How to Build A Trebuchet - begin assembly

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How To Build A Trebuchet

Let's cut all the wood for our Trebuchet first. Using your long pieces of wood cut these lengths: 1 - 16 inch piece; This is the swing arm 2 12 inch pieces; These are the long base pieces 2 10 inch pieces; These are the uprights 3 5 inch pieces these are the cross pieces that complete the base

Now cut the triangle support pieces. This is easily done by cutting a piece of wood to a square about 5-6 inches on each side. Then draw a line from one corner to the other and cut across this line. It gives you two identical triangles. Shown in the picture at right is the square with the line drawn on it before cutting.

Build these two parts of the frame first. You should make these parts first because it will be much easier to assemble later on. Lay out one 12 inch piece of wood horizontally. Mark a line on it 3 inches from the left end. Place the ten inch piece of wood vertically at this mark.

Now carefully place the triangular piece on this structure and glue it in place. Put nails or screws in it to make it stronger.

Do this again for the other side of the trebuchet but.... You have to do the other side of the Trebuchet but it is a mirror image. Mark off 3 inches from the other side (the right end) of the 12 inch wood and this is where you put the upright ten inch piece and the triangle wood.

Lets continue on to the next part Trebuchet build page 3

Want to build a bigger, better, more powerful or fancier siege engine or siege machine? There are some great books available to you. These books, available at Amazon.com will help take your war machine building to new heights! Pun intended!

The Art of the Catapult: Build Greek Ballistae, Roman Onagers, English Trebuchets, and More Ancient Artillery - Nice book that shows you how to build ten different catapult projects, moderate wood working and pvc piping kind of stuff. Good book with complete instructions and materials lists.