Posted on 06/26/2015 3:27:07 PM PDT by BenLurkin
Picture of Portable pumpkin catapult
I built this catapult (actually a trebuchet) based on an article in Make Magazine by William Gurstelle. It worked extremely well! Was able to launch basketballs 80 - 90 feet, and small pie pumpkins over 100 feet. I think fine tuning of the sling release could further enhance the performance.
It is made of plywood, a few 2 x 6's, and a lot of plumbing parts. The folding design is great for storage, and in my case, the catapult actually went up on the roof of a church for the main launching event. It fit up a ladder through a roof hatch with no trouble. (Well, other than the fact that it is bulky and heavy).
The counterweight is two 60 pound bags of concrete, which gave about a 100:1 ratio for the pie pumpkins and basketballs. After the pictures were taken I also added several bungee cords (2 x 18" and 2 x 24") to assist with pulling the weight down, and it added another 20 feet or so to overall distance.
Just something fun about catapults!
Very nice, well done.
chunk some at 3 of the big white buildings in DC
Why did you write “Spalding” on your pumpkin?
Be careful using bungee cords, I have seen injuries when they separate from the ends. A little picture hanger wire threaded through the bungee cord ends should secure them in place should something happen.
Was there a waiting period for this? Did you need a special license? Do they have a smaller model for carry conceal? Do you shoot it from the back of your pick up?
My son and I built one years ago for physics class. It used barbell weights and fired a 1” dia lead cannon ball. When were were testing it, it had a nasty habit of launching in the wrong direction.
The real event is to throw 30 pound heads of cabbage in competition.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gt4BRGyKw2k
It’s about time someone made a portable one! I’m so tired of lugging around that monstrosity I currently own.
Yeah. The oxen are a real problem for me.
a trebuchet!
Kind of like the GOP! Have no ideal were thy are going.
I like it! It reminds me of a device I recall from a comedy bit somewhere: The Yard-A-Pult. You use it to catapult the junk from your yard into your neighbor’s. When’s the IPO?
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