In what faires can one find firing trebuchets? The Oklahoma Ren Faire used to have them. They don't fire them any more though. I've heard that insurance costs make it prohibitive. I've also heard that a new building at the end of the jousting arena would be endangered w/ their operation.
The last ones I saw fired were a couple of falls ago at the Bridgewater Ren Fest in Baxter Springs, KS. It is mesmorizing to watch them being locked, loaded, aimed & fired. I wish I had one of my own. My neighbor's privacy fence would be in trouble though.
If you've never seen one of these siege engines, they can be found on YouTube, in "Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" & in "Timeline". They're amazing!
They have real firing Trebuchets at the Long's Peak Scootish Highlands Festival in Estes Park, Colorado. There is a huge one that fires every hour on the hour during the festival. And, there are smaller ones that fire at toy ships out on Lake Estes. It is actually quite amazing to see the big one fire the rocks and bowling balls and other things laying around...(stray cats mostly).
The new Wisconsin Renaissance Faire has a full size trebuchet that they do regular demonstrations each day with. They (attempt to) fire watermellons with it, hoping not to take out the local fisherman in the river nearby... ;D
I've always wanted to build a few at the STL renfaire, and a few other siege weapons along with it, but as of yet, no one has let me. something about liability and not having a place to fire it.
I don't know about which faires have them but my old work used to have one, a few weekends out of the year we had the award winning pumpkin chucking trebuchet ;) we got good at picking out which pumpkins were between 6-8 pounds just by looking at them.
Grammercy. I wish I could visit some of those far away realms. You would think that more faires could set up trebuchets where no patrons could walk and let loose on boats in a pond or lake or on plywood castles. I would think that would eliminate the liability questions. Godspeed on your next trip to a Ren faire.
FLaRF (florida) has trebuchets. and if your lucky enough to stay after hours on saturdays, the pirates get nice and drunk and shoot off flaming objects out of the trebuchet
My inlaws have a pumpkin festival each fall here in Minnesota. They used to have a trebuchet that they shot pumpkins out into a field/lake. They had to stop because the only place that would continue to insure them charged something like $3,000 per shot. Neadless to say, that was the end of the trebuchet. Not sure if those insurance issues were unique to MN, or if other states are having the same problems with insurance, but it sounds like others are having to put an end to it.
We launch fyne English weather with a little trebuchet at the Southern California Renaissance Pleasure Faire ... which means we through water at people. Everyone loves it - especially on those broiling hot days.
I have a little miniature trebuchet that I use to launch marshmallows at unsuspecting patrons as they walk by my booth... :D
Quote from: DB on May 12, 2008, 11:06:57 PM
I have a little miniature trebuchet that I use to launch marshmallows at unsuspecting patrons as they walk by my booth... :D
ROFLMAO!
Not too mainy faires in this area have the space to fire one of those beasts.
There used to be a pumkinf launching contenst every year, but when the 6-8 pound pumpkins started flyinh 1/2 mile, they couldn't figure out when to do it any more. :'(
FLaRF is able to use a trebuchet because the pirates/trebuchet crew are on a peninsula and they fire into the lake
Quote from: DB on May 12, 2008, 11:06:57 PM
I have a little miniature trebuchet that I use to launch marshmallows at unsuspecting patrons as they walk by my booth... :D
My brother got one of those last year. It was sooo much fun. He still has a few marshmallows now, and he likes them better now because they're harder and more painful when you're hit.
Yes, nothing like a nice, crunchy marshmallow to the noggin to wake you up in the morning... ;D
Didn't "Timeline" call the Catapults Trebuchets and the Trebuchets Catapults?
I seem to remember my wife and I laughing our @sses off in the theater over that.
I have a small one as well, flings grapes a good 30' depending on the ballast . . .
it would be fun to have one at MNRF, just no place to put it . . . or nothing visible to aim at.
btw, for those interested, easily the best show on this awesome device:
NOVA Secrets of Lost Empires - Medieval Siege (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/lostempires/trebuchet/)
I kept a small one on my desk, that I acquired from faire, and proceeded to launch paper clips, and other small objects into the offices of my 'superiors' (like that can be superior without weapons of mass distraction to fire back with!). Only trouble I had was if the object were 'too heavy' it that arc would carry it into the ceiling, and deny the projectile it's full flight. Outdoors the wee little beast can hit at least 50 feet away.
Next up: USB powered Cannon!
He he! Our scout troop kids can take poles and twine (lots of twine), and make a working trebuchet in a couple of hours. ;D At the Des Moines Faire in 2005, we actually participated in a "battle" with the Kingdom of D'enes, launching water balloons at the invaders to back up the defenders. They even hit a couple of invaders, who then had to "die". Loads of fun!
Add building a mini trebuchet to my list of eventual projects.
Thanks for the link to the Nova trebuchet show. I saw the end of that a year ago or so & was frustrated that I had missed it. That is indeed a good one. I'll have to watch it this week. HUZZAH!
Siouxland in Sioux Falls South Dakota is having their second annual trebuchet contest June 7th and 8th.
I also have both a mini and medium trebuchet, not from a purchased kit either, they fling marshmallows, dog kibble, small rocks, marbles, etc.
Dayna
I seem to recall a trebuchet at the TxRF one year, but it is definitely not there anymore. Although not a ren-faire, the Long's Peak Highland Games exhibits and fires trebuchets and cannon. Also, Urquhart Castle on Loch Ness has a trebuchet on the grounds. I don't know if, or when, it is fired.
Quote from: Craigmeister on May 10, 2008, 02:47:21 PM
In what faires can one find firing trebuchets? The Oklahoma Ren Faire used to have them. They don't fire them any more though. I've heard that insurance costs make it prohibitive. I've also heard that a new building at the end of the jousting arena would be endangered w/ their operation.
Last I had heard, FLARF or one of those faires in Florida had a working treb that fired out into the ocean/lake or whatever. Anybody confirm this?
The insurance, when you can even get a quote on it (almost all that I've contacted simply won't), is absolutely crazy. I checked into it last late-winter and again, more in-depth, in the summer. There's simply no way a person, or most faires can afford it.
I took my "scrapwood treb" (there's a little blurb and 2 pictures at http://www.hiltonhandcraft.com/RenFaire/ (http://www.hiltonhandcraft.com/RenFaire/) ) to the faires that I merchanted / demonstrated last year and the interest in it was overwhelming. We never did fire it during faire but it certainly was an attention-getter and sparked a lot of kids' imaginations.
I'm still in the process of editing a video of the treb firing flaming balls during a siege on a cardboard castle. Hopefully, I can get that done and posted in a month or two.
It'd be nice to see more of these types of equipment displayed and used at faire and events. However, safety must be foremost in peoples' minds. And, from personal experience, these things don't always "fling" where you expect them to.
Quote from: Woodland Artisan on February 05, 2009, 02:52:54 PM
Last I had heard, FLARF or one of those faires in Florida had a working treb that fired out into the ocean/lake or whatever. Anybody confirm this?
They are "Anger of the Mistress" a medieval siege weapon company. Don't know if they have an official website. However, here is their Myspace page...
www.myspace.com/theangerofthemistress
The guild (http://www.danceanddestruction.org) I'm in has a trebuchet that we fire if given the room. We used to fire boche balls that would go approximately 100 ft. We're experimenting more with bean bags for safety.
Quote from: Wildabeast on February 17, 2009, 11:04:48 AM
The guild (http://www.danceanddestruction.org) I'm in has a trebuchet that we fire if given the room. We used to fire boche balls that would go approximately 100 ft. We're experimenting more with bean bags for safety.
I guess California's liability insurance rates aren't as high as Oklahoma's. I haven't seen a firing trebuchet in about 5 years here. It's sad that our litigious society prevents us from reliving such a unique aspect of the past. They can fly demonstration flight teams over airports & tarmacs full of people but we can't see a trebuchet knock a hole in a piece of plywood. Go figure!
You can play a fun trebuchet game here (http://www.officegamespot.com/castle-clout.htm). ;D ;)
For years Delaware has been the home of "Punkin Chunkin", held the 1st weekend of November. Although the air cannons get the most coverage in the press because they are approaching shots of one mile, there are different categories of tossing machines from rotary arm (V-8 powered!) to all the Medieval war machines. Trebuchets are well represented. Google "Punkin Chunkin" or search YouTube for "Punkin Chunkin" and you can find some mean trebuchets.
Rules for Punkin Chunkin:
- 8 to 10 pound pumpkins.
- No part of the machine can cross the firing line.
- Pumpkin must be intact when it leaves the machine.
- Pumpkins cannot be frozen or covered with any kind of wrapping.
- Use of explosives, gun powder or atomic power is not permitted.
I've seen Punkin Chunkin on the Discovery or History Channel. It was hosted by Bryan Callen who used to be on MAD TV. That looks like awesome fun! I wish they would do that around here 3 or 4 times a year.
Totally addictive game, my boss is Not going to like this :o
Dayna
Quote from: Dustin on February 18, 2009, 05:52:45 PM
You can play a fun trebuchet game here (http://www.officegamespot.com/castle-clout.htm). ;D ;)
Another game (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/lostempires/trebuchet/destroywave.html) pretty basic but interesting read.
Quote from: Dustin on February 18, 2009, 05:52:45 PM
You can play a fun trebuchet game here (http://www.officegamespot.com/castle-clout.htm). ;D ;)
Good thing there isn't a wireless connection at faire.
We have a full size one at the PA ren. faire. Our archer and his son built it. We fire it over the joust field.
I looking for any body that can shine some light on a problem I'm having. I'm building a Trebuchet and I would like to know what the TRF campground rules are about bringing one. It's not very big, will fit in the back of a trunk. It was designed to launch waterballoons, 1-1.5 lbs max. I have emailed TRF and no one will respond back on the matter. Hopfully someone here will have some insight. I would hate that I drove 8 hours from the east side of Baton Rouge, La. to not be able to show my project off to other Rennies.
If you need more information about my trebuchet let me know and will post a drawing w/ all the dimensions on it.
Thanks,
Pat
I recently built the Ripcord Trebuchet (link to instructions in prior post.) Here's the picture:
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=1703696&l=a1d2e8218e&id=837242766
Here's some videos of some hurling today:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/al-nimer/sets/72157618988754297/
Very nice, Al-Nimer. What kind of distance are you getting?
That's about the size of my original Scrap-wood Treb.
I came across 2 magazine articles in my paper files on trebuchets. The first was from a June 1992 Car and Driver with the title "Siege the Day! Bringing new meaning to the idea of a car launch". The two English fellows involved were also the guys who created the trebuchet for the "Northern Exposure" episode. They launched an Austin Mini to an acceleration of 90 mph in 2.5 seconds and a distance of 87 yards.The second article is a tad more scholarly as it was in Scientific American, dated July 1995. The six page article has photos and drawings showing live action, construction and physics of the trebuchet. There is a list of 5 books on trebuchets and siege warfare, which would probably take years to read all of them. If you have access to these in a local library, they are worth digging out and reading.
PS- The spell check on the Forum does not recognize TREBUCHET
Quote from: Woodland Artisan on June 01, 2009, 07:42:03 AM
Very nice, Al-Nimer. What kind of distance are you getting?
That's about the size of my original Scrap-wood Treb.
I estimate the tennis balls were first bouncing at about the 50 foot mark. Next time out I'll try bending the release pin forward for more distance. I'm hoping to try water balloons next weekend, but I may have to use some lead weights ;D
Another great trebuchet game... http://officegamespot.com/flashgames/crush-the-castle.htm
Quote from: Al-Nimer on June 02, 2009, 09:18:39 PM
I estimate the tennis balls were first bouncing at about the 50 foot mark. Next time out I'll try bending the release pin forward for more distance. I'm hoping to try water balloons next weekend, but I may have to use some lead weights ;D
Ahhh, excellent. What are you using for weight right now? Yep, flattening out that trajectory will get you quite a bit more distance. But, it's not quite as satisfying to watch as it is with that nice, high arc. ;D
For my Scrap-wood Treb, I used around 55 lbs of lead shot. That's easy to add and subtract weight to dial-in on the targets. I was getting around 62 ft at first and then trimmed some weight on the beam to get in the 75 ft range. It sat there for quite a few months until a few more modifications and the last time I used it, at the St Louis Faire in '08, I hit a little over 100' consistently. Using a tennis ball to fling.
Keep us updated on your progress.
Quote from: Woodland Artisan on June 05, 2009, 06:31:32 AM
Quote from: Al-Nimer on June 02, 2009, 09:18:39 PM
I estimate the tennis balls were first bouncing at about the 50 foot mark. Next time out I'll try bending the release pin forward for more distance. I'm hoping to try water balloons next weekend, but I may have to use some lead weights ;D
Ahhh, excellent. What are you using for weight right now? Yep, flattening out that trajectory will get you quite a bit more distance. But, it's not quite as satisfying to watch as it is with that nice, high arc. ;D
For my Scrap-wood Treb, I used around 55 lbs of lead shot. That's easy to add and subtract weight to dial-in on the targets. I was getting around 62 ft at first and then trimmed some weight on the beam to get in the 75 ft range. It sat there for quite a few months until a few more modifications and the last time I used it, at the St Louis Faire in '08, I hit a little over 100' consistently. Using a tennis ball to fling.
Keep us updated on your progress.
Wow, that's impressive for a tennis ball! The coffee can is currently filled with rocks & sand. I think it might weigh about 10 lbs. When we go to my parents next weekend, I hope to get enough old lead tire weights to fill the can...should double the weight!
Quote from: Dustin on June 03, 2009, 09:20:46 PM
Another great trebuchet game... http://officegamespot.com/flashgames/crush-the-castle.htm
HUZZAH! This is the best trebuchet game I've played! It kept me up wayyyy too late last night. Grammercy.
We had fun last weekend firing small water balloons with my trebuchet a week ago. I switched out the rock/sand weight for 15 pounds of old lead tire weights. I think the distance was about 40-60 feet, depending on the size of the balloon. The kids caught a few of them, and had a lot of fun! Here's the link:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/al-nimer/3648831832/in/set-72157618988754297/
Here's another trebuchet game, a little harder than Crush the Castle: http://www.officegamespot.com/flashgames/siege-master.htm
I've built one that throws softballs about 200'.
There is a trebuchet at the Long's Peak Highland Games this weekend in Estes Park, CO. I take off for it this afternoon....with the help of an airplane.
Huzzah! I'm on the board for Tulsa's King's Champion Medieval Faire. I was able to talk another board member into building a trebuchet for our faire 2 weekends ago. It is not a big one but it worked & did a great job. It was definitely a crowd-pleaser!
It's the only working trebuchet at a Renfaire in Oklahoma! I don't know of any other working ones at Renfaires in this part of the country this year. There might be one in Tyler, Texas' Four Winds Faire next spring.
Next weekend, November 5th & 6th, is the annual World Championship Punkin Chunkin held in slower Delaware. Among the various punkin launchers, trebuchets are well represented. Go to the official link below, click on the 1st banner at the bottom, Punkin Chunkin / SC. It will bring up a series of videos including some mean trebs............
http://www.punkinchunkin.com/main.htm (http://www.punkinchunkin.com/main.htm)
Our son is using the trebuchet I built in 2009 in his science project:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=269464&id=837242766&l=12d388abb7
Oh god our school did trebuchets and i got hit in the spine with a golf ball that someone launched. Maybe they should have used oranges as well ;)
Mexican drug smugglers are using catapults and trebuchets to loft drug packages over the border. Wonder how soon it will be before they start tossing illegals over the fence?
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41282726/ns/world_news-americas (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41282726/ns/world_news-americas)