Viking Catapult

Intro: Viking Catapult

In this step by step tutorial I will be showing you how to make your very own Homemade Viking Catapult!

STEP 1: The Materials

You will need 5 sticks that are are 4-6 feet long with a diameter of 1-2 inches. I am using 4 foot long sticks. The 2 shorter sticks you need will be 2-3 feet long also with a diameter of 1-2 inches. I am using 2 foot long sticks. You will need all of the items shown in the picture. You will also need something that will make a hole about 1/2 an inch wide, such as a drill.
Another thing you will need is approximately 60 inches of elastic band that has a diameter of about a half of an inch. Another thing you will need is some sort of bowl of cup to use as the holder for the item you will launch. Pictures of these items come later in this instructable.

STEP 2: Lashing/Tying the Twine

Start by tying together two of the longer sticks together. You may use any method you want to tie the sticks together with the twine, but using a proper "lashing" technique is recomended. The sticks need to form a 60 degree angle when crossed. Square Lashing works great and it was what I used. You can learn how to do it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9MelDZc2rgk

STEP 3: Making the Bases

Once you have tied the two sticks together you need to tie another one of the long sticks on top of the ends of the sticks you just tied together, as shown in the picture.

STEP 4: Attaching the Uprights

Take the last two long sticks and again tie them together at a 60 degree angle. Once you have done that, tie the ends of the two sticks you just tied together to the top stick of the base. Make sure to do this on the inside of the base as shown. Also these two uprights should be at about a 45-60 angle depending on the trajectory you want. 

STEP 5: Adding the Supports

You now need to tie the two smaller sticks onto the catapult. The sticks will go from halfway down the upright to halfway across the base stick, both tied onto the outside of the sticks. These sticks are for structural support when firing your projectiles.

STEP 6: Making the Launch Bowl

The supplies you will need for the next 2 steps are 60 inches of elastic band cut into thirds and any type of round bowl. I used half of a cool whip container for my bowl. To start you need to drill three holes into the bowl that are the same distance away from each other towards the top that are about 1/2 of an inch wide.

STEP 7: Adding the Elastic Bands

You can start by reinforcing the holes with duct tape. Then you can attach the bands to the bowl with the nylon thread as shown in the picture. Tie each elastic tube tight so they do not slip out of the projectile holder.

STEP 8: Attaching the Bowl

You can tie bands onto the uprights with a regular square knot. Do this with all of the bands. tie them halfway down/across the sticks as shown in the picture.

STEP 9: Final Product

Have fun with this instructable and be careful when shooting your Viking Catapult. It launches water balloons really well! 

Thanks!
 -WoodsRunner

Comments

[Finster101]

Where do you get rubber bands that big?

[WoodsRunner]

You can get them at medical and sports stores for fairly cheap.

[esavvymom]

I recently read that they are harder to find at medical supply stores, but you can get an assortment on Amazon. (where else, right?!) :)

[aleksa.markovic.940641]

how far does it shoot

[sickdevotee63]

whao they did not build it modern that right there is hard core

[bsmith103]

Me and my children are totally going to love this. And they can help me gather sticks. This is an almost free activity for my kids this summer. I have everything on hand. I plan to cut up an old bike inner tube for the rubber band. Thanks so much for posting this! My boys love semi violent stuff! Ha ha!

[Edgar]

It can even be made to be a metal snap-on, snap off, portable catapult...
Voted and gone to my Blog:
http://faz-voce-mesmo.blogspot.pt/2013/06/makerbot-e-agora-da-stratasis-e-um.html

[guuber]

Do you think this catapult will launch a 2 lb pumpkin very far??

[WoodsRunner]

It would depend upon how big you make the catapult. If you used 6-7 foot long sticks, as apposed to the 4 foot sticks I used, I bet you could get a 2 pound pumpkin to fly about 100 feet.

[davidovv]

why is it named viking?
(i don't suppose that there were rubber bands at viking time)

[WoodsRunner]

It is known from accounts by monks of the time period that the Vikings used some sort of catapults in their looting of coastal, northern Europe. What they looked like is unknown due to the lack of drawings, so this is just a guess at what they looked like (this guess was made by Wayne Goddard in his book about catapults).

[overblast]

All you need are long trees, they're springy at the right moisture content (about a year to dry out right).

[gmh5760]

It is named Viking due to the obvious design similarities. And you are correct, they did not possess rubber bands at the time, which is why I assume he utilized rubber TUBING and a Miracle Whip container, thus achieving historical accuracy. Now don't YOU feel dumb.

[overblast]

Where do you put the cats?

[SailorSue42]

Nice job! This brings back my Girl Guide days....it's a one person "funnelator"!
Who knew the Vikings not only were first to the new world but they also developed the funnelator! ( Watch out neighbours, they'll be no stopping me now!)

[Steeluloid]

love it. on the list of holiday things to do...

[Basement_Craftsman]

I don't suppose you've read Wayne Goddard's book on catapults by chance??

[WoodsRunner]

Hahaha indeed I have, it's a good read.

[zach8771]

This is the coolest thing ever

[HollyMann]

Great job - this looks awesome and my son would love this!