Launching my 1,000-lb Medieval Trebuchet by Myself

Watch this new edit instead, which has a full-speed ending: • Launching my 1,000lb M...
Update, April 2020: I realize the slow-motion at the end is not ideal. There are full-speed clips and more angles of this machine in action in the sequel video: • Medieval Trebuchet Lau...
Approximately 1,000lbs in the counterweight box, in the form of (20) 50-lb sandbags, plus whatever the box weighs empty (later confirmed to be 465 lbs). Launched a 16-lb bowling ball 540 feet. The shot went high -- I'm still working on tuning with the wooden horn and the netted sling. Loading the machine is a LOT of work, and it's scary by yourself. I don't think I will do it solo again, and definitely not at any higher weights. The machine is ready to be tested at higher weights.

[@MedievalTrebuchet]

Before anyone complains about the slow-motion ending, watch the new edit instead: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jZWuhntrbZmgqLs

[@thisisstupidanddumb]

Thank You!

[@GB-yt9sn]

I like the slow Mo ending 👍. If you're watching and you don't just increase the playback speed in the settings

[@darlulittledeer3738]

I liked the slow motion ending. Thought it gave a bit of drama! Beautiful piece of work BTW

[@guillaumebru3514]

thanks for this side view and the slow motion it will help me a lot cause I am planing to do an animated 3D model of a trebuchet =)

[@hypothalapotamus5293]

But... Commenting on the slow motion ending had so much potential. Example- "Call PETA. This guy compacted a cow into a ball and it's still screaming."

[@grzegorzkowalski5100]

Now you have fifteen seconds to move your trebuchet away to avoid counter-battery fire.

[@leosolorzano3472]

@Grzegorz Kowalski I get the reference XD

[@hiimryan2388]

@@leosolorzano3472 now get your foot soldiers to protect the trebuchet

[@thetankhunter100]

?

[@eduardoa3165]

aoe 2

[@ПаблоЭскобар-ц4ж]

Ахахаха

[@manuelgnucci7760]

4:35 imagine if by mistake the mechanism started at this point, sending this poor man to the clouds.

[@goshkoebacha1594]

*YEET*

[@zzzires5045]

that moment be became she

[@christianolsson1680]

Funny! And I have to say that that camera angle with the background and the car to the side is amazing!

[@Fuzzybeanerizer]

Not just that, either! OSHA is still poring over satellite imagery, searching for this man.

[@xhappybunnyx]

That would be the world's worst nut-shot

[@AggelosKyriou]

The creaking sound is intimidating in itself!

[@viciousKev]

Let loose the dogs of war

[@AggelosKyriou]

@@viciousKev SCREAM HAVOC!

[@mercilessthunder9326]

yeah if you plan to make a medieval siege film don’t you dare leave out that thunderous groan right 😂

[@HollowPs]

The superior siege weapon

[@AgentMolder]

Capable of launching a 95kg projectile 300 meters. Truly superior in every sense of the word.

[@HollowPs]

AsiaNPC I feel if it was 90kg I could launch it over 300 meters.

[@sp3ss]

Your talking about during the medevil and not modern right?

[@Rayven_420]

You do realise that catapults are capable of sending objects as heavy as fighter jets into the air, right?

[@sp3ss]

Rayven Let him live in his fantasy

[@kilobitti]

The simplicity of the mechanics is admirable. No trickery, no added power - just preserving the energy of a his labour (I’m guessing an hour’s worth?), and releasing it all in a second.

[@Acroballistics]

I like that you operate it alone. I didn't expect that. 1000lbs hanging over your head hmmm, at least you wear a safety t-shirt...

[@donaldmack2307]

Acroballistics Jorge Sprave was here. Lol

[@justgameshorts9709]

lol

[@definitelynotyourmom42]

The safety t-shirt reminds the trebuchet not to drop anything on him

[@peter2213]

He was also doing his safety squints as needed

[@fo3369]

Goals of life: my own trebuchet

[@hiimryan2388]

I will kowtow down if you do

[@lild3838]

When the holyland called but you the only believer...

[@lukeethanboswell6338]

Relatable

[@RayStein]

That is incredible! Well done. Trebuchets don't get enough respect these days.

[@Mrwigglyau]

likely because people think catapults where real

[@hiimryan2388]

I mean we have THIC cannons now

[@Daylon91]

Idk man Kingdom of Heaven and Outlaw King with Werewolf (a historical trebuchete) displays them awesomely

[@HFDLI]

Trebuchets lost respect in 1453

[@RD-mc5gl]

@@HFDLI What a sad year for my greco boys :(

[@mhammamabid2275]

Very usefull to get rid of bodies. "This body here looks like it fell from 5 story building." "Someone must launch it using a trebuchet" Like that ever happen

[@erlint]

This guy fell from a 5 story building in the middle of an open plain? Put skydiver gear on him and maybe that will work.

[@anthonylomasney7347]

I read the title as “launching myself out of catapult” and instantly clicked

[@gothmoth3689]

How dare you compare a catapult to a trebuchet

[@tf1090c]

Amazing, well done mate! But I really would like to see some different angles and at normal playback speed (before the slow motion, of course)

[@MedievalTrebuchet]

Check out the sequel video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/ooqroaOCnrNjo9U

[@stefanhopfer3905]

Beautiful work - thank you! It would be nice if we could see the trajectory and the impact in the next video. Tip 1: Use a pulley for tensioning; tip 2: never stay under or in front of potential power (weights, arms, slings...).

[@akshayherur6963]

Brilliant man. It's a pity you have so few subscribers.

[@SIRMMA]

I am imagining him using this in Arizona in a "stand your ground" shooting incident

[@77gravity]

I think the sling is a little long, the arm stalls while the missile is still behind the arm. That will also reduce the angle of the shot (going "high") Nice machine. Subscribed.

[@FingerAngle]

Sounds like you may know a little something. It's pretty close.

[@FingerAngle]

Remember your view is from the ground. The release is about 50 feet up. The launch angle is lower than it looks. Camera lenses also distort at the edges. It does look a bit behind for a 40 to 45 degree launch.

[@borisjohnson1944]

When it launched I thought the same. I have a small Treb and a small FAT.

[@Dr.Gunsmith]

This literally gave me a anxiety attack 😂

[@curtiscrimmins6378]

just imagine me in the background yelling "wew doggy" in a jed clampett hat with a beer in my hand...

[@kxzi3413]

The mountains in the background has a beautiful view

[@sirennoir258]

I don't understand how a man with his own trebuchet isn't top on my recommendations

[@bjorremeijer2072]

Big pp

[@hiimryan2388]

And one thic ball

[@FingerAngle]

lol

[@SOLDADITO76]

I would so build one of these on my property. A hand winch will help you spool it up at the end.

[@thewierdlemon5956]

Make a smaller scale one so far I've made 2 its really fun you can even setup a castle and destroy it

[@Kruelltin]

Watch out for the plane! also...I'm just gonna throw it out there that standing underneath a 1000 pound counterweight, is probably not the best idea...

[@mikebower4582]

He has faith in his craftsmanship.

[@philgamer_309]

the place where you used this looks like a possible battlefield lol

[@MasterKenfucius]

"Get a hobby..." they said... "It'll be fun..." they said... and now this.

[@TheMrWillje]

This is seriously impressive.

[@hakimcameldriver]

There use to be a program called WINTREB, YOU built your treb and fired it. Changed the power, angles or release, you could put objects into orbit.. a fun program

[@doubledrats235]

I played with that before 2008 when I went Mac. I wish there was a MACOS or IOS version.

[@uwuboo2022]

This the type of guy to launch his 1,000-lb medieval trebuchet by himself.

[@feraltrafficcone4483]

I know for a goddamn fact that I wasn’t the only one that was expecting it to spontaneously break

[@metocvideo]

I am reminded of the “Zealots” scene in Monty Python, where they are arguing about who gets to be flung out of the catapult with burning pitch...

[@ludwigsamereier8204]

Thank you for this educational and beautiful movie. It makes me try to understand how potential becomes inertial energy in a matter of seconds. Any teacher of physics would be delighted.

[@therickpound]

Nice design & thinking for effective solo operation, they would have liked its lightweight simplicity.

[@thomassmith7432]

Launching by yourself because your friends took one look and said, "nope!"

[@WordsOfLastDays]

The man built a trebuchet. He needs no friends.

[@lfeco]

A 30 second video that's drags on for 6 minutes.

[@immorom]

"He is probably cheating right there" Meanwhile him:

[@hiimryan2388]

Imagain the faces of the people who thought the boulder was a shooting star.

[@kevinburns827]

I'm going to build one like this to launch squirrels.

[@samuellourenco1050]

A Trebuchet is a better design than a catapult. It uses gravity instead of elastic energy. Simpler and much less wear and tear.

[@johnmartlew5897]

Back story: Head of Mara Lago Security: “All units! We just had a rock come through the roof……Uh, shit! Screw that election bid.”

[@greencommando2674]

Finally 11:06 pm Sunday 17 January 2021 . Found interesting channel. I will subcribe

[@EugeneHKrabs-ie1lc]

I thought it said launching my self in the 1000 lb trebuchet

[@RedVRCC]

Amazing work on it! Is it just stuck there or is there a way to move it somewhere else for storage? Also how long did it take you to build it?

[@jollygreenjeff2640]

Bruh imagine just driving down the road and then a singular small rock fucking destroys your car

[@Ridgerunner-qi1xz]

Cool Trebuchet. The original "Lever Action". For some reason as I was watching this, I kept expecting the Road Runner to go zipping by. "Beep Beep!"

[@vicentcarro]

I, admire your skills!

[@FortInTheWoods]

Where did you get your metal ratcheting device on the sides of your crank?

[@MedievalTrebuchet]

I had a friend 3-d model the gear and pawl and then we had it cut out on a machine on campus. The side brackets are just plates welded on.

[@radinelaj9280]

You should use it as amusement. You should build it near the sea( at sea shore ),the person who will be launched , will fall into water ,so there is no risk any more

[@Ant0417]

Really cool! But would've loved to see it in regular motion speed as well. Also more angles to see how far the ball went.

[@Daylon91]

Now if you were to put wheels on your trebuchete you would increase the range and momentum like what the Arab engineers found out.

[@thomasskinner240]

That's fantastic. I'd love to make one of those one day. I'm sure you already know but if not you might want to shorten that sling a bit it wants to reach vertical at the same time as the arm to get the most out of it.

[@metocvideo]

I watched the other edit as well. Imagine the psychological effect of that wierd spooky shrieking sound had on the besieged castle defenders...?

[@y4nsp4cem4n]

The WMD of it's day.

[@paradiseroad6405]

...I thought you meant 1000 pound projectile...I said...hold my beer...I gotta see this...

[@photonictech923]

Amazing.

[@rthgtrgaehgq4502]

NEURCHI DE TRÉBUCHET

[@Migillis]

And now my 3 year old knows what a trebuchet is. Still don't know if I'm pronouncing it correctly but nice work man. As a redhead, I instantly sympathize with the low cloud coverage and the hat you're wearing.

[@WordsOfLastDays]

Spends months to build a giant medieval weapon. Forgets to set up a second camera. I guess we'll never know how far that thing went....

[@MedievalTrebuchet]

I didn't *forget* to set up a second camera. I don't *own* a second camera. I'm basically your average broke college student and this was an over-ambitious senior project. Back in the day, the school literally slashed the budget I proposed for filming. I wanted the college media office to film it but they cost 80 bucks an hour and nobody was going to pay for it. The entire essence behind this video was that I was by myself because none of the other college volunteers could make it that day and I made the stupid decision to try launching it myself and wanted to film it in case I friggin died. I filmed all of this on my phone. The slow-motion serves to analyze the tuning of the machine (I was trying to tune it) and it's necessary to get a good side short and forgo the down-range view here. There is still no formal way to export slow-motion videos at full speed on a Google Pixel. I measured the impact here to 540 feet distance. That's in the video description. I'm sorry to be angry at you but something about this just set me off today. I've had a long week and I've been appalled at how many people comment on here, as the video gains popularity, and just bitch about my filmmaking and editing. It's like the KZbin audience is entitled and spoiled by high-quality stuff made by all the popular channels. I'm just a guy with a phone and a trebuchet and a dream. The very video I put out after right after this one has more camera angles and full-speed clips. But nobody looks at it because the thumbnail sucks and the title isn't as catchy and the video is too long. All that said, you have definitely hit a point here that is close to home. I am upset about how much I have failed to document this machine in writing and on video. It presents so much opportunity for good footage but I don't have the resources and the connections.

[@WordsOfLastDays]

@@MedievalTrebuchet I apologize, didn't mean to come off as a smart ass. It's just disappointing because you built something so cool and didn't show the most important thing. I'm just as broke as you are probably. Wish you just borrowed someone else's phone for an hour or so. Anyway, thanks for sharing your work! I respect people that create things.

[@bigdfig6083]

@@MedievalTrebuchet No need for apologies, friendo. You're right about the vapid audience here and beyond, but not sure how much headway will be made responding in kind. Frankly, the school failed you and the only failure I see on your part was not taking your own safety seriously enough. Even dragging grandma out there with her phone (for that second angle) would've been some insurance. But hey, you do you. Awesome Dawesome, I'm off to check out your other clip.

[@rafavizuetecastro]

I don't know why but this is so satisfying

[@Dav624]

Primitive yeet device

[@JimNichols]

Wouldn't it be easier to launch projectiles using the trebuchet, rather that launching the trebuchet itself as the title suggests?

[@johnnyparker9928]

Fires 1 round an hour. Sad this guy doesn't have a team of students and friends to share this moment.

[@olafschermann1592]

Awesome work!

[@fredoriagaming4466]

Now the trebuchet has been turned into a meme.

[@BangArdi86]

Strong man...

[@synthoelectro]

Trebuchet ready, Sir!

[@roe2012]

This man deserve more

[@green76vett]

Thats badass. I need 5

[@Melonaru25]

Image the projectile hits a building and destroys it

[@dodojack1045]

What's the point... Where did the projectile end up...???

[@hunterhobbs4374]

Starting around the 6 minute mark all the way to the end, it sounded like Lord of the Rings Ents crying in pain from all the trees cut down to make that thing. The release was beautiful by the way, couldn’t have been better. Puts my trebuchet to shame.

[@heyubob7559]

Do u have coffee table version? I love it

[@cherryscarlett]

_something like this is too 'long range' to be useful in defense of your camp, its design is a very large war slingshot but fired by heavy weights pulling it down, using centrifugal force centered around the main, pyramidal 'double ladder' shaped frame_

[@azzhh1282]

what a beautiful backround, in this video i only watched those massive mountain range

[@MrHedgefrog]

Can you buy these on E-bay?

[@MedievalTrebuchet]

I don't think so, but if you want a trebuchet that is a bit smaller these ones are for sale: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z5qWpap4o9Oaqq8

[@beakboi9533]

My ancestors are smiling at me, imperials. Can you say the same?

[@thedisappearingboy]

This is incredible!!

[@nicholaskazantzidis]

What a cool video

[@gregkral4467]

irhgt on dude, the people may need to start using these again...

[@debbiramsey4603]

At 7 minutes I just turned it off. But it is really neat.

[@hyperspacejester7377]

That landscape is awesome... where is this?

[@Goat04]

Can’t say for sure, but it looks an awful lot like Central Utah.

[@jcspc777]

Dude, Is that the Bridgers in the background?

[@caztoons1618]

5:49 I bet the scientists thought this was a mating call of a new gigantic creature

[@luckyluke1423]

i guess you’ve been an big age of empire fan 😀

[@MarkTyner-e8g]

Which way did it go which way did it go ?

[@ivanjednobiegowiec7656]

Best, Toy, EVER!!! Cheers! I.

[@cqazyfn7]

This guy should have 1000000 subs

[@WhereWhatHuh]

So, what's the sustained rate of fire? (just kidding, put down that arbalest...)

[@garybenninger1544]

Def think it was unwise to get under the 1000 lb of rock to set the projectile. That couldn't be done first?

[@MedievalTrebuchet]

You are right -- I've gotten a lot of flak for walking under the box and it was kind of reckless. At this scale of trebuchet, I can load the sling by reaching from the side of the machine with just my arms into the trough, and it is best to expose less of yourself to danger if the box falls. But it's just the nature of a trebuchet really that this can only be done after the box is in the air. One end of the sling stays attached to the tip of the arm, so after a throw, the sling is dangling up high until it can be brought down and laid in the trough to be loaded. With really large machines, there is basically no choice but to get under the box to load things. In the NOVA Secrets of Lost Empires Medieval Siege, the crew have to roll a 300lb rock right up the trough while the box is in the air. It's important to have safeties and redundancies. Here, while I am loading, the windlass pawls are still engaged, and the trigger attached with a cotter pin in the latch, and the arm has an extra rope hooked around it with carabiners. All of these systems are rated for the forces and the ropes here are oversized. If the box was going to drop on me, the wood of the throwing arm itself would have to snap, or all three of these systems would have to fail.

[@jhewes.5923]

What a view!

[@PeacesEnd]

SUUPPPERRR annoying that there was that big of a build up time just to play the release in slow motion.

[@acurt14]

You live the life I dream of

[@joshpoinsett1972]

Almost sounds like the horns of battle

[@altnarrative]

Skip to 5:44

[@bradb.4570]

Very nice! I would be so scared to load that thing under tension

[@ROFLitzSaur]

awesome video man, loved the shot at 4:45

[@nokuhobune]

Why did I read launching myself with a 1000lb trebuche

[@ultimatecrusader9907]

The weapon all medivial battle movies(I've seen so far)has

[@TheFormActually]

the only thing I've wondered is how far does it go.... never shown....

[@TheFormActually]

but it does in kzbin.info/www/bejne/jZWuhntrbZmgqLs

[@TheRaggadazar]

5:45 *angry cow noises*