Stenseth trebuchet adventure pages

Third event 10/28/2006 - Pumpkin Day

Pictures are shown on the bottom half of this page. Videos of the shots are below the pictures. There are additional pictures and text on my other trebuchet page links on the red bar above.

Third shoot date: Saturday, 10/28/2006

At the same secret site in Dayton, MN:
Special thanks again to our hosts, David and Lynn.
It was a cool, sunny day. I was on site at 9 am. Assembly went fast. We were ready in 90 minutes. Thanks to Dave, Laura, and Ann for helping with assembly, counter weight loading, disassembling, and taking pictures. Other guests were Leroy, Ann L., and Lenore.

Test shot 1.

Counter-weight: 24 concrete blocks (942 LB),
Projectile: 200 oz. red Era container full of water.
Leroy offered to catch it, like a football pass. Good shot! It was very easy to see the red spinning in the air. It bounced once. Nice water explosion.

Test shot 2.

CW: 24 concrete blocks (942 LB),
Projectile: Bowling ball. Good shot!

Test shot 3.

CW: 24 concrete blocks (942 LB),
Projectile: Pumpkin. - MISFIRE! The pumpkin struck a stationary target. My truck was NOT a planned target. The pumpkin slipped out of the sling and flew backwards. Fortunately, no one was hurt, but it was very close. I am very thankful there were no casualties, and that it was a pumpkin and not the bowling ball. Tuesday, I will find a dent removal place.

Test shot 4.

CW: 24 concrete blocks (942 LB),
Projectile: Bowling ball. Good shot!

Test shot 5.

CW: 24 concrete blocks (942 LB),
Projectile: 200 oz. red Era container full of water.
Good shot! It was very easy to see the red spinning in the air.
It bounced once. The cap struck the ground and shattered. Nice water explosion.

This concludes the Trebuchet adventure.

The new cable clamps all held fine. The main axel bent noticeable, so 942 pounds exceeds the capability of the design. Also the counterweight cross support cracked, terminally.

Trebuchet Reference Links

Wikipedia Trebuchet page
Wintreb simulator is available from this site
'Punkin Chunkin' - For pumpkins, 4000 feet is the state of the art.
To Ride a Trebuchet - by Ron L. Toms

Description	Picture
Clipping on the cocking cable, with the new quick-connect caribiner. This is a great improvement over the previous 'D' fastener and screw.
Prayers or important conference? Maybe both. If we had worn plaid shirts, this could have been a scene right out of The Red-Green Show.
Test 2: Bowling ball is awaaaay.
The pumpkin in question.
Placing the pumpkin in the sling.
Of all the shots on all 3 test days, only this one misfired backwards. I understand this is not an unusual occurrence for trebuchets. We are very glad that it was the pumpkin and not the bowling ball. Usually, I moved the truck after cocking the arm. Three people were standing at the rear of the truck and no one was hit. So, next week I need to find a dent removal place. Check freeze frame page.
Test 4: Bowling ball away.
Test 5: Era container away.
Counter-weight cross beam crack.
Bent main axel and crack in cross beam. The axel is 1-3/4 diameter steel.

Description	Video Link
MISFIRED backwards. Hope no one said anything bad. Check freeze frame page.	PUMPKIN video with audio
Watch for the bounce.	BOWLING BALL video
Watch for the splash.	ERA CONTAINER video