Snap-Tight Trebuchet

Ancient Engineering SeriesCatapult Kits

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Snap-Tight Trebuchet

No Glue! Maximum Fun!

Here's a snap-together trebuchet kit that's perfect for office warfare or household floor-wars! With our precision made kits, you can assemble your own trebuchet in mere minutes and start flinging missiles at your unsuspecting victims. Huzzah!

These little beauties stand about one foot tall in the ready-to-fire position (see photos), and will throw the included wooden missiles anywhere from 20 to 45 feet, depending on how much counterweight you use. We've put a lot of effort into the design, with interlocking pieces and tolerances that are *just* right, so that the pieces snap together snugly -- and you don't have to wait for glue to dry.

Precision cut by computer controlled machinery from top-quality 1/4" Baltic Birch plywood -- the best available. The extremely precise cutting process guarantees that all parts fit, and fit right, with no glue required. And not only does it go together easily, but this kit is designed to perform awesomely too. This kit was personally designed by professional trebuchet engineer Ron Toms.

The Trebuchet Kit comes with everything you need to get started slinging! All the computer-cut, snap-together wooden pieces, axles, a trigger, sling and pouch, and four wooden missiles! Assembly time: Only ten minutes or less.

Stand-up Targets: This item also comes with two knock-down targets. These mini castles are made of 1/4" Baltic birch plywood, and also snap together, just like the trebuchets. No glue required!

Quantity pricing info:
0 to 4 kits, standard price.
5 to 9 kits, 10% off
10 or more kits, 15% off
Discounts are automatically applied in the shopping cart. Just update your quantities and click the recalculate button to get the discount.

$24.95

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Price: $24.95
Minimum age: 6
Availability: In stock.

Item code: 10461

Notes:
Why should a kid
build a catapult?

Because the world needs good engineers and scientists, and because the kids who will grow up to become engineers and scientists need a way to get hands-on experience with physics, math and engineering.

In this age of 200-plus channels of TV, the Internet and computer games, kids are also spending far less time building tree houses, tinkering with engines, or designing downhill racers. We believe those are important skills to have. They help form the basis for good problem solving skills and an innate understanding of the real, physical world that you just can't get from a computer game, no matter how good its physics simulation software is.

Ballistic motion was one of the key players in the development of the science of physics. The word "engineer" even originated as the builders and designer of Siege Engines

Why is a budding engineering student expected to take a year or two of calculus in high school, but she isn't expected to have any real-world experience in building or working with machines and materials? Pencil and paper (or computer screens) are only one part of the learning experience. Where will she apply all of the stuff she learned in geometry and trig? Without physical projects to touch, feel and see, the lessons become abstract, their utility questionable.

A catapult project gives students a chance to see that science and engineering really can be fun, and it's a lot more than just numbers on paper. The real payoff for an engineer is in the field, where she can see and enjoy the results of her ingenuity. And it may seem counterintuitive, but engineering projects not only help kids learn math and science, they are also great at getting kids back outdoors, away from the massive over-exposure to video games, TV and the Internet.

Why all this interest in getting kids to study science and engineering? Because it's important to our society, and it's great mental cross training regardless of what field of work the kids eventually go into. Most people develop a sense for what they want to do in life while they are still in high school or even earlier. A catapult project is fun and interesting enough to inspire some kids to study the science behind how they work, and then go on to become the engineers and scientists of tomorrow.

(Click images to enlarge)

Watch it in Slow-Motion!

The prefessionally engineered gussets and joinery insure that this is one of the sturdiest low-cost trebuchet kits in the world.

The large sturdy bucket can hold more than enough counterweight. Just fill it up with loose change, a bar of soap, or anything that you have on hand and see how it performs. With somewhere between three and or four dollars' worth of pennies, we shot the wooden missile over 30 feet!

Precision dove-tail joints and alignment barackets make assembly a snap!

Simply snip the tabs that hold the parts to the panels using ordinary household scissors, then trim the nubs and any fuzzies with scissors too. It only takes a couple of minutes and no sanding necessary!

The finished model stands over a foot tall (more than 30 cm).

Each kit includes two castles for you to breach in medieval floor-wars siege battles. How many shots will it take you?

An historically accurate V-shaped trough keeps your missiles centered and prevents them from rolling around, making your shots more predictable, repeatable and accurate.

You get everything you see here. One complete trebuchet kit including precision cut parts, sling and pouch, axles, working trigger with lanyard, four missiles and two knock-down targets for range practice.