Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Ready for some action!




I have newfound respect for cart makers.

I had underestimated how much work it is to make a simple, minimalistic carriage. Fitting the axis into the antique wheels was hard to begin with. Making the hub was not easy, too - especially adjusting the distances.

Then, I found that the forces on the wheels when you try to turn the cannon to the left or right are tremendous. After all, the axis is fixed and the wheels do not turn individually. I had to make a solid fitting from flat steel just to solve that issue.

The whole thing shoots very well, and reloading is fast and easy. But it does look a bit spindly, really. But I assure you it is quite heavy, probably over 100 kg.

Film team tomorrow, and then off to Tobias's farm on Friday. Will see if we can make the cannon a bit better looking. The spindly look is unacceptable.

95 comments:

  1. I think it will be maximum carnage from a minimalistic appearance. Well done, Joerg! Of course it can be spiffed up considerably, but now we can see the whole concept and appreciate it in it's completeness. Man, I'd give a dollar (or a euro, whichever is greater) if you would let me pull the trigger just one time! :) Now just watch everyone try to outbid me! :)

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  2. then Ill give 100euro if you let me pull the trigger
    100E 1
    100E 2
    100E 3
    SOLD
    THATS AWESOME

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  4. To make it look more impressive, one could add decorative triangular bracing along the back of the carriage (pivot point to middle of the lower posts) or x-shaped bracing from the pivot points to the axle. Paint (surely in the works) would add a great deal. A black carriage with a brightly colored sling-cannon would look pretty impressive. Maybe even alternating black/color on the wheel spokes. Have you thought about a sighting mechanism? A bar with tick marks parallel to the elevation rope would be a simple solution.

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  5. Just hang some deer leather from both sides down and paint it black! Then you rdy to take over a castle or something :P

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  6. Cool! looks good!
    I'm looking forward to!

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  7. Deer leather is a gread idea from howard... finsih it up with some deer antler on top of the round "muzzle" to pierce enemy that comes to close :P

    great work and craftsmanship

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  8. The cannon is GREAT! I am very anxious to see video of its performance.

    You could decorate it with a fierce visage, sort of like a Viking ship ... or perhaps an Oriental dragon motif.

    Cheers ...... CharlesGMorgan

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  9. It's amazing how quickly you made this, you're a one man A-Team. A few braces on the uprights should take away the bare look and then it's ready to wreak havoc.

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  10. any argument is now invalid! that thing is the holy grail of the slingshot world, worship to Germany where the cannon lies.

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  11. Awesome man^^ looks damn great^^

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  12. Hallo Jörg,
    Hammergeil. Du hast doch bestimmt schon einen kleinen Test gemacht? Mich würde es jedenfalls gewaltig in den Fingern jucken, das Teil mal zu spannen und abzufeuern. Kugelfang vorausgesetzt.
    Hoffe es bleibt alles ganz und bin gespannt wie es weiter geht. Viel Glück und FEUER FREI !!!!!
    Viele Grüße aus dem Hunsrück

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  13. Na klar habe ich schon getestet... aber noch ist der Tag des Videos nicht gekommen. Wartet, wartet noch ein Weilchen...

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  14. What is really nice is that this thing has a "control stance". You can wind it up with the crank handle to your right, adjust the height with the rope, fire it with the trigger in front of you, and release the sled for reloading - all without making a single step.

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  15. if you feel it is too spindly add a bayonet lol, while I'm used to seeing heavy metal on howitzers the minimalist look of it is interesting...

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  16. That thing looks amazing! ive been looking foward to the video for a while!
    cant wait to see things get shot :D

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  17. that is amazing have you tested it yet

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  18. Nicht schlecht was ich hier so auf der Seite sehe, denke ich werde mir auch mal eine Schleuder kaufen oder selber bauen.

    Not bad what I see here, I think I will build my own slingshot too, or buy one.

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  19. I could see you making an awesome pumpkin chunking machine.

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  20. Hey after this are you going to make one bigger and better and badder?!? This looks awesome..... LETS MAKE EVEN BIGGER NEXT TIME! lol

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  21. i would like to get one of your slingshots cuz they look really cool

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  22. You might want some more supports it looks shakey.

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  23. I just bought a new house at the ripe age of 33 and after years(since my early teens) of being obsessed with slingshots and unable to use one... I am itching to try one out in my back yard!

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  24. If only they had this cannon years ago...

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  25. This would be great in a Mad Max film!

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  26. Rolf( aus Kleinvillars Keller)August 25, 2011 at 8:40 AM

    Hello,
    does the canon roll back when you fire, or is it heavy enough to stand still?

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  27. I'm looking forward to this slingshot. Can't be any better.

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  28. Yellow :)
    The film please, or didn’t happened ;) I know, I know. Will wait…
    With this wheel on the front looks like a futuristic microwave emitter :)
    Cheers
    Rafal

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  29. i think it is looking great so far, some improvements on the looks will be even greater, if thats what your doing since i don't read well.
    be sure to make a video when you're at tobias place!
    Daniel

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  30. Wow, this is looking amazing. And very powerful.

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  31. Looks great, maybe ad a amo holder in the part that holds it on the ground for the looks ,like 5 or 6 of those balls you have :) Make it bit heavy but would look good i think.

    O and offcourse a beercanholder just for cheering after a shot ;)

    All the best.

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  32. Wicked, can't wait for shooting action!

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  33. I read the "Obsessed" article about you in Wired Magazine, watched all your videos this morning, and wound up here. Totally impressive! Thanks!

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  34. Oh that's great! You've actually started building this! I appreciate your love for the slingshot and keep up the innovation!

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  35. This is awesome! Gives me an idea for something made from square aluminum tubing ... attached to my bicycle trailer!

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  36. this is great! I can`t wait to see it in action.

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  37. the feeling that the balance will shift forward too. may need some goods on the back for shooting accuracy

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  38. Well Joerg, i suppose that your next creation will be something that propell human being onto Moon, right?:) Ultimate Guinness record!!!
    How many meters of rubber would be needed for such thing?!? 0o

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  39. O yea, and i would be delighted to se shuriken-theraband-launcher with rechargeable magazine, laser pointer and some sort of cranking devise..That would be awesome!!!:)
    Cheerz!

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  40. This is exciting but one question: What is the weight distribution over the wheels, that is, the percent of weight in front versus in back of the wheels?

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  41. Myself and my girlfriend both said the same thing when we saw the completed pictures: Wow!

    I'll bet you're excited?

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  42. I think that you will fire it at least five times before the filming, just or the sake of it!
    Would my suspicions be correct, Jörg?

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  43. even at that state it's quite awesome and imposing, but I think 100kg is a problem, maybe if 2 people were to move it then it'll be all right

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  44. xD you shoul paint that so it will look badass

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  45. Hi,
    bin durch Zufall, in youtube über Deine Videos gestolpert.
    Wollte Dir hier ein Kompliment aussprechen.
    Ich finde Du machst sehr sehr schöne handwerkliche Arbeit, man sieht auch eine richtige Entwicklung, echt toll.
    Kommst auch sehr sympathisch in den Videos rüber :)

    Ich habe aber auch ein paar Fragen:
    Schleudern...generell...ich war in meiner Jugend im Schießverein und habe selbst eine Waffenbesitzkarte und meine mich zu erinnern das die Dinger Waffenscheinpflichtig sind.
    Was ist wenn man mit sowas in der Tasche erwischt wird?
    Ist Dir schonmal ein Gummi am Wurfarm gerissen? Es sieht teilweise nach extremen Kräften aus die Du da aufbaust und das direkt an den Augen vorbei..wenn da das Gummi vorn reißt...ich glaube ohne so eine Brille sollte man die Schleudern nicht benutzen oder?
    Die Stahlkugeln sehen nach normalen Kugellagerkugeln aus, woher bekommst Du die Bleikugeln?
    Einige, z.B. das W Design sehen wirklich so aus als könnte sich ein ungeübter in den Handrücken schießen...ist das schonmal passiert?
    Ich sehe den Vorteil von den Kugelgelagerten und damit selbstzentrierenden Griffen, aber was ich cool fände wäre ein Griff zum aufschrauben und dann die Munition da drin...*hust* fertigst Du auch auf Bestellung? :D

    Viele Grüße

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  46. Are you going out of the slingshot business? What do you plan on doing next?

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  47. I am a big fan of yours and i am advertising your videos to all my friends here in Brazil. Stay Well man,,btw i want a slingshot so badly...xD

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  48. I cant wait to see this thing fire!

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  49. Looks great, I bet its a very fun "toy"

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  50. It's known you're not a veggies guy and like your red meat, but if you see a loose cow on your firing range, don't shoot! It could be Yvonne, my favorite German cow of the moment. :)

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  51. Nice work! Still waiting eagerly! And entering for one of those great slings of coarse.

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  52. Hmm, maybe after this try a bowling ball lol.

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  53. I wish I found out about your YouTube Channel and your blog sooner, but I am sure glad I did.

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  54. OMG ... Tobias Farm is in South Africa, I guess? Godd luck with this real elephant-hunter-slingshot! ;)

    I would be so glad to see a very detailed video about it shooting and the construction details... perhaps with some photos in the video, where you tell us the details?

    Waht filmteam, where will we see the film itself?

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  55. Hi, Joerg, just a suggestion, but try adding an ''under barrel'', which is a large half tube (wood) to accommodate for the empty space on the bottom of the current barrel. After, Make the sticks that are holding it up, to wide wooden pieces. Finally, paint, laminate, or maybe even wrap leather around it. Hope this helps!

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  56. Moin Jörg,

    hab gestern deinen auftritt bei galileo gesehen. Lustige sache da. Aber das ding hier wird ja richtig der hammer werden. Hoffe du machst bald ein paar nette videos wie du das auto damit zerlegst.

    Freu mich schon drauf.
    Gruß
    Sven

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  57. Did you use some bearings for the sled?

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  58. you should make a metal version next

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  59. todays the day fire one Good Luck Jorg

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  60. Fire Mission day! Good luck, Joerg!

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  61. awesome cant wait to see that in action

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  62. Just read about you in Wired Magazine. Then I checked out your Youtube channel. Saw the video where you were contemplating building the cannon. And now here it is! Fantastic! What fun you must be having.

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  63. I'm surprised the military hasn't taken a greater interest in your... interest. That thing is epic!

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  64. OMG i'm so excited to see this in action!

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  65. Are there any rules for the slingshot drawing?

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  66. I hope when I'm older I get to make cool things like you do.

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  67. What is your sighting mechanism, most artillary pieces would have a vernier scale sight for adjusting for both elevation (range) and deflection (wind)

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  68. Viel Spaß beim Auto zerstören! Ist das so richtig wenn ich mich hier beim give away einschreiben will?
    Viel Spaß?

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  69. Just watched the video of it firing! coolest thing ever!!! I cant wait for the september 4th drawing, thats my 18th birthday! :)

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  70. I was just amazed at you crushing a car with that thing, Never stop doing this, ever.

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  71. that was amazing when you shot the car with the sling canon. awesome job keep making those cool slingshots.

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  72. I just watched the video of the car being man-handled. Great way to close doors, that's for sure! The slow motion really adds to the thrill.

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  73. This is just a Dream for grwon Children :) i love it... :) can you make one für huge arrows? :) would be interesting.

    abunator

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  74. This was one of my favorite sling shots! So good! I really like your videos. I saw this great camera online and wanted to share it with you. You have a lot of very cool slow motion shots in your videos and if you have some extra cash maybe this would be in order. Or at least on your wish list. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRo-L9zYf-M

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