During ancient times, catapults were used to destroy large structures such as castle walls and fortresses. Those huge contraptions were made from oak, giving them the power to hurl boulders over great distances. Today, catapults have shrunk considerably. They come as handheld versions of their huge ancestors. They are often created as toys for kids and young adults.
How a Modern-Day Catapult Works
A modern-day catapult can’t really destroy structures but a direct hit can seriously injure humans and animals. A stone is loaded on the sling or launcher, which is stretched by the user. When the user releases his hold on the launcher, the stone is flung at great speeds, crashing against anyone or anything that’s in its way. Such a toy must be used with caution because of the damage that it can inflict.
Three Ways to Construct a Catapult
You have three ways to create a catapult. You can create a mini representation of the catapults used during ancient times or a chopstick-based pyramid with a plastic cup launcher. Another option is to make a Lego version of the catapult, which is better for kids since it is not as harmful as the other two.
chopstick catapult
dowel catapult
Lego catapult
All three options are simple to make. In fact, many kids can learn how to construct a mini catapult on their own.
The Chopstick Catapult
The chopstick catapult is simple to create. All you need to do is connect six chopsticks together with rubber bands to form the base and the bow. Its lightweight frame makes the contraption easy to carry.
Materials Used:
6 chopsticks
10 – 12 rubber bands
pen
plastic cup
Procedure:
Arrange three chopsticks to form a triangle. Keep the ends overlapping to strengthen the catapult’s base.
Tie the three chopsticks together at the corners using several rubber bands.
Set the three remaining chopsticks on the triangle to form a pyramid. Tie them together and to the base using rubber bands.
Bore three holes inside the plastic cup with a pen. Make sure that the holes are evenly spaced.
Tie a rubber band through each hole inside the cup.
Position the cup inside the pyramid. Tie the other ends of the rubber band to each of the pyramid’s corner pegs. The cup should be suspended in the air after tying the ends of all three bands.
Fire the chopstick catapult by loading a small item inside the cup. Just pull the loaded cup back and it will fire your chosen projectile. Consider adding more rubber bands if you feel that the base is not strong enough to support the catapult.
The Dowel Catapult
The dowel catapult is sturdy and compact. Its heavy base lets it fire heavier ammunition than its chopstick counterpart. Its launcher also uses a plastic cup that is hinged on a rubber band attached to a couple of wooden blocks. Making this catapult may take you some time to finish, but with its cool appearance, your efforts will be all worth it.
Materials Used:
1 heavy wooden block (or box)
2 wooden blocks (1 x 4 inches)
power drill
dowels (large and small)
plastic yogurt container
2 hook screws
2 rubber bands
wood glue
handsaw
hammer
nails
screws
screwdriver
Procedure:
Find a heavy wooden block in your backyard. A wooden box will do but place heavy items inside so that it can keep your catapult upright. The block or box will be the base of your catapult.
Nail the two 1 x 4 inch blocks on each side of the base.
Use a power drill to bore a hole on top of each 1 x 4 inch block. The holes should be big enough to fit the larger dowel inside.
Saw the large dowels down to a half-inch beyond the 1 x 4 inch blocks.
Plug the dowels into the holes on top of the 1 x 4 inch blocks. Apply wood glue on the holes and dowels to strengthen the connection.
When the glue dries, drill a hole on each dowel then plug the smaller dowels in. Reinforce the connection with wood glue. The smaller dowel will act as the launching arm of your catapult.
Bore a small hole on a plastic yogurt container and affix it at the end of the launching arm. Glue the connection point.
Drill a hole on each side of the larger dowel then insert the two hook screws.
Loop a rubber band around each hook. The more loops you create, the greater the tension given to the launching arm.
If constructed correctly, the dowel catapult owns the most powerful launcher among the three catapult types. You must never point a loaded catapult at your friends or loved ones. A hit on any sensitive part of the body will hurt them, or worse, land them in a hospital.
Lego Catapult
The Lego catapult is entirely based on the Lego structure that you will create. Its size and launching power varies, depending on the features of the Lego launcher. This catapult is your cheapest option since Lego is sold at low prices and you probably even already have some at home. If you want to minimize your production cost, you can go for the cheap Logo imitations sold at low-end toy stores.
Materials Used:
Lego set
Lego wheels
rubber bands
Procedure:
Remove the rubber from a pair of Lego wheels.
Align the rubber wheels, then create a sturdy vertical column made of assembled Lego in between. The column will serve as your catapult’s launching arm.
Tie the arm to each wheel using several rubber bands. Add more rubber bands if you want to strengthen the launching power of your catapult.
With the launcher completed, attach your catapult to a heavy Lego structure. Make sure that the base remains upright whenever you hurl projectiles using the launcher.
The Lego catapult, being highly customizable, is relatively safe for kids. You can tweak its launching power to a safe level before teaching your kids how to construct the cool toy.
The catapult is a fun toy to create and play with. Many deviations have been created from the three basic catapult types. You can probably cook up your own catapult deviation once you master all three catapults. The secret to making a catapult is to know how the launcher works. You can always pull up any heavy item as the base of your creation.