot.

Comin' at ya: The slider, fully extended.

Gunny starts goin' Roman.

Flavius helps R. Lee into a hamata.

Just a few little adjustments...

Man, this stuff is heavy!

They don't call it Mail Call for nothing!

Centurio and Gunny model the hamata look.

OK, the arrow goes here...

Lock and load!

Postumus, Flavius and Marius get ready for a quick draw contest...

...that ends, well, in a draw!