Mangonel (also known as an Onager)

Cost: Under $10

Time: Under 1 hour

A mangonel is a type of siege engine, similar to a catapult, used in Medieval warfare. This is a recipe for a very simple, low-powered mangonel that can be built with readily available pieces, which you may already own. Feel free to improvise, modify, or improve the design. For more information and photos of real mangonels, try http://members.lycos.nl/onager/.

Needed:

• Plastic crate container with latticed sides. The exact type of container doesn't matter.
• Plastic serving spoon, of the kind used to serve fruit salad, with a large bowl.
• Something with a strong, flat side, such as the bottom of a coat hangar or a ruler.
• Sturdy string. White cotton string for tying packages works well.

You will need enough string to wrap around the short end of the container 8 to 10 times with some left over to tie it off. You can use several shorter pieces if necessary.

Hold your container so that one of the longer sides faces you. Tie one end of your string about halfway down one side, and close to the right. The right will be the front of the mangonel.

Set the container down and wind the string to the other side of the box and back again, for 8 to 10 complete wrappings. Keep the string taut. You don't have to pull with all your might, but it should have some tension. Tie it off when finished.

Insert the handle of the spoon into the space in the string, about halfway down the handle. The hollow part of the bowl should face the front of the mangonel, the closest side to the spoon.

Push the spoon back and under the string, then up the front again, so the string is wrapped around the handle. You may have to turn the spoon sideways to get it to turn in the container. Continue winding the string tighter around the spoon handle until it starts to act like a catapult. It should be quite springy, and it is better to have too many turns than too few. It doesn't matter if it is in the exact center of the string, as long as it is close. Pull the spoon most of the way out, so just the end of the handle is in the string.

Tie a hangar, ruler, or dowel to the top of the container, so it can act as a backstop, and cause the spoon to release the payload. It should be slightly behind the string winding. Tie the object securely, so that it doesn't move around when hit.

For a launch trigger, you can tie the spoon down to the bottom of the box, and cut it when ready.

You may have to restring the mangonel from time to time, due to stretching or humidity.

A coat hangar makes a good backstop.

The String should be wound tightly.

The spoon tied down and ready for launch.