Trebuchets and your mental health......

The results are in! And they are surprisingly mediocre!!!

Published on January 17, 2007 By Spc Nobody Special In Humor

Wow. Those closely guarded secrets of warfare in the Ancient World? Yeah. There's a reason for that. They worked their collective asses off to figure it out empirically. Well, that and you don't want your neighbor to know the best methods of storming your fortifications.

With that, I am proud to announce that after only six hours of careful work and consideration, I have built a trebuchet that will consistantly fire forward (when it releases at all) small snowballs for a distance of up to 5 feet. I did get one to go about 15, but that was seriously a fluke.

I've figured out the counterweight, the proper lengths of the lever arms, and am only messing up on one crucial part, the sling. Damned thing won't release properly, so no matter how well the rest works, it either drops the payload, or only drops it a little forward after the arm comes all the way up. Sigh............time to look up how the frickin' Greeks did it again.

That, and a predeployment mental health exam are all I've done today. Well, that and a hot bath. Note to self, never again tell a counselor/social worker when asked if you've ever had suicidal thoughts say, "Who hasn't at some point?"

The more answers I gave truthfully, the more you could see the little "Why isn't this guy comatose?" bulbs light up in their heads. Other interesting points in the conversation included,
Them - "You hate being in the Army?" (As a side note, I enjoy the idea of serving my country, and travelling around, and I appreciate the free health care, but I really really do hate being in the Army.)
Me - "Yep"
Them - "How long have you been in again?"
Me - "Seven years"
Them - "How much longer are you planning to be in?"
Me - "Another thirteen"
Significant pause..................

Also,

Them - "has anyone in your family ever attempted suicide or had serious problems with depression"
Me - "BWHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!" Another significant pause. Umm, yes."

I can't wait to see what tommorow brings. With a little luck, black road conditions on post.

Signing off, this is yours truly,
Nbs"

Comments

Dr Guy

on Jan 17, 2007

Can you post a picture of your Trebuchet? I would really like to see what it looks like! (Sorry, just a fascination of mine).

greywar

on Jan 17, 2007

I think the trick with the release is usually solved either through carefule shaping and correct hook length or through a tensioned release that pulls off at a particular part of the lever swing. This site has a lot of great stuff on siege enginery in general.

Spc Nobody Special

on Jan 17, 2007

Can you post a picture of your Trebuchet?

I've got awesome pictures........that I can't move anywhere outside the program that downloaded it from the camera, 'cause the Kodak "Easy Share" (HA!) software I've got is a bitch to work with, and I haven't had time to sit down and figure the frickin' thing out. Stupid new camera. Or user, meh.

This site has a lot of great stuff on siege enginery in general

Thanks. I'd googlewhacked that and a few other sites last night before I went to bed. I may try that, or considering the PVC, it may be easier to do a release pin. I think I also need a much, much longer sling.

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