[Tinstaafl]

Dude, that is awesome. I've toyed with the idea of building one for years, and never quite came up with a roundtuit. You gotta get that baby tuned up and then share the plans. :thumbup:

 

[Tom Struble]

thinkin of a career change?

 

[BlueRidgeGreen]

Getting them all tuned and tweaked (just some small adjustments left to do on The Beast).

After the disastrous 20' ....350+lb. throw and pivot arm distortion.....I shaved a couple hundred pounds off her, and now...
The Beast is throwing around 400' with a conventional (sm) balloon. I think I can get 20% more with some release pin/trajectory tuning (I'm releasing at around 65deg.......they say 45 is prime).
Large party balloons purchased....awaiting test fire.

Little Tre is slinging a kid-friendly 75-90'.

Cat 1...the straight torsion catapult is good to around 45'.

Cat 2...the bungee-assisted torsion is soft and paunchy, but safe at 35'-40' (rope length.......frame width issues maybe, needed some bungee help)

Four latex tubing slingshots, each set up on two 8' 2x2 oak staves (driven 3 deep) in The Labrynth.....one next to The Beast so I can protect myself from the other Dads, who are bound to start raining rubber down on me.

30 Nerf SuperSoakers on deck......triple stream Crossbow for the Bday boy (i gotta get some cheapee's for stragglers....I can bear no more)

GoPro mounted to remote helicopter comes tomorrow for fly by and memorial video.

I am jacked...like I'm 8......and it's my birthday.

Just finished up his present.

It's on like Donkey Kong. :thumbsup::thumbup:

 

[CarpenterSFO]

We need video.

 

[hdavis]

We need video.

And a blowgun anti-balloon defense system.

 

[BlueRidgeGreen]

And a blowgun anti-balloon defense system.

Blow Dome?

 

[BlueRidgeGreen]

We need video.

My buddy with the GoPro can't be here Sat.:sad:

I would love to have a bird's eye view of the battle in progress. I'm sure a bunch of folks will be Iphone vid ready and posting on social media though. I'll get something up.

(p.s. The compound bow metaphor has been my goto "you can't imagine what an idiot I was.......more weight means nothing past a certain threshold" retelling. Everyone can relate to that one. Thanks)

 

[BlueRidgeGreen]

His present.....

He got into chess this year.....seems to have a knack for it.

I was never a chess guy, but I can make chit...................
(I think he's gonna be really excited, I can't wait)

 

[Robie]

My buddy with the GoPro can't be here Sat.:sad:

I would love to have a bird's eye view of the battle in progress. I'm sure a bunch of folks will be Iphone vid ready and posting on social media though. I'll get something up.

(p.s. The compound bow metaphor has been my goto "you can't imagine what an idiot I was.......more weight means nothing past a certain threshold" retelling. Everyone can relate to that one. Thanks)

Hire Sparky....

 

[Robie]

His present.....

Very cool.

I like gifts that have staying power....ones that he can use and pass down 60 years from now. Make sure it's signed and dated.

Well done sir!

 

[BlueRidgeGreen]

Hire Sparky....

I wish.....

this thing is already crippling my tropical fly-fishing budget.:sad:

Those water guns ain't cheap.
and that's only a small part of this vast effort.

I have heard "honey, you have to dial it back a little" a few times this month. I refuse.

Thanks for the props.
I really loved making it, and totally agree about the staying power. I am over buying him plastic chinese made crap that he will barely remember exists after a week (I have a playroom and basement full of that stuff that proves the point). Let the grandparents get their jollies shopping at Toys R Us.
Also stoked that he loves chess.....and is pretty good at it. Always a nice way to pass a rainy afternoon or the last hour before bedtime.

 

[hdavis]

The big trebuchet has to be putting balloons out at over 100 mph to get the range you're getting. Those are going to hurt...

 

[BlueRidgeGreen]

I should post video of me last night with a can of corner bead spray adhesive and the fabric for that drawer insert.......:whistling

It was almost an epic disaster....:laughing:

I think my hand was stuck to my face at one point, and three pieces of royal blue now reside in my trash can.....

 

[Robie]

I should post video of me last night with a can of corner bead spray adhesive and the fabric for that drawer insert.......:whistling

It was almost an epic disaster....:laughing:

I think my hand was stuck to my face at one point, and three pieces of royal blue now reside in my trash can.....

I have no idea what you are referring to....never happened to me....:whistling

 

[BlueRidgeGreen]

The big trebuchet has to be putting balloons out at over 100 mph to get the range you're getting. Those are going to hurt...

Now.....you get all physics genius on me?

The Beast is just for show.....wow factor....no little nuggets will be targeted (or anywhere near the drop zone) during the firing of that thing.

Dads are another story all together....:whistling

It actually is aimed to land well past accessible terrain, and will only be fired with everyone accounted for and in safe viewing positions.

I ain't no reckless fool.....where would you ever get an idea like that?:whistling

 

[hdavis]

Now.....you get all physics genius on me?

The Beast is just for show.....wow factor....no little nuggets will be targeted (or anywhere near the drop zone) during the firing of that thing.

Dads are another story all together....:whistling

It actually is aimed to land well past accessible terrain, and will only be fired with everyone accounted for and in safe viewing positions.

I ain't no reckless fool.....where would you ever get an idea like that?:whistling

LOL, there's still plenty of time to dodge them, unless they're knuckle balling in

 

[BlueRidgeGreen]

LOL, there's still plenty of time to dodge them, unless they're knuckle balling in

Not if you have a beer in your hand and are talking chit about golf...

Ka...Blaaaammmmmm!:jester:

I wonder if winding the pouch strings over each other pre-launch would add the desired Phil Niekro-effect?

More testing after work today.

 

[Leo G]

When I was playing with that virtual chucker Robie linked to I was getting better results using an angle of 25 degrees instead of 45. Maybe it was the 20,000 lb weight I was using.

 

[Robie]

It actually is aimed to land well past accessible terrain, and will only be fired with everyone accounted for and in safe viewing positions.

I fully expect the expended ammunition to be gathered up and disposed of properly....unless of course it is edible or will safely and quickly decompose....:whistling

 

[hdavis]

When I was playing with that virtual chucker Robie linked to I was getting better results using an angle of 25 degrees instead of 45. Maybe it was the 20,000 lb weight I was using.

45 ignores aerodynamic drag, and ignores the possibility of getting more energy into the projectile by using a longer arc before release.

Actual results for longest throw with people throwing baseballs is 30-35 degrees. Batting is a little different, and ~10 degree down swing with ~20 degree ball trajectory gives the longest hit based on simulations incorporating the Magnus effect (back spin).