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Author Topic: CATAPULTS that SHOOT !!!  (Read 13048 times)

Richard

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CATAPULTS that SHOOT !!!
« on: October 14, 2006, 09:47:46 PM »

Playmobil has been producing catapults for more than ten years ...

The first one that we can remember was in set 3653.

Now, Playmobil has produced a new catapult for their Roman theme. (Set 4278)
The Romans called their early catapults onagers (which means mule) because they kicked when shot!
Most of the early "onagers" were a sling arrangement. The Playmobil Roman catapult is a later version!

PLAYMOBIL CATAPULTS CAN SHOOT !!!

An impotent catapult is absolutely useless for Garden (or Living Room) Wargaming!

Playmobil provides the perfect rubber bands to "activate" their catapults.
These rubber bands come in many sets and are used to hold pieces together for shipping.
(DON'T THROW THEM AWAY!)

The first two photos are sets 3653 and 4278.

And, the third photo shows some Playmobil rubber bands ... :)



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Richard

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Re: CATAPULTS that SHOOT !!!
« Reply #1 on: October 14, 2006, 10:01:13 PM »
The next few photos will show you how to make your catapult from set 3653 really shoot!

First loop two rubber bands through the two front towing eyes as illustrated.

Then loop one of the rubber bands over the counter weight.
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Richard

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Re: CATAPULTS that SHOOT !!!
« Reply #2 on: October 14, 2006, 10:04:43 PM »

Then loop the other rubber band over the counter weight.

And, finally ... load and pull back!

You'll be amazed how far you can shoot. Stand clear and don't put your eye out ... :)


NEXT: The Roman catapult ...
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Richard

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Re: CATAPULTS that SHOOT !!!
« Reply #3 on: October 14, 2006, 10:16:46 PM »

THE ROMAN CATAPULT

The next few photos will show you how to make your Roman catapult (4278) really shoot!

The first thing that you need to do is take off the bow and set it aside.

Then loop one end of the rubber band over the rear keep as the Roman soldier is doing.
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Richard

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Re: CATAPULTS that SHOOT !!!
« Reply #4 on: October 14, 2006, 10:19:30 PM »

Next turn the catapult on its side and take the other end of the rubber band to the front.

Then loop the end of the rubber band over the front end of the shooting arm.
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Richard

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Re: CATAPULTS that SHOOT !!!
« Reply #5 on: October 14, 2006, 10:27:12 PM »

Turn the catapult right side up.

Re-attach the bow.

Pull back on the shooting arm and prepare to do some major damage to the enemies of Rome!


Have fun ... And, exercise some caution, as you might hurt someone. And, that someone might be YOU! ... ;)

All the best,
Richard

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Flash

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Re: CATAPULTS that SHOOT !!!
« Reply #6 on: October 15, 2006, 12:50:02 AM »
 :o i never knew u could do that, thanx for the info richard!  ;D
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Grant

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Re: CATAPULTS that SHOOT !!!
« Reply #7 on: October 17, 2006, 04:43:14 PM »
Some fantastic ideas you have Richard and yes they really look like they could do some real damage on the battlefield. I recently purchased the set 3316 kinght with the cannon and to my dismay realised the cannon itself was a lame duck :(.
It looks like the cannon itself can be unassembled, but i haven't tried it yet.
Have you come up with a solution to this problem. ???
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Richard

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Re: CATAPULTS that SHOOT !!!
« Reply #8 on: October 17, 2006, 05:25:29 PM »

Quote from: Grant on October 17, 2006, 04:43:14 PM
... I recently purchased the set 3316 kinght with the cannon and to my dismay realised the cannon itself was a lame duck :(.
It looks like the cannon itself can be unassembled, but i haven't tried it yet.
Have you come up with a solution to this problem. ???

Hello, Grant ...

First ... I really like your new avatar!

And, now to address your question ...

Playmobil cannon originally contained internal firing springs. However, the new Big Bertha mortars now have the firing springs sealed inside the cannon balls themselves. And, none of us here at GW have disassembled any of these spring-loaded cannon balls. At least not yet ... ;)

It is indeed a pretty sorry state of affars when an ancient catapult can outshoot a Big Bertha mortar !!! Hopefully, someone will come up with an easy retrofit for these "lame duck" cannon.

All the best,
Richard




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Grant

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Re: CATAPULTS that SHOOT !!!
« Reply #9 on: October 18, 2006, 06:24:39 AM »
Thanks for your thought on that Richard maybe that will give me something to do in the next couple of days ;D. I also like your new avatar as well :). Still haven't mastered my digital camera.
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GaiusIulius

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Re: CATAPULTS that SHOOT !!!
« Reply #10 on: October 18, 2006, 02:52:48 PM »
nice describtion and photos Richard  :D Do u have an idea for the Roman scorpians as well, cuz they absolutly dont shoot a single meter.... ???
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Grant

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Re: CATAPULTS that SHOOT !!!
« Reply #11 on: October 18, 2006, 05:27:18 PM »
Hello Richard well i disassembled the knight's cannon and pirate's cannon and the mechanism's inside of both cannon's are the same. So i took the spring from the pirate cannon and added it to the knight's cannon and turned it into a powerful instrument of war on the playmo battlefield ;). I hope this can be helpful to other members on the forum.  :)
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"It's the soldiers who win the war, while the Generals take the credit"
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Grant

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Re: CATAPULTS that SHOOT !!!
« Reply #12 on: October 18, 2006, 06:39:11 PM »
I also took the liberty of taking BERTHA apart. To my suprise there isn't a spring in the firing mechanism. The spring itself is in the cannonball :o. Hope this was also helpful  ;D.
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"It's the soldiers who win the war, while the Generals take the credit"
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Jimbo

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Re: CATAPULTS that SHOOT !!!
« Reply #13 on: October 19, 2006, 12:47:46 AM »
Hi Richard, and Grant.

Check out Big Big Bertha on this site.  I took a cannonball apart, installed a stronger spring, and it shoots mighty fine! ;D

Have a blast!

Jimbo
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Richard

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Re: CATAPULTS that SHOOT !!!
« Reply #14 on: October 19, 2006, 01:21:36 PM »

Thanks, Jimbo !!!

That's pretty bad when I can't remember back to July ...

Please click HERE for Jimbo's excellent Big Bertha retrofit!

Thanks again, Jimbo, and all the best ,
Richard

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