Trebuchet / Final assembly

Click on photos to enlarge.

Testing the rope we'll use to pull down the arm. Each of those weights weighs 75 pounds; the final tested breaking strength was 450 pounds. We're planning to use it in an application requiring 300 pounds of tension. Hmmm......

Lifting the counterweight arm into place. Check out the grunting and straining.

Bolting on the throwing arm. Reid is visible and John is on the other side, hidden behind him. There are about a dozen bolts which attach the two parts and it was rather a diffcult process, because of the awkward angles. It took about 15 minutes. John's unfortunate brother Roger got to hold up the tip of the arm as high as he could reach during this whole time and didn't even get in the photo.

The trigger mechanism with arm tip locked in. The projectile is attached to the other end of the white rope; the washer is slid loosely over the "finger" on the end of the arm. When the trebuchet is fired the washer will slide off at the appropriate time in the arm's upward swing, releasing the projectile. The yellow release rope is also visible.

The mounted arm standing tall and proud.