[MR] New Book: Da Vinci's Giant Crossbow

[Garth G. Groff]

M'Lord Johann,

A most interesting and amusing letter. Thanks much for calling it to our 
attention.

Kind regards,


Lord Mungo Napier, That Crazy Scot

On 4/20/2011 9:32 AM, John Gahrmann wrote:
> Just for fun check out this link to Da Vinci's "resume"
>
> http://www.cenedella.com/job-search/leonardo-da-vincis-resume/
>
> Johann VR
>
> John Gahrmann Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, 
> but by the moments that take our breath away.- George Carlin
>
>
>
> > Date: Wed, 20 Apr 2011 07:47:31 -0400
> > From: ggg9y at virginia.edu
> > To: Atlantia at atlantia.sca.org; isenfir at virginia.edu
> > Subject: [MR] New Book: Da Vinci's Giant Crossbow
> >
> > Noble friends,
> >
> > Just received at the UVA library: LEONARDO DA VINCI'S GIANT CROSSBOW by
> > Matthew Landrus (ISBN 9783540689157; our call # T40 .L46 L36 2010). 
> Wow!
> > Talk about cool! Many of you have probably seen Da Vinci's drawings for
> > his giant crossbow, which are often reproduced in books and magazines.
> > Was it for real, or just the mad scribblings of a frustrated engineer
> > looking for a job? The author, who assisted with the design on a
> > near-full-scale replica for an ITN/PBS television program, certainly
> > thinks Da Vinci was serious. He makes the case that the design is
> > carefully based on Euclidian and Archamedian geometric principals, and
> > was intended to be a working plan. The author also examines Da Vinci's
> > design from a modern engineering standpoint, and from the techniques 
> and
> > materials of the time. Along the way he compares Da Vinci's work to
> > contemporary crossbows and ballistas, as well as other seige machines.
> > While technical, the text is well within the reach of a lay reader. The
> > book is lavishly illustrated with many drawings, including geometric
> > overlays on top of Da Vinci's original, as well as views of other
> > Renaissance machines. Truly a fascinating book, and extremely useful 
> for
> > any Scadian seige weapon engineer.
> >
> > Kind regards,
> >
> >
> > Lord Mungo Napier, Who Would Love to Make a Ballista