42 replies to this topic

[JoergS]

What would you guys think about a medieval-style crossbow (for shooting balls of course), operated with pretensed rubber instead of the hardened steel spring?

Something like this:


http://js-armbrust.c...is_Communis.gif

[harpersgrace]

Interesting idea. Will be looking forward to seeing what you come up with,

[shawnr5]

How about a curved bow on the front with the bands attached to the ends and going forward, around bearings, then back to the projectile. It would be like a compound slingshot.

[Nico]

What would you guys think about a medieval-style crossbow (for shooting balls of course), operated with pretensed rubber instead of the hardened steel spring?

Something like this:


http://js-armbrust.c...is_Communis.gif

I'd like to see that, I am very fascinated with and in search of working medieval style stone crossbows and this would be a cool alternative..

Nico

[NightKnight]

Would love to see it!

[Aras]

actually, I have made a crossbow like this out of lego's with rubber bands

[Simon Van den Broeck]

How about a curved bow on the front with the bands attached to the ends and going forward, around bearings, then back to the projectile. It would be like a compound slingshot.

Or maybe with arms that swing away from it , to give it more speed .

Simon

[shawnr5]

Simon, if you are thinking along the lines of a ballista, I don't think that you'd get enough stretch out of the bands . You would have to have awkwardly long extensions to get the tension necessary on the bands.

Edited by shawnr5, 11 June 2011 - 05:06 PM.

[shawnr5]

Thanks, Sean. My cave drawings are the result of MS Paint, not any sort of CAD. I have to finish the arrow-shooting slingbow I started several months ago before I even think of building something like this.

[Charles]

What would you guys think about a medieval-style crossbow (for shooting balls of course), operated with pretensed rubber instead of the hardened steel spring?

Something like this:


http://js-armbrust.c...is_Communis.gif

How would this differ from other crossbow slingshots you have built?



Cheers ...... Charles

[JoergS]

How would this differ from other crossbow slingshots you have built?

Shorter.
Wider fork (looks like a crossbow "prod").
Rubber is pre-stretched.
Release is a rotating "nut" like in a crossbow.
Long trigger (the "tickler").
Has a stirrup.
Looks like a medieval crossbow.

Enough differences?

Jörg

Edited by JoergS, 11 June 2011 - 09:41 PM.

[Daniel J]

i like the idea of u making a medieval crossbow, but it would be a lot more interesting if used the other idea for the forks in your video about the ballista thing on youtube. because it would be the first time i see one.

[NoSugarRob]

yep, i'd like to see it.

[Lizard_King]

I have allready made it ,,it was funcional but need more work ,,
I used prestreched rubber ,, And you can shot arrows and balls with it ,,
sorry I dont have orginal pictures ,, here is a mspaint scetch I made now ,,
Its very powerfull..
http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii189/metallmind/crosbow.jpg
Here is another Fast drawing pitcure ,,
it should look something like that ,,..
http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii189/metallmind/samostrel1.jpg

sorry I dont have orginal pitcures of my homemade crossbow with rubber bands ,
hope I could help

Edited by Black7, 12 June 2011 - 07:46 PM.

[Charles]

It will be interesting to see how it works out. The draw length is very short for a slingshot. The extra elongation of the bands from their front position to their rear position will be very little if the original "bow" arms have significant length. I do not think elastic bands are as "fast" as a bow, so my guess is that it will not have significant power unless the dimensions are changed significantly. But you never know until you try it!



Cheers ..... Charles

[Lizard_King]

It will be interesting to see how it works out. The draw length is very short for a slingshot. The extra elongation of the bands from their front position to their rear position will be very little if the original "bow" arms have significant length. I do not think elastic bands are as "fast" as a bow, so my guess is that it will not have significant power unless the dimensions are changed significantly. But you never know until you try it!



Cheers ..... Charles

That is a fast drawing , dont mind dimensions ,,and bad writeing .
The rubber band is prestreched . so you dont need much draw...
I shot with it comercial arrows for crossbow very fast, marbels , and steel balls .

[JoergS]

Black7, that is pretty much the idea.

I started the work on this new weapon, and have finished the lock and trigger part pretty much.

The starting point:



Turned the nut in the lathe, from beech:



Fitted it in the tiller. The hole is for resting the ball in place. I know now you will say "magnet", but I want to shoot lead from it, too.




Here is the trigger part, to be operated with the looong lever




Secured the nut with a side plate. The nut can take a lot of force.



Will have to attach the prod (fork) and then take care of the "beauty" part - should be shooting tonite.

EDIT: Charles, I did change the dimensions. Longer draw, more narrow prod. It won't be an exact replica. Functionality rules!

Still, the draw will be a lot shorter than on my other slingshot crossbows. It will be interesting to see how much the prestretching helps.

Jörg

Edited by JoergS, 12 June 2011 - 08:28 PM.

[Lizard_King]

Looking good ..
will you make a Rail that holds the ammo on right derection ? I made it on my crossbow , it's imposible to shot balls without it ..
here is comercial crossbow shotting balls
video

Edited by Black7, 12 June 2011 - 08:37 PM.

[JoergS]

No. Anything that touches the ammo in flight will reduce speed, potentially harm the rubber and reduce accuracy. The "fork" will be two inches high, so the ball will be lifted up in order to fly straight.

Medieval stone crossbows followed the same principle.

I will use a pouch just like on a normal slingshot. The rails are needed only when you use string. As I don't plan to shoot arrows, I don't need the string.

Jörg

Edited by JoergS, 12 June 2011 - 09:04 PM.