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Trebuchet
ENTURY
13th C
SIEGE MACHINE
13th Century
INSTRUCTIONS
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Manufactured in Taiwan
The wood used in this kit comes from
accredited renewable resources.
Version No: TS201 v1.0 2008
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Manual, designs and written material
©2008 Interplay UK Limited
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Tel: +44 (0)1628 488525
Fax: +44 (0)1628 476700
Email: [email protected]
Please retain our address for future reference.
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Distributed in the United Kingdom by
Interplay UK Limited, Unit D, Meter House
Fieldhouse Lane, Marlow, Buckinghamshire.
SL7 1LW United Kingdom
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Make History!
Introduction
end. This principle is similar to a
The Trebuchet is a siege machine
person at one end and a lighter person
designed to throw heavy balls
on the other - the weight of the heavy
at castle walls to smash them
person is likely to throw the lighter
and allow the invaders in. They
person in the air if they do not hang
were used in the times before
on! A massive trebuchet nick-named
gunpowder and cannon and
Warwolf was used by the armies of
were the most awesome and
Edward 1st when he invaded Scotland
technically advanced weapons of
in the late 13th century.
For children over 8 years of
age only. For use under adult
supervision.
Read the instructions before use.
Follow them and keep them for
reference.
their time.
The machine was thought to have
Not suitable for children under
36 months due small parts that
could represent a choking hazard
Chinese; and the knowledge of these
Important Safety
Information!
WARNING!
Only to be used with the
ammunition provided.
playground see-saw with a really heavy
stood nearly 20 metres high and made
The origins of the Trebuchet are
short work of what were thought at
vague - no archaeological remains
the time to have been impregnable
survive, so all our knowledge is
Scottish castles.
gleamed from ancient texts and
drawings. It is thought that the
The machine was probably made
first Trebuchet was invented by the
of oak, it needed 50 carpenters to
construct it and is said to have taken
machines spread to the Arab nations
30 horse drawn carts to transport
in the Middle East and from there to
it from one castle to the next. At
Europe.
Stirling Castle the defenders were
so terrified when they saw Warwolf
Over time Trebuchets were improved
they tried to surrender, but Edward
from small hand operated machines,
declined wishing to see the terrible
designed to throw stones and small
destructive power of his machine.
boulders, to giant contraptions as
An eye witness account records that
high as five storey buildings and able
the machine brought down the entire
to throw balls weighing over 100kilos
castle wall.
over distances of 200 metres.
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principle; using a pivoted arm with
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a heavy weight on one end used to
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Unit D, Meter House
Fieldhouse Lane, Marlow,
Buckinghamshire. SL7 1LW
United Kingdom
All trebuchets work on the same
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This kit recreates a replica of
'Warwolf', once built it is great fun
to see just how far you can fire the
ammunition but please follow the
throw a smaller weight at the other
instructions and warnings carefully to
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avoid disappointment and danger.
3
Trebuchet Parts List 1
Trebuchet Parts List 2
4.5mm Diameter Dowels
Length Description Qty.
225mm Throwing Arm
145mm Axles
112mm Pivot Support
82mm Basket Support
37mm Winding Axle Sup (R) 32mm Sling Tie
27mm Winding Axle Sup (L) 22mm Firing Pin
20mm Sling Release Pin
Throwing Arm Pivot x 1
Base Plate x 1
Winding Barrel
Wheel x 4
Throwing Arm Head x 1
Counterweight
Basket Base x 1
1
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
Counterweight
Basket front/rear x 2
Sling x 1
Trigger Dowel x 1
Cotton x 1
Nylon String x 1
Chassis Side x 2
Solid Washer x 2
Washer x 4
Vertical Support x 2
Cross Member x 3
Front Brace x 2
Winding Bracket x 1
Winding Crank x 1
4
Counterweight
Basket side x 2
Rear Brace x 2
5
1
Constructing
the Sides
Take Plan Sheets 1 and lay them on a flat
surface protected by newspaper. Lay the side
sections onto the plans as shown, ensuring
that all the holes line up with those on the
2
4
Constructing
the Basket
Take the 5 plywood panels that make up
the counterweight basket and join them
together as shown using a little glue. You
plans. Once you are sure that the parts are
can hold the parts together with a little tape
correctly laid out, apply a little glue to each
whilst the glue dries if you wish.. Avoid
of the joints and allow to dry completely
using too much glue, but be sure that the
before lifting from the plans.
joints are well covered. Allow to dry.
Joining the
Sides Together
5
Once the two side assemblies are completely
dry, remove them from Plan Sheets 1. Place the
two side assemblies upright on Plan Sheet 2 as
Attaching
the Basket
Take the Throwing Arm Pivot and slide the
Basket Support Dowel through the hole near
the rounded end until it is central. Apply a little
glue to secure. Take two of the plywood washers
indicated, locating the 3 cross members as shown
and glue one to each of the ends of the dowel,
on the plan. Before applying glue to the joints,
leaving about 4mm of dowel protruding at either
please ensure that everything is correctly located
end. Once the glue is dry, fit the counterweight
and that the whole assembly is square. Allow to
basket to the dowel as shown, by springing the
dry completely before lifting from the plan.
sides of the basket outwards slightly.
Take the Pivot Support Dowel and slide through
3
Fit the Wheels
& Axels
Supports, through the central hole in the
Throwing Arm Pivot, then into the other Vertical
Support. Position the Throwing Arm Pivot
Take the two Axle dowels and slide them
centrally on the Pivot Support Dowel and apply
through the axle holes at the front and rear of
a little glue to fix it in position.
the chassis. Apply a little glue into the centre
To prevent the Throwing Arm Pivot from moving
of each of the 4 wooden wheels and push the
from side to side, glue one of the Solid Washers
wheels onto the protruding axle ends. Ensure
to either side of the Vertical Support on its outer
that the wheels and axles are free to rotate and
edges, covering the upper hole in which the
avoid getting glue between the wheels and the
chassis sides.
6
the hole at the top of one of the Vertical
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Pivot is located. Note that the Pivot must be
able to rotate in the hole in the Vertical Support.
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6
Building the
Trowing Arm
Glue the plywood Winding Bracket in position,
about halfway along the Throwing Arm Dowel.
Glue the Throwing Arm Dowel into the hole in
the Throwing Arm Pivot with the small hole in
8
Attaching the Sling
Tie a length of cotton to each of the 3
holes in the Sling. One of the strings tied
to the pair of holes closest together should
be tied to each side of the Sling Tie Dowel.
the Winding Bracket pointing downwards.
The third string should be tied to the
Push the Sling Tie Dowel through the hole in
Metal Ring, which will hook over the Sling
the Throwing Arm Head until it is central, then
Release Pin when ready for firing.
glue in place. Glue the Sling Release Pin Dowel
into the hole in the end of the Throwing Arm
Head, then glue the Throwing Arm Head to the
Throwing Arm Dowel with the Sling Tie Dowel
horizontal and the Sling Release Pin pointing
slightly upwards.
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The Winding
Mechanism
Place a small drop of glue in the hole at each
end of the Winding Barrel, then locate it
between the lower holes in the Rear Braces of
the Trebuchet, and insert the two Winding Axle
Support dowels, one from each side. Make sure
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Attaching the
Base Plate
The Base Plate should be glued into position
over the Cross Members in the base of the
Trebuchet. The Base Plate supports the
projectile in the Sling prior to firing, and allows
them to slide easily when the weapon is fired.
that the Winding Barrel is free to rotate. Glue
the Winding Crank onto the protruding end of
the longer Winding Axle Support Dowel, again
ensuring that the assembly is free to rotate.
Tie the long piece of string through the hole in
the Winding Barrel.
Glue the firing pin into the hole in the end of the
Trigger Dowel. Attach a small length of string
to the Trigger Dowel, passing it through the
hole provided. This assembly fits into the upper
hole in the Rear Brace, on the same side as the
Winding Crank, and prevents the Crank from
unwinding once the machine is ready to fire.
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Adjustments
Once you have built your
Trebuchet it is time to try it out.
Your trebuchet should fire the ammunition in a
semi-circular arc. If this does not happen then
it is likely that your sling needs to be adjusted.
Before firing please ensure it is in a safe
But first make sure the basket swings freely
environment away from young children,
and the winding mechanism releases the arm
pets or anything that could break or be
the ammunition provided with the kit and
always stand away from the Trebuchet
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damaged by the ammunition. Always use
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Firing your Trebuchet
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smoothly without slowing it down.
If your ball fires straight up in the air or behind
the trebuchet the sling is being released too
early. If the ball fires into the ground in front
when being fired.
of the Trebuchet, the reverse is happening; the
sling is being released too late.
1
Firstly check that all the mechanisms work
Check the ring on the sling fits smoothly
and the basket does not catch the base when
over the dowel in the firing arm and does not
it drops.
2
either catch or fall off too easily. Then check
Fill the basket to add weight, use pebbles,
the ammunition fits well in the ‘V’ of the sling
gravel, coins or similar. It is best to only half
and the string is not tangled or crossed over.
fill the basket to begin with.
Use the winding mechanism to lower the
3
throwing arm into position. At first lower the
arm until the sling just touches the ground.
Put the firing pin in position to hold the arm
in place.
4
Next, take a piece of plasticene that comes
with the kit and roll it into a ball about the
size of a marble with an approximate weight
of 5gm. Place the ball in the in the ‘V’ of the
5
sling material.
Stand well clear (the ball could go any where!)
and pull the firing pin to release the arm.
If you are lucky you’ll get a good shot first
time, if not you may need to make some
adjustments.
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