Need advice : Building a Catapult

[Brennus]

FriendlyFire's suggestion is probably the easiest way to go about it. I would personally recommend a trebuchet type system as a counter-weight means of proppelling projectiles is easier to construct than a torsion relaint system like a catapult or onager. When I was about 7 i constructed a trebuchet out of cereal boxes, it was only about 30cm high but I could launch projectiles about half a metre with it.

Are there limitations on what materials you are allowed to use?

[teh1337tim]

No restrictions on materials other than no kits...

Good suggestion. Ill think about that ... thanks

[-42-]

I was forced to build a cardboard trebuchet last year as a physics assignment (It ended up throwing about 10 meters). I would recommend a trebuchet of some sort (torsion based is a pain to do) and make sure that you have a free hanging weight, sling, and wheels, all of which improve range. I would recommend plywood of some sort, just be sure to reinforce as needed.

[Conradus]

A friend of mine built a catapult about 10 years ago, when he was just in high school.
It looked fairly much like a trebuchet, but in stead of counterweight he just used a elastic (like the one you use to bind things on your bike) to shoot. So you pulled back the arm, put an acorn of whatever in it and released. It managed 10 m for sure.

[Tanit]

Could always build a Gatrophetes, that could fit the size requirement and still be life sized. And it was a siege weapon.