During ancient times, catapults were used to destroy large structures such as castle walls and fortresses. Those huge contraptions were made from oak, giving them the power to hurl boulders over great distances. Today, catapults have shrunk considerably. They come as handheld versions of their huge ancestors. They are often created as toys for kids and young adults.

How a Modern-Day Catapult Works

A modern-day catapult can’t really destroy structures but a direct hit can seriously injure humans and animals. A stone is loaded on the sling or launcher, which is stretched by the user. When the user releases his hold on the launcher, the stone is flung at great speeds, crashing against anyone or anything that’s in its way. Such a toy must be used with caution because of the damage that it can inflict.

Three Ways to Construct a Catapult

You have three ways to create a catapult. You can create a mini representation of the catapults used during ancient times or a chopstick-based pyramid with a plastic cup launcher. Another option is to make a Lego version of the catapult, which is better for kids since it is not as harmful as the other two.

• chopstick catapult
• dowel catapult
• Lego catapult

All three options are simple to make. In fact, many kids can learn how to construct a mini catapult on their own.

The Chopstick Catapult

The chopstick catapult is simple to create. All you need to do is connect six chopsticks together with rubber bands to form the base and the bow. Its lightweight frame makes the contraption easy to carry.

Materials Used:

• 6 chopsticks
• 10 – 12 rubber bands
• pen
• plastic cup

Procedure:

Fire the chopstick catapult by loading a small item inside the cup. Just pull the loaded cup back and it will fire your chosen projectile. Consider adding more rubber bands if you feel that the base is not strong enough to support the catapult.

The Dowel Catapult

The dowel catapult is sturdy and compact. Its heavy base lets it fire heavier ammunition than its chopstick counterpart. Its launcher also uses a plastic cup that is hinged on a rubber band attached to a couple of wooden blocks. Making this catapult may take you some time to finish, but with its cool appearance, your efforts will be all worth it.

Materials Used:

• 1 heavy wooden block (or box)
• 2 wooden blocks (1 x 4 inches)
• power drill
• dowels (large and small)
• plastic yogurt container
• 2 hook screws
• 2 rubber bands
• wood glue
• handsaw
• hammer
• nails
• screws
• screwdriver

Procedure:

If constructed correctly, the dowel catapult owns the most powerful launcher among the three catapult types. You must never point a loaded catapult at your friends or loved ones. A hit on any sensitive part of the body will hurt them, or worse, land them in a hospital.

Lego Catapult

The Lego catapult is entirely based on the Lego structure that you will create. Its size and launching power varies, depending on the features of the Lego launcher. This catapult is your cheapest option since Lego is sold at low prices and you probably even already have some at home. If you want to minimize your production cost, you can go for the cheap Logo imitations sold at low-end toy stores.

Materials Used:

• Lego set
• Lego wheels
• rubber bands

Procedure:

The Lego catapult, being highly customizable, is relatively safe for kids. You can tweak its launching power to a safe level before teaching your kids how to construct the cool toy.

The catapult is a fun toy to create and play with. Many deviations have been created from the three basic catapult types. You can probably cook up your own catapult deviation once you master all three catapults. The secret to making a catapult is to know how the launcher works. You can always pull up any heavy item as the base of your creation.

While you may enjoy crafting your very own catapult, you may want to build a miniature version of a trebuchet as well. It’s easy to make as long as you have the luxury of time.

Watch The Video

Making A Catapult

Creating A Powerful Lego Catapult