How to Make a Desktop Viking Catapult (with a bonus wargame to play).

The other main types of siege engine (trebuchet, torsion catapult, slingshot) are already well represented on Instructables, but we don't seem to have a Viking Catapult.

Inspired by a combination of Scout lashing activities and the books of William Gurstelle, combined with the need to rescale for a classroom or club activity, I present The Desktop Viking Catapult.

Remove these ads by Signing Up

Step 1: Materials

You will need:

Six bamboo skewers
At least eleven elastic bands.
A small plastic pot or bowl.
Something to cut the bamboo - wire-cutters work well.
Ammunition (dried peas, paper pellets etc)
Space to play.
Opponents to battle.

alxolex says: Feb 27, 2011. 8:39 AM

Thanks for the nice 'ible! My 6-year-old loves his new toy :)

165

Kiteman (author) in reply to alxolexFeb 27, 2011. 9:19 AM

Haha, that's great! Thanks for posting the picture!

NinjaOrange7159 says: Jul 20, 2012. 10:38 AM

i made this 'ible and it worked great! i didnt have any film canisters so i got a bottled water top and wrapped some elctrical tape, folded it and then got a hole punch and got some holes and chopped off the extra. i used a paintball and fired it using three fingers and it flew at least 50 feet!

165

Kiteman (author) in reply to NinjaOrange7159Jul 20, 2012. 11:23 AM

That is awesome - thanks for sharing.

giike3 says: Jul 11, 2012. 12:32 PM

you can also use hair bands i tried it with my wife's

165

Kiteman (author) in reply to giike3Jul 11, 2012. 1:43 PM

Haha, I hope you asked her first!

boomboombaby says: May 9, 2012. 5:02 AM

I made an even tinier version,out of toothpicks and rubberbands...

boomboombaby in reply to boomboombabyMay 9, 2012. 5:03 AM

and it works as you say it does thanks for posting!

165

Kiteman (author) in reply to boomboombabyMay 9, 2012. 9:46 AM

You're welcome - could you post a photo?

Tree Hugger says: Jan 31, 2012. 12:54 PM

you should post a video of it in action:) I can't wait to try it!

famousguy says: Jan 20, 2012. 5:16 PM

That is very cool.How will you use mass and volume
and all those stuff?

165

Kiteman (author) in reply to famousguyJan 21, 2012. 3:01 PM

Sorry, I don't get your question.

lukev2 says: Jun 26, 2011. 9:14 AM

im making a lifesize one with bamboo that grows like crazy down the street...... its gonna shoot water balloons

165

Kiteman (author) in reply to lukev2Jun 26, 2011. 12:10 PM

Make sure you post photos!

lukev2 in reply to KitemanJun 30, 2011. 1:12 PM

actually now i changed my mind and im gonna build a triangular clubhouse outta bamboo... so thanks for the inspiration!

patriots8888 says: Feb 16, 2011. 6:09 PM

cool instructable and can i do this with pencils instead of skewers?

165

Kiteman (author) in reply to patriots8888Feb 17, 2011. 2:32 AM

Of course you can - it will just be smaller.

ZeeHeeMee in reply to KitemanJun 11, 2011. 4:20 PM

It will be smaller, but stiffer. So it will last you a long time!

hamsTheMan says: May 8, 2011. 11:09 AM

woooh east alglia ftw ( icant spell) where abouts u live? , btw awsome catapult

165

Kiteman (author) in reply to hamsTheManMay 8, 2011. 11:35 AM

Way in the East of Suffolk.

hamsTheMan in reply to KitemanMay 8, 2011. 12:27 PM

im in suffolk are u in norlfolk?

165

Kiteman (author) in reply to hamsTheManMay 8, 2011. 2:02 PM

See where I said I'm in the East of Suffolk?

That's all the details you get.

hamsTheMan in reply to KitemanMay 8, 2011. 12:16 PM

cool, near felixstow?
im near bury st edmunds

hamsTheMan says: May 8, 2011. 11:37 AM

hahaha dont put the pot thing on and use straightened paper clip with a bent end, IT GOES MILES PLEASE TRY, GOES THREE TIMES AS FAR!!!!!!!!!

-------------------------AWSOME---------------------------

165

Kiteman (author) in reply to hamsTheManMay 8, 2011. 11:40 AM

If you're aiming at folk, make sure they're wearing goggles...

doctor strange says: Apr 28, 2011. 1:04 PM

please try making the steps a bit more understandable may be in sketches but still this are very good

bears0 says: Oct 8, 2010. 8:23 AM

thanks, finaly something on instructibles i have the stuff to build

165

Kiteman (author) in reply to bears0Oct 8, 2010. 1:09 PM

You're welcome!

Kiernan says: Aug 20, 2009. 11:57 PM

Nice, its late rite now but tommarow im going to build a giant one and use military grade bungie cord that I have laying around.

captaincrackers in reply to KiernanSep 3, 2010. 5:16 AM

Where'd you get military grade bungie cord?

alphasmith in reply to KiernanOct 16, 2009. 5:49 PM

wait, you just happen to have military-grade bungee cord lying around?

Kiernan in reply to alphasmithOct 16, 2009. 9:06 PM

Yeah, I got it from American Science & Surplus I just looked and it dosen't appear that they sell it anymore

SSRT in reply to KiernanSep 4, 2009. 12:32 PM

Surgical tube would be better :)

the dudemaster in reply to SSRTApr 17, 2011. 6:35 PM

i tried something similar with surgical tube and after about two hours of playing outside with it the sun rotted the tube and i about put my eye out so i would be careful with that idea.

165

Kiteman (author) in reply to KiernanAug 23, 2009. 2:24 AM

That sounds cool. Why not post your own Instructable about it? Remember - plenty of photos.

fartnocker says: Apr 6, 2010. 12:02 PM

its funny cuz my mom lets out a scream that sounds like chubacka when chess peices wiz by her head at lightning speed

bbot2000729 in reply to fartnockerSep 2, 2010. 5:49 PM

and,stone wqork better.

bbot2000729 in reply to fartnockerSep 2, 2010. 5:48 PM

Pardon me, but why do do you use chess pieces as ammunition?

acidbass in reply to bbot2000729Oct 3, 2010. 2:23 PM

he hates chess

meistheman says: Feb 23, 2010. 5:17 PM

I hope this works, I have a school project where I have to shoot three quarters glued together from a catapult powered by rubber bands. the quarters have to go over a 5-foot wall that is 6 feet away, then another 4 feet and hit at least within a 1-foot radius of a dinner plate, if we hit the plate, the teacher buys a pizza

What a waste of three quarters