HOME

The fast, easy, Tennis ball Trebuchet - Part 2

In the previous part we built up the base of the trebuchet. In this part we finish it off by doing all the stuff that is on the swing arm. This includes the counterweights and the making and installation of the string pouch.

 

 

 

Now, take the 40 inch long swing arm and measure from one end ten inches. Drill a hole at that point. Make the hole big enough so your rod, pipe or broomstick will fit easily through it and rotate without any friction. It should be loose.

Drill the swing arm so the dowel fits easily

 

Now this is a little bit tricky but you have to put two eyehooks and 1 nail on the other end of the swing arm. Do it as shown in the picture. The nail is a straight nail with the head cut off. This is important, you don't want any kind of head on the end of this nail so the string and loop can easily slip off it. When the string and loop slips off this nail the pouch is opened and the projectile flies.

Firing Note: When you are testing your trebuchet you are going to adjust the angle of this nail. Leaning it slightly more forward will have the tennis ball release a bit later (lower arc) and leaning it toward the back will have the tennis ball release a bit earlier (higher arc) This dramatically affects how your trebuchet performs so experiment with this angle. the angle I have shown here works perfectly for my trebuchet.

assembling the end

Now, this next part can be a bit tricky. I don't know what you have as an available couterweight! But if you use two ten pound dumbbelss like I have here you can simply use a hose clamp to clamp them in place. Improvise whatever you need to get this right.

Attach the counterweights

Make your pouch out of thick fabric. I used an old sweater. It is approximately 12 x 6 inches in size.

Tie a string approximately 24 inches to one end and attach the other end of the string to the eye hook as shown.

Tie a string that is approximately 27 inches to the other end of the pouch and attach it to a small wire hook that you make out of wire.

Make and attach the string pouch

Finish the assembly by putting the swing arm into the middle of the uprights and feeding the rod or dowel through all three.

 

attach the swing arm

With the trebuchet in the loaded and ready to fire position as shown in the picture below you put the little ring you made onto the straight nail. When the catapult fires this little ring will come off the nail and allow the pouch to open and release the tennis ball.

The reelase nail with no head

 

The Locking mechanism and trigger.- The coat hanger goes through one eyehook then through the eyehook on the swing arm and finally through the eyehook on the far side. Pulling on the string releases the swing arm.

the trigger mechanism

The picture below shows the trebuchet ready to fire the tennis ball. Notice how the strings are nice and straight along the bottom and how the tennis ball sits in the pouch. Adjust the lengths of the strings as needed to get everything nice and even like this.

Tennis ball is in place

Your Trebuchet is complete. Now Go Storm Some Castles!

 

 






SEARCH

This is a Storm The Castle Project

Return to Stormthecastle.com


Table of Contents for the Trebuchet Making tutorial

  1. Trebuchet Home Page
  2. Materials/Tools
  3. Assemble the sides
  4. Assemble the base
  5. Make and attach the swing arm and counterweight
  6. The stringpouch and the runway
  7. Finish and fire it!
  8. Trebuchet video (quicktime MOV)
  9. Books/Buy
  10. Free Trebuchet Plan
  11. Trebuchet blueprints
  12. Trebuchet and Siege Engine Documentaries/DVDs
  13. Books/Medieval store
  14. The History of the Trebuchet

Check out My Store: Siege Engines you can buy at amazon.com

Unusual Siege Engine Kits

Kits to make big Siege Engines

 

More Trebuchet Stuff

Catapults!

  1. Popsicle Stick Trebuchet
  2. Office Supply Trebuchet
  3. The Little Dragon Trebuchet - Build this table top sized trebuchet
  4. The Tennis Ball Trebuchet
  5. The Bicycle Wheel Trebuchet - This one is bigger and a bit more serious
  6. Koji's Trebuchet Improvements
  7. John H. Trebuchet and Research improvements
  8. Adil's Mini Trebuchet
  9. Gabe's Ferrari of Trebuchets
  10. Trebuchet Videos
  11. Tips on Improving your Trebuchet
  12. Trebuchet Kits
  13. Trebuchet Arm Tips and advice
  14. Trebuchet Physics
  15. A Trebuchet Model
  16. Trebuchet Blueprints
  17. Check out a real medieval trebuchet located outside a fortress in Cairo
  18. The popsicle stick trebupult

 

OTHER PROJECTS

 

SUBJECTS

WEBSITES

Stormthecastle.com
Castlefiction.com
Epic Fantasy.com
The Medieval Armory
THe Fantasy Guide
The Heroic Dreams Blog
The Telescope Nerd.com


MY STORES

Dioramas & miniatures
Classical Guitar store
Telescope Store
Terrarium Store
Fantasy Art Books
Model Rocket Store
Siege Engine Store
R/C Airplanes Store
Swords


MORE

Links
Banner Exchange


---------
All Materials, unless otherwise stated are Copyright©
Kalif Publishing and StormtheCastle.com check out my copyright page for information about how to use any work on this site.

If you have questions
or would like to
contribute you can

---------

Earning money with your website-