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Lightbulb41 · 06-21-2008, 08:04 PM

Well I'm off to my last year of Boyscout camp. I have to go out with a bang so I'm building a WBL Ballista. I have the rubber band and I'm mounting it to 2 2x4's at a T. There will be a small cloth bag at the center to hold the water balloon. run by 1 person. With support on the device...

Any comments. Anybody left that remembers this older member?

Silence · 06-21-2008, 09:18 PM

Sounds good. We don't really know much about ballistae, so a pneumatic launcher may be more recommendable, but your plan should work well. Good luck with the build.

Lightbulb41 · 06-21-2008, 09:32 PM

Think Massivly Upgraded Surgical Tubing that is mounted on posts to act as the supports...

I have like 12 hours to build it next saturday...

Ben · 06-21-2008, 09:33 PM

I haven't ever seen a water balloon ballista so that's something to look forward to. You'll probably need a fairly hefty rubber band so I'd suggest something like bungee cords. Be sure to be careful when working with bungee cords because they can snap or the hooks can come undone and they will hurt you bad. Wear safety goggles.

I have however worked on two water balloon catapults before. If you don't have much success with a ballista, try something simpler like a catapult. When I was in the Boy Scouts one county wide campout had an epic water balloon fight where you had to hit other troops with water balloons. Many troops thought they were smart and went with trebuchets, which wasn't too smart actually. Trebuchets only work when designed and built correctly. We easily outranged everyone with a simple catapult.

Edit: Didn't see your posts. Surgical tubing should work fine.

Lightbulb41 · 06-21-2008, 09:37 PM

It's 6 feet long

and 6 inches wide

it takes 32 pounds of force to make it expand 100% 64 for 200%... and so on

It's a flat rubber band though

Silence · 06-21-2008, 09:46 PM

Wow. That's impressive. I had a much smaller strip of rubber in mind.

If you could make a mangonel instead, that would be even better, especially since a winch will really let you stretch the rubber. Of course, the main bar would take quite a pounding even if it's well padded, and accuracy leaves something to be desired. The rubber would also need to be powdered to reduce friction from it sliding around the rod.

Drenchenator · 06-21-2008, 10:44 PM

Welcome back!

I remember you, but you may not remember me. Back then I really didn't post that much: I kinda just read everything instead.

Sounds like an awesome launcher! Though I don't really know how much material you have, I recommend that you anchor is well so that it doesn't rip itself apart or move around like mad. If you really pull the tubing back, the rest of the catapult will pull back with it. These movements could be dangerous.

06-21-2008, 08:04 PM	#1
Lightbulb41 Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Pittsburgh PA USA Posts: 61 UserID: 664	Finally building launcher Well I'm off to my last year of Boyscout camp. I have to go out with a bang so I'm building a WBL Ballista. I have the rubber band and I'm mounting it to 2 2x4's at a T. There will be a small cloth bag at the center to hold the water balloon. run by 1 person. With support on the device... Any comments. Anybody left that remembers this older member? __________________ You can get more with a kind word and a gun than just a kind word. I trade mobility for firepower. Accuracy for strengh. And Stealth for Intimidation.

06-21-2008, 09:18 PM	#2
Silence Administrator Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Virginia Posts: 3,293 UserID: 576	Re: Finally building launcher Sounds good. We don't really know much about ballistae, so a pneumatic launcher may be more recommendable, but your plan should work well. Good luck with the build. __________________ Forum rules

06-21-2008, 09:32 PM	#3
Lightbulb41 Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Pittsburgh PA USA Posts: 61 UserID: 664	Re: Finally building launcher Think Massivly Upgraded Surgical Tubing that is mounted on posts to act as the supports... I have like 12 hours to build it next saturday... __________________ You can get more with a kind word and a gun than just a kind word. I trade mobility for firepower. Accuracy for strengh. And Stealth for Intimidation.

06-21-2008, 09:33 PM	#4
Ben Founder Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: College Park, Maryland Posts: 6,054 UserID: 1	Re: Finally building launcher I haven't ever seen a water balloon ballista so that's something to look forward to. You'll probably need a fairly hefty rubber band so I'd suggest something like bungee cords. Be sure to be careful when working with bungee cords because they can snap or the hooks can come undone and they will hurt you bad. Wear safety goggles. I have however worked on two water balloon catapults before. If you don't have much success with a ballista, try something simpler like a catapult. When I was in the Boy Scouts one county wide campout had an epic water balloon fight where you had to hit other troops with water balloons. Many troops thought they were smart and went with trebuchets, which wasn't too smart actually. Trebuchets only work when designed and built correctly. We easily outranged everyone with a simple catapult. Edit: Didn't see your posts. Surgical tubing should work fine. __________________ email: / Forum rules / Read this page before emailing me. Do not send me a PM or email with a water gun question if someone else could answer the question. Post at the forums. You will get a response from me along with others' views or ideas.

06-21-2008, 09:37 PM	#5
Lightbulb41 Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Pittsburgh PA USA Posts: 61 UserID: 664	Re: Finally building launcher It's 6 feet long and 6 inches wide it takes 32 pounds of force to make it expand 100% 64 for 200%... and so on It's a flat rubber band though __________________ You can get more with a kind word and a gun than just a kind word. I trade mobility for firepower. Accuracy for strengh. And Stealth for Intimidation.

06-21-2008, 09:46 PM	#6
Silence Administrator Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Virginia Posts: 3,293 UserID: 576	Re: Finally building launcher Wow. That's impressive. I had a much smaller strip of rubber in mind. If you could make a mangonel instead, that would be even better, especially since a winch will really let you stretch the rubber. Of course, the main bar would take quite a pounding even if it's well padded, and accuracy leaves something to be desired. The rubber would also need to be powdered to reduce friction from it sliding around the rod. __________________ Forum rules

06-21-2008, 10:44 PM	#7
Drenchenator Administrator Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Maryland Posts: 718 UserID: 320	Re: Finally building launcher Welcome back! I remember you, but you may not remember me. Back then I really didn't post that much: I kinda just read everything instead. Sounds like an awesome launcher! Though I don't really know how much material you have, I recommend that you anchor is well so that it doesn't rip itself apart or move around like mad. If you really pull the tubing back, the rest of the catapult will pull back with it. These movements could be dangerous. __________________ The Drenchenator, also known as Lt. Col. Drench.

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