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Onager: Sling Vs Basket
#1
I have finally done something that I have always wanted to do and that is build a functional Trebuchet. For never building such a thing, my results were quite pleasing and had a blast constructing the project. With a 59" arm and 50lbs I can hurl an object right about 120'. Not to shabby considering its my first attempt and made out of mostly spare wood laying around the house!
So on to the point! I have got a the bug and want to build more and better machines and the next project I have in mind is to build an Onager that can hit about 100 yards. I have found various plans and what research I have done, two major opinions stand out. A basket or a sling to get the maximum distance and different load capabilities. One thing that made me join this site was the information that I found on Onagers and of the different designs. Specifically the De Reffye design. That is one that I will try at a later time! So I leave it up to the experts and What do you think? Basket or Sling?!
WHEN CATAPULTS ARE OUTLAWED, ONLY OUTLAWS WILL HAVE CATAPULTS
CUM CATAPULTAE PROSCRIPTAE ERUNT TUM SOLI PROSCRIPTI CATAPULTAS HABEBUNT
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#2
Hi Shawn,

You might want to take a look at this topic: http://www.romanarmytalk.com/20-roman-re...nager.html. There might be some things over there that can help you.
Valete,
Titvs Statilivs Castvs - Sander Van Daele
LEG XI CPF
COH VII RAET EQ (part of LEG XI CPF)

MA in History
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#3
Welcome to the forum

I also suppose that thread answers your question. Sling, no basket. Due to a legal conflict, unfortunatly the timber and resources to buils our onager disappeared, so you could still be the first to complete a full scale working version of this beast!
Good luck!!
Salvete et Valete



Nil volentibus arduum





Robert P. Wimmers
www.erfgoedenzo.nl/Diensten/Creatie Big Grin
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#4
Shawn, there is lots of information to be found on this site:
http://www.mangonel.com/
Books, some info about plans and working models available there.
M. Demetrius Abicio
(David Wills)

Saepe veritas est dura.
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#5
Thanks for the input so far! My ultimate goal will be to make an era replication but for now I'm thinking small scale not only to get experience in creating and debugging, but for financial restrictions. I read with quite interest on the class project that Robert started and is a shame that it has dried up so to speak. That post is what got me really interested in the De Reffye design. But for now I am looking for something to complete before September for an event. It's a food fight themed war and our plans are to hurl stuffed cows into the neighboring camps. And I found some interesting plan on the web and think this will be a great start.


On an unrelated issue, maybe need to start another thread on this, but.... On my trebuchet the angle of the release pin is horizontal vs the suggested 35-45 degree bend. When I put it at that angle, the shot would barely clear the trebuchet reaching no more than a few feet out in front of it. I adjusted the sling length (shortening it) and added a little more weight to the projectile. Does anyone have any thoughts on this? I can add pics of the design if that will help.
Thanks to all!

WHEN CATAPULTS ARE OUTLAWED, ONLY OUTLAWS WILL HAVE CATAPULTS
CUM CATAPULTAE PROSCRIPTAE ERUNT TUM SOLI PROSCRIPTI CATAPULTAS HABEBUNT
WHEN CATAPULTS ARE OUTLAWED, ONLY OUTLAWS WILL HAVE CATAPULTS
CUM CATAPULTAE PROSCRIPTAE ERUNT TUM SOLI PROSCRIPTI CATAPULTAS HABEBUNT
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#6
With all due respect, but the mangonel website shows many errors in the design of certainly the alleged Roman artillery. I believe in the thread posted, we were able to reconstruct the plan for a well researched onager, which was based on contemporary sources.

On the trebuchet, your sling may have been too short in the first place to work with the 35-45 degree bend. If you make a scale drawing with the arc of the loadarm with different slinglengths, you can work out where the actual release should take place, which would be just past the arm being vertical. This is why the pin is set at an angle facing away from the projectile. The load should overtake the loadarm. At least, that is how it works in an onager.
Salvete et Valete



Nil volentibus arduum





Robert P. Wimmers
www.erfgoedenzo.nl/Diensten/Creatie Big Grin
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#7
Robert, since your project is closed down, are your plans available to Shawn and his people to build a similar machine?
M. Demetrius Abicio
(David Wills)

Saepe veritas est dura.
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#8
Should this thread not be in the Re-enactment and Reconstruction area?
Who is called \'\'Paul\'\' by no-one other than his wife, parents and brothers.  :!: <img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_exclaim.gif" alt=":!:" title="Exclamation" />:!:

<a class="postlink" href="http://www.romanarmy.net">www.romanarmy.net
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#9
Oh sure, they would have been even if the project was not halted. Just PM me with a normal e-mail adress and I will be happy to send over the Powerpoint drawing I did.
Salvete et Valete



Nil volentibus arduum





Robert P. Wimmers
www.erfgoedenzo.nl/Diensten/Creatie Big Grin
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