"Republican Roman Standards" Topic

Recently purchased the Forged in Battle Polybian Romans. Was wondering what the standards they come with are, particularly the strange "bundle" on a pole?

Anyone know what standards Polybian legions carried?

Judging by the photos on their website, which are rather small on my device, and liking at reconstructions of R.R. standards online, the horizontal bundle on a standard looks to be an early representation of the "fasces" – with the head of the standard replacing the usual axe head. I guess it can be painted natural wood with a brass or gilded head. The other standard, with what looks like a tassel hanging under the standard head can probably be painted any way you want- I'm not even sure what the "tassel" was made out of(maybe horsehair?). Looking at illustrations online, most people paint them red, but I have no clue what that is based on, if anything. In fact, you can probably paint the fasces any way you fancy and no one could prove you wrong.

The bundle is a handful of straw. This is mentioned by Ovid as being used by the maniples (so the princepes and hastati)and the handful being the origin of the name. It may be accurate or some kind of folk etymology.

By the first century, coins are showing vexilla with 'P' and 'H' but there is no evidence for how early they were used.

Pliny says that before Marius, the 'ordos' carried five different standards – the minotaur, horse, eagle, boar and wolf. Some interpret this as being a different one for each legion but I'm pretty sure Pliny means that each legion had all five.

This search show an Angus McBride plate with all but the straw bundle.
link

Meant to correct this before – not vexilla with P and H – more like plaques.
See