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Big Catapult and Siege engine kits
It could cost a king or lord an awful lot of gold to make one of these siege engines. And he had to hire an expert in the new art of engineering. There was no mass production in those days. Well, we have come a long way since the middle ages and now anybody can own their very own siege engine much like the ones they used to use. And, for a very reasonable price. These things are crazy and one will even reach distances of up to 200 feet.
The Greek and Roman Ballista is the granddaddy of all field artillery. This display quality model is fully functional and really works! The Ballista was an engine of war invented by the Greeks in 800 BCE, and later adopted by the early Romans. Ballistas were constructed of different sizes for the various purposes of siege and field warfare. The largest ones could throw projectiles weighing up to fifty pounds as far as 400 yards! The ballista uses a pair of skeins (bundles of twisted rope) for power. Similar to the working of a crossbow, the Ballista actually preceded the crossbow in western culture by over a thousand years and is where we get the word "Ballistic". This model shoots five-inch long, 1/2" diameter bolts (also called darts) about thirty to forty feet (when property constructed). It stands ten inches tall, twenty inches long and the arms sweep an arc over twenty inches wide. When not shooting bolts, this model is a great addition to your bookshelf or desktop. More than thirty five parts are included in this kit, but it can be easily assembled in one day. Everything you need is included except for glue and a few simple tools like scissors, sandpaper, a file (a utility knife would be helpful too) and about three to six hours of your time from start to finish. The instructions are highly detailed and complete with full-color photos, diagrams and historical notes. This kit can be assembled to a finished model in three to six hours, plus glue-drying time. Some light sanding may be necessary to smooth any rough edges. * Warning: This is a representative model of a real ancient military weapon. Use only with competent adult supervision. * Shown stained as red oak. The kit ships as a natural, unfinished poplar wood product. Colors may vary. * Can throw 40 feet when properly constructed and using appropriate missiles. Your performance may vary.
The Stirling Warwolf Trebuchet During a siege of Stirling Castle in 1304, Edward Longshanks (Edward the first, King of England) ordered his engineers to make a giant trebuchet for the English army, named "Warwolf". With one blow, Warwolf leveled a section of wall, successfully concluding the siege of Stirling Castle. The Stirling Warwolf is generally thought of as the most powerful and most famous of the trebuchets in history. With an authentic and historically accurate "squirrel-cage" winch mechanism, block-trolley system and working trigger, frame-ladder (for re-cocking), half-lap and mortise and tenon joinery, this is the most highly detailed and historically accurate trebuchet kit you can get. This kit has well over 140 pieces in it, plus two true scale-sized medieval warrior figures. At 1/20th scale, this machine stands 18 inches tall at the apex. The arm reaches to a height of 32 inches, and hurls its projectiles 40 to 60 feet! At 1/20 scale, thats about 800 to 1200 feet for a life-sized model. Even the projectiles (included) are scaled properly to represent 100 lb. and 350 lb. missiles. Highly detailed and computer cut for accuracy, this model is a joy to build. The detailed instructions are complete with diagrams, photos, tuning tips and even historical notes about trebuchets. Tools you will need include glue, a flat file and a 1/4" round or rat-tail file, clamps or rubber bands, household scissors and sandpaper to smooth any rough edges (there shouldn't be many.) The only other things you'll need to supply are a few hours of time, a little effort and some pennies for the counterweight bucket. The kit is made from high-quality white hardwood. It can easily be stained any color, but simple exposure to sunlight will turn the natural wood a rich golden-brown over time. "Made in USA"
Engineered using modern mechanical principles and computer aided design, this mini-powerhouse can hurl a golf ball over 200 feet. It uses guillotine action and a plunging beam to maximize potential energy and a floating arm to convert that energy into projectile motion. Precision crafted of high quality hardwood, the kit contains everything you need to build a working model.* The trebuchet is essentially a gravity powered energy conversion machine - it's a great way to see classical mechanics in action! The completed model stands 34 inches tall, 18 inches long and 7 inches wide (12 inches wide with the included steel counterweight boxes). A common complaint from engineering professors is that "Students today have a great understanding of computers, but fewer and fewer of them have any real hands-on, real-world understanding of physics and mechanics." Our kits are designed and intended to spark an interest in real-world science and engineering, and maybe even a bit of history too! The detailed instructions are complete with diagrams, photos, tuning tips, equations for calculating the machine's efficiency and more! All parts are pre-cut, pre-drilled and can be assembled to a finished model in one evening (plus glue drying time). We've put a lot of time and effort into making this kit as easy and complete as possible. It's a fun way to learn about physics and engineering! WARNING! This is a functional model intended for educational demonstrations of physics. It contains a fast moving arm and projectile that can cause injury if you make contact when firing. Use only under strict, competent adult supervision. * We supply the containers, but you'll need to supply the counterweight material. Anything from nuts and bolts, BBs, coins, sand or a good fist full of pebbles will do! * Can throw 200 feet when properly constructed and tuned with sufficient counterweights. Your performance may vary. |
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