Together with Centaur and Urofpersia, we're building a total of 8 identical Hudun Pao (Crouching Tiger Catapults) as table center pieces for a wedding banquet.

They stand approximately 5 inches high without the throwarm.

Your way of having an equivalent of the 21-gun salute ...?

Will these fire?

So you're going to put the banguet tables on siege ? Get the guests to load them with food and open a barrage of 'missiles' at each other ?


Nice job btw.

Wow, why are you making that much of them?

This gives a new meaning to the word "Food fight".

There was a competition idea between model siege weapons suggested by Jieming in the past.
These versions wouldn't be suitable, being the manpowered catapults (unless there are mouse lemurs willing to form teams)



If some mechanical tension versions were made would this enthusiasm transfer onto accuracy or target breaking competitions?

Weapons fit for xiaorenguo

I like the picture with all the bases arrayed on the table. That will make any ant think thrice before stealing your food, for sure.

Hehehe yes they would fire except that I'm not tying the final loops for the slings so that people can't actually load anything to fire during the wedding.

They would look rather nice I think once the woodstain is dried properly. I'll snap another photo tonight.

I'm sure there'd be other engineers attending an engineer's wedding who can fix that

Uhhh.... dangnammit! I forgot about that! Practically 1/2 the people coming will be engineers.....

Think hard ... what practical pranks have you played on them before ... especially during *their* weddings ...?


Okay, here's a possible solution - since an incomplete catapult would be irresistable to itchy-fingered engineers anyway, make it a contest among the guests to see who can complete the catapult to make it shoot its missile the furthest.

Non-engineers can also take part. If they need help, they can always buy a copy of "Chinese Siege Warfare :Mechanical Artillery & Siege Weapons of Antiquity - An Illustrated History" by Liang Jieming, available from the reception counter at a special price of S$50/-! (while stocks lasts)

The contest will be conducted after the poultry course is served - we need the heads for missiles.
*eeeek* okay, okay ... too gory for a wedding dinner, we'll let the guests improvise and choose their own missiles.

The guys from the winning team will get a kiss from the bride, the gals from the winning team will get a kiss from the groom, okay?

A hefty red packet is acceptable substitution for the kiss.

Heh heh, what fun, bet you're wishing it's not your own wedding, eh?

lovely.
Although I still wonder why you built weapons for a wedding. I don't mean offense, but doesn't that seem a little...... em...... ill omened ?

Ummm... of it should have my name on it...

The same way military weddings have sabre arches, coronations have gun salutes, and celebrations have exploding fireworks.

Besides, the main objections are to do with pointy sharp things that cut qi and harmony. Where's the pointy sharp part of a catapult?

Very nice. I may have to build a full scale one.

You should have sent me one with the book. Anyone who does not have his book should get it. It is great.

copdoc

Ummm, believe he did tried to build one full scale... but emmm, what would the Police say about that? I think you need permits for it and yes... got a book from him, still trying to finish it... and also locating the ancient chess set that he had illustrated in his book... found one set in Chengdu... but it is not for sale... in any case, doubt if LJM wants it, as it is too well worn and pretty used set.

Is the book available online to purchase? I'm interesting in making some artillery weapons to fire. I'm still working on the trebuchet that I am making with a few friends.

I think you can talk to LJM via PM, or see if his site has any ordering form.

Just one question.. what kinds of formation were these catapults deployed usually in a battle?

Were they organised in line or triangular array and simulatenously fire at a spot on the city wall?

They were used in various ways but the numbers were so small and the associated crew and logistics so large that 'formations' weren't used. You might have say six together facing a 200m length of wall in a big seige.

'simultanious fire' no.. but repeatedly hitting the same section was the aim. Repeatability was surprisingly good with beam catapults.