The Little Dragon Trebuchet - This Trebuchet Build Plan will take you about two hours to complete. Here is a parts list for easy printing
What You Need
The Recommended Tools for this project
- Hammer
- Saw
- Screwdriver
- Pliers (needlenose)
- Wood Glue
- File
- Scissors
- Drill and Bits
- Sandpaper
- Cutters for metal
Most of these tools are just recommended and you can vary the tools depending on what types of materials you use for this project. Here are some tips: Needle nose pliers are best for manipulating small parts but if you don't have any then any other type of pliers will be fine. The metal file shown in the center of the picture is recommended any time you work with metal - you should always file down cut metal so there are no sharp edges. The sandpaper shown is attached to a block; this makes sanding small parts easy and you should always sand every piece of wood you cut so there are no splinters.
Miscellaneous items needed to Make the Trebuchet
- Heavy object (three different ones are shown on the far left) only 1 needed
- Small screws
- Small Nails
- 2 eyehooks
- wire or bread ties
- Electrical tape (or masking)
- 3 feet of string
- piece of cloth - 6 inches.
- Paints (optional)
- 1 sheet of cardpaper -similar to cereal box (shown under the paints)
About the miscellaneous materials: The counterweight is very important and you should find something as heavy as possible. I used a chinese healing ball for my trebuchet but you can use items found around the house like batteries taped together, penny rolls taped together, a lump of heavy clay or even a rock. Special Note: You will also need a metal bar for the cross piece. I will talk more about this a bit later.
Wood Needed for the Project
- 1 16 inch piece
- 2 12 inch pieces
- 2 10 inch pieces
- 3 5 inch pieces
- 1 square piece of flat wood about 5-6 inches
About the wood: The wood I used is about one inch by one half inch thick. You can be very flexible with this and use almost anything similar. You can cut strips of wood if you need to. The sheet of wood shown is important for strength and it is about one quarter inch thick but thinner would be ok.
Okay! This is everything you need to make this table top Medieval Siege Weapon. Let's start with the building instructions.
I lot of people are building this Trebuchet and I get a lot of email about it. One of the common questions is about my counterweight. Seeing as I use a solid metal Chinese Healing Ball it makes quite a difference and not everybody has these. So to get an idea of how much one of these balls weighs I made up a little scale and weighed the ball with pennies. It comes out to 147 pennies. This gives you a good idea of what to shoot for with your counter weight. If you use three rolls of pennies your weight is about the same as mine.
It was a kooky contraption I built but a nice little project: see the scale I made to weigh my counterweight
 Lets continue on and start building this Trebuchet
A New Article about the Trebuchet Arm: I have received lots of email from people who have built trebuchets and the most common question they have is about how to make the arm better. I have put together a few tips to help you make the arm of your treb the best you can: About the Trebuchet Arm
Want to build a bigger trebuchet? Try this project:
Make a Tennis Ball Trebuchet - (Fast and easy)
A fast and easy trebuchet project with lots of power. How to make a tennis ball trebuchet I keep it simple and use common stuff so you don't have to spend any money.
BOOKS and Trebuchets
Want to build a bigger, better, more powerful or fancier siege engine? There are some great books available to you. These books, available at Amazon.com, will help take your trebuchet or catapult building to new heights! Pun intended!
 
 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.
Siege Engine Kits and Projects
Catapults and Siege Engines
The Miniature Trebuchet by Timberkits
The trebuchet was the ultimate artillery weapon of the medieval period and early renaissance. A large and unwieldy weapon, it was typically built on-site during battle, and tuned to lob great weights - such as the carcasses of rotting horses and pots of burning pitch, over the castle walls and onto its inhabitants. Precision carved by computer controlled machinery for guaranteed fit and accurate joinery. The detailed instructions include loads of photos of each step of the construction process, tuning tips and safety notes. Included in the kit are four wooden projectiles, all the necessary components for the sling, trigger, and counterweight bucket as well as all the parts for the kit. The only thing you'll need to supply are 88 pennies for counterweight and a few simple tools - Scissors, a ruler, a utility knife, wood glue and a few rubber bands to hold the pieces together while the glue dries. Manufactured by RLT Industries
 
The Miniature Trebuchet - The trebuchet was the ultimate artillery weapon of the medieval period and early renaissance. A large and unwieldy weapon, it was typically built on-site during battle, and tuned to lob great weights - such as the carcasses of rotting horses and pots of burning pitch, over the castle walls and onto its inhabitants. This is our newest and smallest trebuchet design in a long line of catapult kits. Designed by master trebuchet expert Ron Toms, this machine is ideal for the student on a budget or as a wonderful display piece for any desktop or bookshelf of any history enthusiast. Precision carved by computer controlled machinery for guaranteed fit and accurate joinery. The detailed instructions include loads of photos of each step of the construction process, tuning tips and safety notes. Included in the kit are four wooden projectiles, all the necessary components for the sling, trigger, and counterweight bucket as well as all the parts for the kit. The only thing you'll need to supply are 64 pennies for counterweight and a few simple tools - Scissors, a ruler, a utility knife, wood glue and a few rubber bands to hold the pieces together while the glue dries. Tools required: Scissors, Glue, Ruler, rubber bands and a utility knife. Sandpaper is optional. Additional Counterweight Required: 64 pennies. Range: About 10 feet.
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
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