For those who leave their homework to the last minute

The plans for the pencil ballista will be finished later today.

Personally I think its unreasonable to ask a 13 year old to produce specifically a ballista as a catapult project, they’re the most difficult of the torsion catapults and it takes years to get to the point where you can knock up an improvised design like this before breakfast.

I think your really tempting fate to give someone a difficult task that involves them finding the best way to fling big heavy things that smash buildings and give them an F if they don’t finish on time. Mind you I developed my person handling skills by shouting at people who all had automatic weapons. Knowing how far you can push your luck is really second nature now.

And lets this be a warning to you all, if you don’t do your homework till the last minute you’ll grow up to be self employed artillery designers who work from home and watch DVD’s while they work, take breaks whenever they feel like it and don’t even own an alarm clock!

How cool is this!

This is the Dragon, an arbalest with a 400lb bow hand made by Mathew in Masterton. For scale the wheels are 1 meter across. The Dragon fires an ultra modern line of 25mm APFS munition and is not to be taken lightly by people who don’t want to get pinned to trees in pairs.

 

The Dragon will be joining Chucky, Tiny and a few other friends for a bit of a fling on the weekend of the 19th - 20th of May.

Free Ballista Plans! - Revisited.

Thats it I give up. Every damn day I get pinged with free loaders looking for plans. Well fine! There you go, fill yer boots.

WHAT?

Full size? That’s as big as it’s going to get. What do you think this is, freaken gift week?

Update - This is now my most popular post and its managed to cement its place in google due to the attentions of a number of people who get very bitter and twisted about me not handing over several years work to them for the bargain basement price of zippidy do dah.

Well since it’s so popular I’ve punted it back to top for all my regular readers to take another look. Feel free browse the comments and see if you can pick which of the three are now in either in possession of free copies of my table top mangonel or trebuchet plans or will have theirs soon. Yes thats right in fact I DO give away free plans under certain conditions.

1. I’ll give you help with a school project including the free plans and assistance with fixing the problem which resulted from you not following those plans. I do like to encourage people to learn about their history, destroy things in a technical culturally appropriate manner and hope to sell some of them something really destructive (and expensive) at a later date.

2. They ask nicely.

Please note I have no intention of justifying my not giving you freebees any more and comments like jacks - jack@iafrica.com - which amount to “you’re a big poopie head” will no longer be permitted to get through moderation. Jack was emailed and asked to offer an explanation but did not avail himself of the opportunity so he gets some free advertising.

A lot of younger people find their way here and while you may fall out of chair at the concept I do not approve of that sort of language being used in front of minors. Some comments will be deleted in a few days for this reason. (If you’re under 18 or your parents are democrats you probably shouldn’t read anything else on this site.)

Also worthy of not is that my new website - 22AD - is in production and will be up in about a weeks time. Amongst all the fun stuff posted here you will be able to buy plans, parts and small kit sets. There will also be details on the upcoming WMD End of Season Fling for locals and I’ll even be hosting one set of free plans so even obnoxious poorly raised little maggots like jack will be able to use them.

UPDATE 2: FREEBEES! As a special treat for those of you with school projects I’ve done half your homework for you.

Ok first up we have this very nice Medieval Trebuchet paper model by Sheila Mertens. Click on the image to go to her site. It makes a detailed and functional model but it is paper so don’t expect it to throw bricks.

Secondly these plans are all over the place and you’ll find them by doing an image search for trebuchet plans in about 30 seconds just like I did.

While I approve of kids learning about siege engines in school I am concerned that the concepts of initiative and self reliance seem to be neglected for some of you.

If neither of these will do what you need and you have a school project then email me and I’ll see what I can do.

This post now carrys a PG rating. If you’re over 12 you can read the comments but your parents may object.

Email addresses that include profanity probably shouldn’t get published Fjord, even if you use Professor Spooner to do your dirty work.

And for Oswald…

 Finally why not stop by Ron Toms and buy something?

UPDATE: Heres you’re very own free Trebuchet plan. I sugest you read the post carefully.

UPDATE: Go here if you’re looking for a ballista plan and want to answer some questions on the subject.

Your proposal is acceptable.

Blaez has declined to appear in a t-shirt for the glory of HMWAH and the right to exploit the female form.

I take this as good news…

And a smahsing time was had by all…

Chucky has succeeded in busting his new arm after a full power test today. He consistently threw 90 meters (295′) until there was a slightly different sounding CRACK, and the ball went straight up, and the top part of the arm went forward.

What did we learn?

This puppy has some real kick! We’ve also gone out and gotten some green gum that has a bit more spring to it. One of the cross bars was also split, and it’s clear that is was taking more hit than the other, so some changes are being made with a wedged stop plate to be added, to take the arm flat over most of its length when it hits.

More may be reported at Oz’s.

UPDATE: We went out and grabbed some gum thats been loafing and I’ve turned up the first two bits to play with. Being greenish its damned heavy, but also very solid. Lets see what we smash next. My pick would be the crash plate I’m going to add.

Thats not a throwing arm..

THIS is a throwing arm!

Chucky got a new throwing arm today. Other people see a fence post, I see a throwing arm. Recovered from head exploding and went and set up the lathe. An hour later I was fitting the new combat arm.

I may just have to take Chucky out for a play this weekend.

Sponsor/s wanted! - Friday Night Free For All

Do you have an urge to throw wads of cash at someone else’s pet project for the priceless return of getting your name on an event program, and some unsubtle product placement when the TV cameras are running?

Well, then throw your money this direction.

I am currently completing the organisation for a re-enactment event for siege engines to be held in May. Exhibitors and competitors have been sorted, along with the event logistics and program.

What we need at this stage is advertising, and a wad of cash to build this:

A fairly hefty trebuchet, which stands just under 2 meters tall, and has a 3 meter throwing arm, with a release height of just over 6 meters.

This would be why we’re using a rifle range. Interested wealthy people can email me here.

And yes, I’m too lazy to do two posts, so this is the Friday Night Free For All as well.

Now Available…

Custom made crests with a range of stock designs being added.

Hand cast to your design, mounted on a wooden shield and finished in either painted or buffed metal. Drop me a line if you have an interest.

Chucky - New and Improved!

Chucky just got a treat. The old rope has been replaced with some retired 11mm abseil rope, the washers have been cleaned and painted and the wrench has had a long handle added. So now the washers turn easier, I have more leverage and theres a lot more rope volume.

Add it up and it all spells more power!

She’s now got the kick that the name “Onager” came from from. I have no idea exactly what sort of range it has now because I’m surrounded by houses that were in range before the upgrade. I’ll try to get to a range next week for some field testing.

Coming soon…

Table Top Onager/Mangonel Plans & Kitsets.

Plans set:

The plans consist: A booklet with step by step instructions with photos, three pages of detailed plans and a parts and a fouth sheet for use as a cutting pattern. Available in either English or American versions.

The model is 12″ X 6″ and powered by a bundle of rubber bands. The body is made from stock pine or whatever timber you like and has brass sheet fittings with a simplified mechanism for ease of construction.

Builds a fully functional semi-accurate model. (A cast parts kit will be available to upgrade your model to be an accurate scale replica.)

Cost: $10 USD + $2 p&p. Hard copy only, downloads will not be offered.
Available from: websiteTBA and direct from me.

Kitset.

The kitset comes with the plans, instructions booklet, precut wooden parts and brass sheet to fabricate the fittings along with string, rubber bands and a peice of leather to complete the model.

Fully functional model.

Cost: Not yet calculated.

Available from: websiteTBA and Regal Enterprises Carterton

Advanced kitset:

The same as with the standard kitset but has historically accurate cast metal fittings. Fully functional and accurate scale model.

Cost: Wounded bull related.

Available from: websiteTBA and Regal Enterprises Carterton

Also in development, table top ballista and trebuchet.