The Sportsman Challenge - April 2024

[Brock O Lee]

Day 26

The Sportsman supervised a science school project I am doing with my Gr 8 daughter.

She has to build a Middle Age siege weapon, and do a video and write-up. She chose to build a trebuchet, one of those sling catapults that was used to break down castle walls.

Naturally this means I am researching, designing and building a trebuchet, while my girl passes the tools and does the odd jobs... The video and write-up is on her!

Figuring out how to make a counterweight


It is surprisingly tricky to get right, you have to tune the arm length, the counterweight mass, the sling length and the sling release trigger just right to get a good projectile trajectory.





The final product. This one works surprisingly well after a bit of fiddling. No the Sportsman did not go flying.


A big old girl in action...

[Jeffjeeptj]

Opening one of those insulated envelope bags.  The glue that sealed the flap was resisting wife’s attempts to pull it open.  Sportsman to the rescue.  Had to be careful to not cut the contents.

 

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