da Vinci's Catapult

 

 Now for something completely different! Here's a scale replica of  the Renaissance Master, Leonardo de Vinci's, Catapult: kit  by Pathfinders.  I got this kit as a retirement gift for something to occupy my time while we wait for the Kung-Flu to pass.  

The kit is complete; the box contains everything to build the replica including the white glue. Here's what comes the box: 

The kit is unfinished wood. So, I started by staining the pieces with an oak colored wood stain and let them dry overnight. Here you can see the stained pieces; looks more natural than the raw pine doesn't it? The instruction booklet is comprehensive; follow the steps as described, and you can't go wrong. Here's the barrel with the attached ratchet gear and the base cross pieces. 

Base frame complete: 

I used a carpenter's clamp to squeeze all gaps out of the frame base and the barrel stanchions.  

Ratchet gear,  barrel, and locking arm in place: 

The instructions don't say anything about cutting off the wood dowels used to hold the pieces together; the instruction booklet illustrations  show them in place. After the glue dried, overnight, I cut them flush with the frame and stained the ends with a cotton swab to blend in with the rest of the frame. 

  Catapult fully assembled waiting for the rigging: 

Here we are! Rigged and ready to fire!!!! 

This thing works great! I test fired marbles and consistently got ranges up to 20 feet (6 Meters)!!!! I could do a regression analysis and generate a range table! Wouldn't that be AWESOME??!!!!  

Naaaaaw....... didn't think so; I'm not THAT Covid bored....yet. 

This kit turned out very well and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It's great week-end project and a  perfect rainy day parent/ child activity. 

Until next time.....

SHOT!..................splash, out. 

RJ