LUPERCALIA!

       This is the party to not miss!  Richard and Allison Campbell (and family!) will again be hosting this unrivaled classical bash on February 18, starting at 5 PM.  Roman food, drinks, and entertainment will be featured.  Classical or Neoclassical clothing or costume is encouraged though not required, but hobnails are forbidden.  Please leave the children home, as well.  To respond or for directions, call 703-799-2696, or email richsc AT usa DOT net.
       The address is 8820 --. If you're coming from Maryland, the old instructions to use the hairpin first turn, 177C, are not valid as that is closed, so keep going to the next right exit onto Route 1 north, go up to the traffic light, Franklin Street, turn right, go three blocks to the next traffic light on South Washington Street, turn right, and go down S Washington about 1/2 mile, and it will become the GW Parkway. About seven miles down there will be a right turn on Vernon View Drive. Go 1/2 mile to Battery Road and turn right, then left on Camfield drive. Go 1/3 mile to 8820 Camfield.
       From the outer loop, Virginia, take exit 177 A/B just after Telegraph Road.  Although you can bear right on 177B to get to Fort Hunt Road, the detour the highway dept has put in is awful. I suggest bearing left on 177A up to the traffic light on Route 1, then turn left on Route 1 north,  go 1/2 mile to the light at Franklin Street, then follow the directions as above.
 

EVENTS

       Our first official event of the season is an appearance at Cold Wars, the Historical Miniature Gamers Society convention in Lancaster, PA  on March 18-19.   Those who attended the miniatures con this past August will remember the comparative luxury of an indoor event!  The convention website has maps, directions, schedules, and much more, http://www.coldwars.org/ .  This is another good opportunity to drag out your earlier or later Roman impressions.  Lancaster is about a two-hour drive north of the DC area, so presumably most of us will go for only one day, but hopefully we'll have a small contingent there both days.  The coordinator needs participants' names for admission passes, so please let me know which day you would like to attend.
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       Marching Through Time is coming up!  On April 22-23 at Marietta Mansion, the Legion will once again be one of over thirty different historical groups performing for the public, from 11 AM to 5 PM both days.   Most of us know the drill pretty well by this time--speaking of which, we should expect to be doing our marching demonstration first thing after opening, so please come early.  PLEASE let the Commander know if you plan to attend, and if you are interested in staying for the barbecue on Saturday night.  Remember that cars will not be permitted into the camp area after 9:30 AM on Saturday (and not at all on Sunday until after 5 PM), so get there early if you need to unload gear.  Also, there will be set-up and groups of school kids coming through from 10 to 2 on Friday the 21st--I'll be there with the tent, and anyone else who happens to be available is welcome to come help out.  Marietta is at 5626 Bell Station Rd., Glenn Dale, MD 20769.  301---.  The Site Manager is Susan Wolfe.  From I-95/495, the Capital Beltway, take Exit 20 onto Rt. 450 East, go 4 miles, turn left on Rt. 193, then left onto Bell Station Rd. and left again into Marietta.  For Marching Through Time, only handicapped parking is permitted on site (due to lack of space), public parking being available at the recreation just beyond Bell Station Rd.  Follow the signs and then catch the shuttle vans back to the site.  Participants can also park along Rt. 193, at their own risk.
http://www.pghistory.org/MariettaMansion.html
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       On April 29 (the Saturday after MTT), a teacher friend of mine would like to have a few Romans at the Maryland Junior Classical League convention, at Dulaney High School in Timonium (Baltimore).  We will arrive and set up the tent at 10 AM, do a marching demo and general presentation from about 11 AM to noon, and then just generally hobnob with the students for a couple hours.
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       The Legion has been invited to set up camp at the Pennsylvania Junior Classical League State Convention on May 20, 2006.  This will be held at Pennsylvania State University in State College, PA, and it is a one-day event.  Since this is roughly a 4-hour drive from the DC area, they are providing dormitory space for us for Friday and Saturday nights, if necessary.   That way we could easily be set up by 9 AM when the program starts.  This convention is attended by over 600 high school Latin students, all of whom will naturally be more interested in Classical history and more motivated than the average high school audience.  So it should be a very rewarding event.  I will be getting directions and more details soon, but I will NOT be able to attend myself.  Anyone else want to play coordinator for the weekend?
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       And ROMAN DAYS is on the way, June 3-4.  It is not too soon to be thinking about it!  Marietta Mansion is the place, and all the Romans in the world are invited.  I'm working on another Greek hoplite or two, as well!
 

FABRICA

       There will be a Legion workshop at the Commander's house in Laurel, MD on March 11--note that this is NOT the usual first Saturday of the month, but the following weekend!  Otherwise, the usual deal, 10 to 5, casual, bring stuff to work on if you have anything, etc.   If the Moskeys (or anyone else!) decide to host a workshop on March 4, I will spread the word.
       The reason for the change of date is that there is a meeting and work party for Marching Through Time at Marietta on March 4, and I figure I should try to get to that (since I usually miss it!).  If that sounds like fun to any of you, feel free to join in.  The work party involves things like clearing branches and brush from the field, piling firewood, that sort of thing.
 

TINNING by Tony Dahm

       I have come up with I think a novel way of tin plating brass and other copper alloys.  The method is fairly cheap, easy and low temperature, but may not produce the most perfect result.  Since I just did it the other day, I can make no claims for its long term durability.  This is what I did.  Try at your own risk.
       The only materials needed are Oatey's Tinning Flux #95, a large pyrex pan, an oven, and a tolerant wife.  (Oatey's H2O 95 may also work and make water cleanup easier.  I haven't tried it yet.)  That said, I really do like the result on my Coolus.

1.  Clean brass of all rust and tarnish.  A light acid spray like "BAM" cleaner may be helpful.
2.  Preheat oven and pyrex pan to 200 - 250 degrees farenheit.   (250 requires less time in the oven but more time cooling between coatings and could theoretically result in accelerated tarnishing of any exposed areas.)
3.  Coat the entire piece with Oatey's Tinning Flux #95.  Coating doesn't have to be too thick.
4.  Cook in oven for 10 minutes at 250, or 20 minutes at 200.
5.  Remove from oven.  And allow to cool.  (Here is where you save time if you go with 200.)
6.  Wash with soap and water to remove all the greasy flux.
7.  Dry well.
8.  Inspect for completeness of tinning.
9.  Go to step 3 and repeat as necessary with special attention to missed spots.
     (May require rotating or repositioning piece to minimize run-off of tinning flux.)

       The tin does not appear to build up and is limited to a very thin plating, which allows lots of detail to remain unobscured but doubtless means it will not last as long.   This process does not appear to work with steel.  :-(

Note:  I did not find it necessary to remove cheek pieces.  Not enough tin was deposited to interfere with the hinges.

http://www.geocities.com/fm253737/vader_tin_coolus_1.jpg

       David Wills adds: "I did the same thing, but used a propane torch, and it works fairly well.  In a few places, I had to go back and add a little more, but in the end, it worked ok…That greasy stuff is a mess, though, and it seem to want to get everywhere you don't want it.  Ick."
       Editor's note:  VENTILLATION!!  And CLEAN THE OVEN afterwards!!
 

MORE DISTANT EVENTS

A.D. 43, Lafe, Arkansas
       Join either the victorious Roman Army or the soon to be conquered Pictish/Celtic Barbarians at BRITAIN A.D. 43 On March 23, 24, 25 and 26th for a weekend of Ancient Reenacting. The site opens at 12 NOON on March 23rd and is located in LAFE, ARKANSAS on 94 acres of private land. There are several ponds, woods, fields, and many places for Celts and courageous Romans to interact in meaningful and constructive ways.
       Legio XX has not so far attended this event as a unit, but members are certainly encouraged to participate if they like.  For details, rules, and fees, please contact Mark Saddler, Msaddler AT cox-internet DOT com.
http://www.ad43.org/9-2006_event.html
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       Legio XIIII in West Virginia is hosting an event called Pax Romana, May 19-20 (20-21?) at Wine Cellar Park in Dunbar, WV. The event is free and open to the public. For more information please contact Legio XIIII at BrenMk1 AT gmail DOT com, or call 304---.  This is the same weekend as the Legio XX appearance at the PA Junior Classical League, but it would be nice if we could send a small contingent!
http://home.armourarchive.org/members/flonzy/Roman/calendar.htm
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       Keith Egan of the South Jersey AIDS Alliance is looking for Romans to march in their fundraising walk in Atlantic City.  Unfortunately, this is scheduled for the first weekend in June, the same time as Roman Days, but I said I would help spread the word in case anyone in that general area was not able to attend Roman Days but was interested in a good cause.  Sounds like they're even willing to pay!   For more information, contact Mr. Egan at  609---,  kcegan2 AT yahoo DOT com, http://www.southjerseyaidsalliance.org
 

CALENDAR
   February 18, 2006 --Lupercalia Party, Richard and Allison Campell's house
   March 18-19 --Historical Miniature Gamers Society convention in Lancaster, PA
   April 22-23--Marching Through Time, Marietta Mansion, Glenn Dale, MD
   April 9 --Maryland Junior Classical League, Dulaney HS, Timonium
   May 20 --PA Junior Classical League Convention, PSU
   June 3-4 --ROMAN DAYS, Marietta Mansion

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ADLOCVTIO is the Official Newsletter of the Twentieth Legion, supposedly published on the Ides of each month.  I am Quintus, aka Matthew Amt, the Legion's Commander and Editor of the Newsletter, http://www.larp.com/legioxx/.