Have Fun Storming The Castle
NukeBoy1 had a Social Studies project that required him to do a report on Medieval times. The choices were varied and they could choose weapons if they wanted. He chose catapults. We found some plans on-line and built a variation of the Onager catapult. This one was called; “The Troll”. We call it The Widow Maker. It took a re-design of the launch mechanism, but we finally got it to where it would work consistently without breaking rubber bands every launch. We upgraded it to surgical tubing like they use on “Wrist Rocket” slingshots. We will probably spend some more time on the launch arm and bucket also because the round bowl isn’t giving us the distance we feel we deserve. Anyway, here is a video for you to enjoy of the initial testing of The Widow Maker. With Obama’s promised defense budget cuts, we’re expecting to get lots of orders from the Pentagon.
Mr Lady
You need an egg, and a target. Like, say, Nukeboy2. When Tony Stark demo’d the Jericho, he didn’t shoot it at bushes and little bunnies, you know.
Redo. Eggs. Little sisters, perhaps?
(NukeDad) Dude, you’re relentless! I LOVE IT! I’ll have to wait until he brings it back home from school. Oh, The Places We Will Go! I went all Dr. Suess there for a minute.
Mr Ladys last blog post..Yesterday
Jan 28, 2009 @ 1:44 pm
nonna
too funny. i like the “duh” commentary. i would also like to see a rotten egg shot at nukeDad or at least a crotch shot since you’re silly enough to stand in the line of fire!
(NukeDad) Yeah, not the brightest place to stand. I think it comes from my days as a javelin/shot put catcher.
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Jan 28, 2009 @ 3:57 pm
Mike
Sounds like more R and D was done on this project than what was done for the B1 bomber. Probably more accurate as well…
(NukeDad) Oh, I think the B1 had a little more R&D. We did have fun researching it, though!
Mikes last blog post..If You Give a Mouse a Cookie…
Jan 28, 2009 @ 6:25 pm
BusyDad
I’m sure the Death Star shared the same humble beginnings. Dream big, kids!
(NukeDad) Some neighborhood rebel slime tried to stop us before we could finish, but the force wasn’t with them.
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Jan 28, 2009 @ 6:34 pm
Weaselmomma
EXCELLENT DESIGN! If it had a heavier base, I bet you would get more hang time. The nuke kids are pretty awesome.
(NukeDad) I think the hang time issue can be fixed by stopping the forward motion of the launch arm. Right now it stops at 90 degrees. We’ll test that theory when we get it back. Look at me! Sounding all Engineery!
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Jan 28, 2009 @ 6:36 pm
tom
Hey, if one surgical tube is good, two with twice the tension will be better. Also, a cinder block or two attached at the far end of the base will keep it stable. Then you can launch a dead squirrel across the street. Excellent work, on the catapult and the video.
(NukeDad) I think there is definitely a sequel coming soon! There are some great, if not devious, suggestions coming in.
toms last blog post..Evil Chicken
Jan 28, 2009 @ 7:36 pm
matt
Oh, duuuuuuuude. You GOTTA let me try it. I second Mr Lady’s opinion. Maybe after their asleep you can do a grown up sequel. There has to be a neighbor you don’t like around there, right?
Three words: Maple. Syrup. Balloons.
(NukeDad) Maple syrup balloons? Oh, man, that is just EVIL! Maybe we could mix some flour in there too. Talk about paint stripper!
Jan 28, 2009 @ 7:36 pm
Momo Fali
For a second, I thought they were going to launch NukeGirl.
(NukeDad) They thought about it, but then I reminded them that she has the memory of an elephant and the forgiveness of a suicide bomber.
Jan 29, 2009 @ 10:32 am
Tara R.
My son had to make a trebuchet (yeah, use that for Big Word Wednesday!) in one of his classes. It was a wicked looking weapon. He had to leave it at school. It could have been too much fun against our terrorist squirrels.
(NukeDad) I can’t wait to get this thing back! Lots of good ideas rolling in and NukeBoy1 and I have talked about some revisions. With any luck we’ll be able to take the squirrels out while they’re still in the tree.
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Jan 29, 2009 @ 5:41 pm
BBD
I had visions “Football in the groin” from the simpsons and John Cleese in The Holy Grail when they throw the cow over the wall. I was thinking in addition to the extra surgical tubing, you need to devise a way to crank the tension on the tubing incrementally, to vary the force and therefore distance. Make sure it goes to 11. I can’t wait for the sequel. You could call it NukeButt, instead of Jackass, and then see who you could convince to stand in front of it voluntarily.
(NukeDad) I’m thinking Johnny Knoxville would probably be up for that. A sequel will definitely be coming soon; once we get the Widow Maker back from school…2 to 3 weeks. Maybe we can figure out a way to liberate it sooner.
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Jan 29, 2009 @ 6:56 pm