I am contacting you from a youth project in Dublin, Ireland. Thank you for the info and plans on your website. We are using the "Little Ogre" primarily as a team building exercise with 11 to 12 year olds in our local primary school. We are also using Little Ogre to experiment with Physics theories.
The class will divide into teams to assemble their own Little Ogre, 6 in all ) and we will then experiment with different projectiles to look at Kinetic energy, Friction, Force. I have made one Little Ogre and we will be making the other six tomorrow for use in the classroom next week.
Again Thanks, finding your site has made my job a lot easier and a whole lot more Fun.
I have attached a couple of pics of our arsenal. The small ones are 3/4 size and the larger is 1 1/2 size.
Once i have fitted the Bungee chord and the last of the cups to the arms, we will dismantle all of the small ones into Kit-Form for re-assembly in the classroom on Wednesday.
BOOKS
Want to build a bigger, better, more powerful or fancier catapult? There are some great books available to you. These books, available at Amazon.com will help take your catapult building to new heights! Pun intended!
Catapult Design, Construction And Competition With the Projectile Throwing Engines of the Ancients
 
 The Art of the Catapult: Build Greek Ballistae, Roman Onagers, English Trebuchets, and More Ancient Artillery - Nice book that shows you how to build ten different catapult projects, moderate wood working and pvc piping kind of stuff. Good book with complete instructions and materials lists.
Buy from Amazon.com: The Art of the Catapult: Build Greek Ballistae, Roman Onagers, English Trebuchets, and More Ancient Artillery
 
 Backyard Ballistics: Build Potato Cannons, Paper Match Rockets, Cincinnati Fire Kites, Tennis Ball Mortars, and More Dynamite Devices Want to get a little more creative? This book is off the hook!
Buy From Amazon.com Backyard Ballistics: Build Potato Cannons, Paper Match Rockets, Cincinnati Fire Kites, Tennis Ball Mortars, and More Dynamite Devices
Whoosh Boom Splat: The Garage Warrior's Guide to Building Projectile Shooters
These are the homemade machines that you've dreamed of building, from the high-voltage Night Lighter 36 spud gun to the Jam Jar Jet, the Marshmallow Shooter, and the Yagua Blowgun. Including detailed diagrams and supply lists, Gurstelle's simple, step-by-step instructions help workshop warriors at any skill level achieve impressively powerful results.
 Adventures from the Technology Underground: Catapults, Pulsejets, Rail Guns, Flamethrowers, Tesla Coils, Air Cannons, and the Garage Warriors Who Love Them
 Sneaky Uses for Everyday Things: How to Turn a Penny into a Radio, Make a Flood Alarm with an Aspirin, Change Milk into Plastic, Extract Water and Electricity ... a TV with Your Ring, and Other Amazing Feats
Gonzo Gizmos: Projects & Devices to Channel Your Inner Geek - It's possible to use optics to roast a hot dog without electricity or a stove; to make a simple radio with just an iron, a few basic circuits and three shiny pennies; and to assemble a simple steam-powered boat with a plastic bottle, a candle, copper tubing and a nail. Of course, only die-hard science nerds would attempt these projects.
Kits and More Siege Engine Projects
Another Interesting Project: How to Build a Trebuchet
 The Trebuchet was a unique siege engine of the middle ages. It was extraordinarily powerful and was easier for military engineers to build because it used gravity as the energy source. I also have a complete project on how to make the Little Dragon Trebuchet.
Catapults and Siege Engines
  LEGO® Castle King's Castle Siege - From this mighty Castle, the good King rules over all he surveys - Help him defend the kingdom against the skeleton warriors and their mighty dragon! Firing catapult flings boulders at evil attackers, and moveable walls within the castle help keep the knights safe Moveable walls for multiple build and play scenarios, working drawbridge, firing catapults and oulders and Knock-Down bridge --Includes heroic king and knights, skeleton warriors and constructible dragon --974 Pieces
 
Ballista Wood Kit Tre'bu'het: (tré-buh-shay) a fifteenth-century military engine used for hurling heavy weapons and rocks. Made from high quality knot free Basswood, this Ballista is a great addition to any homemade artillery collection. Inspired by Alexander the Great's Artillery of the Macedonian Soldiers, this ballistic firing machine is a working model easily assembled from pre-cut and pre-drilled pieces. Includes laser cut plywood wheels. A fun group or family project, once completed you and your friends and family will be experiencing the thrill of flinging projectiles like those medieval machines, but focusing on height, velocity, and distance rather than on knocking down the enemys fortress. For the truely daring, you can alter characteristics of the trebuchet such as the mass of the clay, the string length, or the amount of the counterweight and can see how the results are affected. You will also see these concepts in action: levers, inertia, counterweights, friction, and more. This kit includes all materials for construction -- Size: 11-1/2" long, 9" wide, and 5-1/2" tall. Ages 16 and up, 10-16 with adult supervision.
  Catapult Kit - Lay Siege To The Doghouse! Right after you build your own working medieval catapult. All you'll need is glue, scissors and a steady hand to construct this wooden, Canadian-made siege engine kit. The finished catapult stands 6" tall x 5" wide x 10" long and will toss assorted stuff (meatballs?) 15 feet or further, depending upon the stuff. Comes with detailed instructions. Note: Please don't propel small mammals, and please don't put anyone's eye out.
Looking for a great Catapult Game?
 Battleground: Crossbows and Catapults War Chest Starter Set
Build your fortress and position your weapons to protect your kingdom. Battleground is the game that puts you in the heart of the battle between knights and orcs. The War Chest unleashes the epic battle right into your home. Includes castles, crossbows, cannons, figures, building bricks and more -- 80 pieces in all ; Read the great reviews about this game.
What good is a catapult if you don't have a castle to attack!
I have another project you might like. It is the Paper Castle and it has everything you could want in a castle making project including all the art work you can download. You just follow the instructions and make it yourself with some glue and cereal boxes. Build a Paper and Cardboard Castle It also has a learning sheet that helps to learn about castles when you are building it.
If you are looking for something easier to make you might want to try my project on making a popsicle stick catapult. Fast, easy and fun project! Goes great with the paper medieval castle. Make a popsicle stick catapult
Storm The Castle Catapult Game - Build a Popsicle stick catapult and hurl paper balls at the castle. How to make the Game and the catapult are here |
