Video of a trebuchet capable of throwing cars

A little off-topic, but hey...I've got trebuchets on my mind these days.

Bring the subject back to smaller-scale contraptions, you might want to check out my review of this working wooden catapult model.

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Fully automatic electric crossbow

Granted...this is a little off-topic for this blog, but its overwhelming mechanical awesomeness requires me to repost it.

See more amazing crossbow creations on the creator's web site.

[ Found via Hack A Day ]

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Floating arm trebuchet - throws golf balls 200'

This precision engineered trebuchet is a functional model standing 34" tall, 18" long and 12" wide when built. The guillotine-action and a plunging beam can hurl a golf ball over 200 feet. Nice!

From the product description:

Detailed instructions and high quality hardwood pieces that have been pre-cut and pre-drilled are all provided, so you can construct a finished model in a day.

This kit is professionally engineered, designed and manufactured in the USA. Made with 100% hardwoods, each part is precision carved by computer controlled machinery for a guaranteed fit and accuracy.

Here a link to see more about the Floating Arm Trebuchet.

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Trebuchet and Catapult Gift Guide from MAKE

The holidays just got a bit more..um...Medieval. I am so happy to share with you MAKE Magazine's complete Gift guide for the trebuchet and catapult maker. Build one, learn things, and by all means -- fling something!

(I am staunchly pro-catapult. There, I said it.)

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Working Torsion Spring Power Wood Ballista Kit

For those of you who enjoyed my two-part step-by-step guide on building the Pathfinder's Catapult Kit here's something else you will like. This a wood ballista kit.

The ballista (from the Latin and the Greek meaning "to throw") was a weapon developed from earlier Greek crossbows. It relied on two levers with torsion springs, consisting of several loops of twisted skeins of rope. Early versions ejected heavy darts or spherical stone projectiles of various sizes for siege warfare.

This kit is made from high quality knot-free Basswood. This ballistic firing machine is a working model easily assembled from pre-cut and pre-drilled pieces. It includes laser cut plywood wheels. The finished model is 11-1/2 inches long, 9 inches wide, and 5-1/2 inches tall.

Click here to buy the Ballista Wood Kit

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Cat-A-Pults: Chain-reaction Toy by Arthur Ganson

Designed by celebrated mechancial artist, Arthur Ganson, the Cat-A-Pult is a new interactive, chain-reaction toy.

Each Cat-A-Pult can be adjusted to throw the included foam cats from one to six feet. With each set you get 5 catapults, 10 Cats, and instruction booklet with games and activities.

You design the layout of the Cat-A-Pults, set them up and adjust them to fly from room to room or contained on a table. This toy is not only a great idea but has great potential to be combined with other chain reaction toys like dominoes and marble-run tracks.

You can get the Cat-a-Pult from HandsOnToys.

Note: This new chain-reaction mechanical toy is not to be confused with the similarly named Cat-A-Pult, miniature cat flinging gun made by the great novelty company called Accoutrements.

What is it about flying cats that is so compelling? We may never know.

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UberStix Construction Set and The UberPult

UberStix are a new type construction toy. Not only can you build exclusively with the system itself, it also integrates with and even bridges most other plastic building sets. UberStix are sort of an interop meta-construction toy. Now that's cool.

ThinkGeek.com has two different UberStix sets: a large general construction set and a smaller UberPult set (shown above).

Here's the UberStix Construction set (on sale too!).

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