The reason I can't go to the Birdrun this weekend is that my brother and I will be helping my little sister and her friends build a trebuchet for her H.S. AP Physics class (she's way smarter than her dorky older brothers).
It's pretty interesting. I helped them research some designs and their rules don't say nothing about how to build one.
Enter older brother experienced in corporate trench warfare and a decent wood shop in his garage. We will follow that stated rules to the T. We will not build a traditional Trebuchet, but one based on "modern" engineering principles.
Traditional Style
Here's a fun on firing a basketball.
Nobody does nutty better than the English. This is my kind of guy. Not exactly traditional, but sorta, and the guy is a hoot.
Floating Arm Trebuchet
This is roughly the size and type we'll be building. It's pretty easy to see this is, relative to size, a more violent experience.
Here's one chucking a flaming piano (common theme).
And just for fun, how about this Lego Trebuchet. (Best videography and music.)
Fun Fact
We human beings have been f*ing each other up for a long time now. Possibly the earliest example of biological warfare is using trebuchets for chucking plague infected corpses and dead cows over city walls. Keep that in mind the next time you think you're having a bad day at work.
Building a Trebuchet
