I gave my husband a trebuchet kit for his birthday. He spent all weekend assembling it, and we tested it Sunday morning. Very impressive results! Since husband is a private person, this is the photo I’m allowed to publish. Action shots are viewable by friends and family on Flickr. For friends and family who don’t use Flickr yet, it’s free and easy to create an account. Then add me as a contact, and I will add you, and you’ll be able to see the action!
If you want a trebuchet of your own, you can get one at ThinkGeek. Thanks to Tiffany and her husband for providing the idea.


What a fantastic gift! And he looks so happy. 😉
I’ve been wanting one of those for a while now. I wish they were lower in price.
I learned a new word today, though I had heard of catapult before. What the heck does one do with one of these? But, if he loves it, that’s all that is important.
One tosses M&Ms at one’s coworkers! I think the attraction is really the assembling. Sure, it’s a “dust collector,” but you’re right — it brings enjoyment and this is important. 🙂
Our kids built a trebuchet with my husband a few years back – about four feet across and could launch water balloons for several hundred yards. They had a blast with that thing.
Fran, another cool word is Ballista! Another projectile machine, although of big shafts, and different than trebuchets or catapults. Kathryn, totally cool! These things are indeed fun, just the physics of it, the play of being able to put things in it and launch them, play with distance, angle, weight, materials, etc.! I think it appeals to the “scientific discoverer, tinkerer, explorer” in us. : )
Oh, you won! Khalin Gibran it is, I’ll send you a note. I think I still have the address…
Thanks,
N