[MR] Siege Weapons (punkin chunkin)

[Farslayer]

Charles

The goal of a mile is still just a dream, only 3911 feet this year. I
believe the current world record is around 4300 feet.

There were some really nice siege engines there and some very scary ones.
The biggest was around 30' tall with the arm straight up using 1200 pounds
of counter weight. It is capable of holding 2400 pounds but I think they are
still working up to using that much weight. They are a little afraid of
their creation after they broke the sling and threw a pumpkin backwards just
missing a person. For all its great size they have some design problems that
will prevent it form ever throwing a pumpkin far, best shot to date is only
500 feet.
I was told that one of the siege weapons there was a model done by the
people who did the Nova special on siege weapons. It was a beautiful
machine, period construction, great for  etc.

All in all it a great contest, one that I intend to enter. I have a machine
partially designed. The idea is to have an engine with an 18 foot arm, 15
feet at the pivot and 1000+ pounds of counter weight. Looking to throw a
pumpkin  1000 feet :-).  Looking for weight and materials to build this
thing with out going broke.


Giovanni

>
> There appear to be many local Punkin Chunkin contests leading up to the
> annual World Championship in Delaware.  (In the unlimited category,
> long-bore compressed air cannons are expected to shoot more than a mile
next
> year!)  They certainly seem like a good opportunity for an SCA demo.