DIY: Build a Onager Catapult

It's really toy-sized, but it could be scaled up to fling, oh, say, a Volkswagen.

From Popular Mechanics

formatting link

Reply to
HeyBub
Loading thread data ...

Ever since Northern Exposure, I've been a Trebouchet fan--

formatting link
Seems like the end of every season they'd fling a pumpkin-- or a VW-- or a piano.

Jim

Reply to
Jim Elbrecht

Ah, the Pumkin Chunkin Annual Contest for such devices is only two months away

Reply to
Malcom "Mal" Reynolds

My boy and I homebrewed one for a school science fair project of his a few years ago; it was only about 9" long but would happily throw things

20' or more.

As for trebuchets, there's a nice one at Warwick castle in the UK, complete with winding treadmills, for anyone who happens to ever be over that way.

formatting link
cheers

Jules

Reply to
Jules Richardson

So here is the results of this afternoon in the shop.

formatting link
This is a great project with my grandsons, 6 and almost 4. It pops pecans about

20 feet.

I ripped a 2x down to 1x1s. The older one watched safely out of the way with safety glasses and ear muffs. Then he learned to read a tape measure as we marked and cut to length. We also had to make a Lowes run to pick up screws and the gate latch.

Then the three of us took turns spreading glue, drilling pilot holes, and driving screws. Grandma donated a wooden spoon to use as a throwing arm. That worked great.

As built, the pecan comes off the arm in very flat trajectory. You can double the range by tilting the front up so the pecan comes off at about 45 degrees. It wouldn't be hard to built a frame base to make that happen.

I know you often say "It's for the children" sarcastically. Not this time.

Thanks, Doug

Reply to
Douglas Johnson

Neat little project, but I don't get the wheels. What? Gonna be drawn by a team of hamsters? Gonna enter it in a Pinewood Derby, driven by Baron Otto Matic? ;)

"You can do it, Tom boy" nb

Reply to
notbob

That does look fun. I don't have a wood shop, and I don't have two grand sons. But, if I did, I'd sure build one of these. Looks like the kids are having fun. And, it doesn't have electronic screen, and runs on lots of batteries. Just good old imagination.

Christopher A. Young Learn more about Jesus

formatting link
.

formatting link

So here is the results of this afternoon in the shop.

formatting link
This is a great project with my grandsons, 6 and almost 4. It pops pecans about

20 feet.

I ripped a 2x down to 1x1s. The older one watched safely out of the way with safety glasses and ear muffs. Then he learned to read a tape measure as we marked and cut to length. We also had to make a Lowes run to pick up screws and the gate latch.

Then the three of us took turns spreading glue, drilling pilot holes, and driving screws. Grandma donated a wooden spoon to use as a throwing arm. That worked great.

As built, the pecan comes off the arm in very flat trajectory. You can double the range by tilting the front up so the pecan comes off at about 45 degrees. It wouldn't be hard to built a frame base to make that happen.

I know you often say "It's for the children" sarcastically. Not this time.

Thanks, Doug

Reply to
Stormin Mormon

On Wed, 22 Aug 2012 18:52:51 -0500, Douglas Johnson wrote in Re Re: DIY: Build a Onager Catapult:

Good one. I like the use of the wood spoon.

Reply to
CRNG

Two answers. I mean, how you besiege a sand castle without wheels? Tell me that.

More seriously, the plans showed wheels, the boys wanted wheels, so we got wheels.

-- Doug

Reply to
Douglas Johnson

They need a team of strong toy oxen to pull the catapult around.

Christopher A. Young Learn more about Jesus

formatting link
.

Two answers. I mean, how you besiege a sand castle without wheels? Tell me that.

More seriously, the plans showed wheels, the boys wanted wheels, so we got wheels.

-- Doug

Reply to
Stormin Mormon

replying to Douglas Johnson, Anonymous wrote: I don't know what the hell the wheels were for?!

Reply to
Anonymous

HomeOwnersHub website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.