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.

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.

Comments

[alxolex]

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

[Kiteman]

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

[boomboombaby]

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

[boomboombaby]

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

[Kiteman]

You're welcome - could you post a photo?

[Tree Hugger]

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

[famousguy]

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

[Kiteman]

Sorry, I don't get your question.

[lukev2]

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

[Kiteman]

Make sure you post photos!

[lukev2]

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

[patriots8888]

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

[Kiteman]

Of course you can - it will just be smaller.

[ZeeHeeMee]

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

[hamsTheMan]

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

[Kiteman]

Way in the East of Suffolk.

[hamsTheMan]

im in suffolk are u in norlfolk?

[Kiteman]

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

That's all the details you get.

[hamsTheMan]

cool, near felixstow?
im near bury st edmunds

[hamsTheMan]

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---------------------------

[Kiteman]

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

[doctor strange]

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

[bears0]

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

[Kiteman]

You're welcome!

[Kiernan]

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]

Where'd you get military grade bungie cord?

[alphasmith]

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

[Kiernan]

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

[SSRT]

Surgical tube would be better :)

[the dudemaster]

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.

[Kiteman]

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

[fartnocker]

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

[bbot2000729]

and,stone wqork better.

[bbot2000729]

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

[acidbass]

he hates chess

[meistheman]

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

[Kendallkip]

That waste of ¢75 makes me sad D:

[Kiteman]

Good luck.

[cad97]

It may be over sized but i found out the top of a plastic water bottle works great!

[jack penny]

soda bottle caps work well