Build a Catapult in Your Backyard (Pirates Business)

Rating:
Summary: Build it and they will come
Review: A friend and I built a catapult using this book as a guide. We couldn't find a garage door spring, but we found a good spring at the local hardware store. This thing is a kick. We have tosses in her (very large) backyard and make bets on how far we can get things to go. We've tossed paper mache people, pillows, potatos, bags of chips and a watermellon (to see what would happen). We didn't have any trouble with the instructions and I can attest to the fact that it works. Her kids bring their friends over to have tosses too. There is something appealing about a catapult that is just too fun. I wish the book was longer but it says what it needs to--so I guess it doesn't need to be longer. Loompanics sent it the same day I asked for it. 8003802230 no hassle.

Rating:
Summary: A Rather Fine Layman's Approach
Review: Although occasionally lose on the finer details, the author creates a fine work suggesting one use, "what's at hand" in the re-creation of an old idea. As an amateur historian and collector of military antiquities this book is a curiosity - but certainly deserves its place in my library.

On the surface, the author seems a bit of a colourful character. My suggestion: don't allow the approachability of the cover dissuade you from such a serious undertaking. In its own way this is quite a serious effort.

I personally find it fascinating that someone with no admitted formal training in engineering would venture to build such a machine. Catapults and other ancient throwing devices can be unpredictable (at best) and dangerous (this is their inherent purpose) considering the amount of stored energy that is to be released so rapidly. As a result, I would not suggest this book go to a younger person who might attempt to build unsupervised. However, with the appropriate supervision this book will assist the moderately skilled in building an armament capable of replicating the abilities of historically larger devices. Simply put, the laws of physics have changed little with time.

Comments welcome.

RM

Rating:
Summary: How to actually build one just for fun
Review: Catapults were a warfare technology that goes back to the very beginnings of recorded human history. In Build A Catapult In Your Backyard, author Bill Wilson shows how to actually build one just for fun -- or for practical purposes such as removing rocks from fields. In addition to an informative introduction and history of the catapult, the reader is provided accurate, easy-to-follow instructions on building a catapult, as well as the building of a ballista. The reader is also provided with invaluable information on ammunition and additional resources. Build A Catapult In Your Backyard is a unique and highly recommended work, and would be a welcome addition to any Society for Historical Anachronism club reference collection!

Rating:
Summary: Concise guide to a world of fun
Review: First off: if you're not serious about actually building a catapult you won't enjoy this book. It is what the title says: a guide to building a modern version of an ancient weapon. It isn't unneccesarily padded with mindless verbage, it simply does what it's supposed to do. Also, be warned: it doesn't try to show you how the Romans built a catapult; it shows you how the author did it. Historical "purists" should pass this one by.

By reading it, you will gain a working knowledge of the history of mechanical artillery. You will also learn how to build a simple, fun, safe device that can, for example, toss a standard sized masonry brick app. one hundred yards. The supplies are easily obtaained at any building store such as Lowe's, etc., and the cost is quite reasonable. The photos are clear and the text easy to read. The author is an offbeat, whimsical person by nature, and that comes through in his writing style. Bottom line: it is short and concise, and it packs a helluva lot of information into its pages. Highly recommended for those who want to build a fun project.

Rating:
Summary: Pathetic Xerox pamphlet
Review: I was a bit shocked to find in my package not an eight dollar book, but a 35 page leaflet. Upon opening this flyer, I discovered photography so dark and poor, it looks like it had been taken with a disposable camera in twighlight, then reproduced for this book on a worn out copier.

I am returning this immidiately, and highly recommend you choose another title if you wish information on this type of endeavor.

RW

Rating:
Summary: All I can say is "Amen!"
Review: The last reviewer said everything I meant to say, so all i can say is "amen!" to their review - except to say that I built the catapult the author describes, and it is a blast!!!

Rating:
Summary: Build it and they will come
Review: There isn't much in this "book". They build a nice frame, but a garage door spring doesn't make for an authentic catapult. You can find better info on the web.

Rating:
Summary: Concise guide to a world of fun
Review: This book is really more of a poorly produced pamphlet. The writing is poor and the pictures are grainy and uninformative. The content isn't that bad though, although anyone who has read other works about catapults will probably be disappointed. If you want a very simple "how-to" this is your book. If you are looking for more substance, check out the two volume set about greek and roman siege artillery by E. W. Marsden.

Rating:
Summary: Hardly a book
Review: This book is really more of a poorly produced pamphlet. The writing is poor and the pictures are grainy and uninformative. The content isn't that bad though, although anyone who has read other works about catapults will probably be disappointed. If you want a very simple "how-to" this is your book. If you are looking for more substance, check out the two volume set about greek and roman siege artillery by E. W. Marsden.