Introduction: Knex Tension Launcher
Here is a new concept in K'nex weaponry. Don't criticize it just because it looks simple, it actually works really nicely and launches K'nex a lot better than it may seem. I was fiddling around the other day with a gray rod and a gray connector, and found that I could bend the rod and use just that little bit of tension to launch the connector really fast, even faster than most k'nex guns that I have built. I tested around with It some more, trying to design it better to make for a more secure grip and for ease of replacement of gray rods.
This is a new idea in terms of K'nex weaponry, so feel free to give me feedback on it, and try to design better models if you wish. You'll be surprised at how well this works, so just go ahead and build it, it only takes like five minutes, and once you get the hang of it, you should be able to fire the grey connectors faster and farther than most weapons. So far, I have got it to launch about 75 feet.
:P
Step 1: Gather Pieces
So, you will need:
-17 green connectors
-11 gray connectors
-1 tan or blue stubby connector (preferably blue, it made my life a heck of a lot easier)
-1 socket joint from a ball and socket K'nex joint
-11 green rods
-2 red rods
-1 gray rod
Step 2: Assemble Handle
You can probably just assemble this from the title picture, but here are a few tricks for making your life just a tad easier.
Step 3: Ammo and Firing Rod
If you guessed that this step is about putting on the ammo holders and firing rod, then you are correct.
Step 4: Tips on Firing
Here I will show you how to correctly use the tension launcher so that you maximize the distance and speed that the ammo goes. It took me a while to get good at this, and I broke a rod in the process by bending it too much. So, basically, follow these steps, don't bend the rod to much, and HAVE FUN!!! :D