Our Machines

The Tennis Ball Trebuchet

This 3-foot tall trebuchet can shoot anything from a golf ball to a softball a good distance. It was the first real trebuchet anyone on the team built (circa 1999).

Medieval Postal Service

Team Urban Siege's first competition-scale trebuchet, Medieval Postal Service is a Floating Arm King Arthur (FAKA) trebuchet which can throw 8-10 pound pumpkins well over 1000 feet with a mere 600-800 pound counterweight!

Jeckyl and Hyde

Jeckyl and Hyde is a convertible trebuchet that can throw as either a King Arthur Trebuchet or a Whipper Trebuchet.

The Melon Felon

The Melon Felon was the first machine built by Team Urban Siege, built to throw small watermelons for a competition at RIT. Packing a 300-pound counterweight in a 4-foot frame, this little machine has some tremendous power.

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Disclaimer

All information found with this site or at other sites linked to from here is used at the sole risk of the user. Team Urban Siege and its members will be in no way responsible for any damage or injuries suffered from the use of this information.

Use "common sense" when operating trebuchets and catapults. Even little ones can be dangerous. Do not place anything you are not willing to lose in the plane of the arm rotation (this includes yourself, body parts, car windshields, cameras, etc). These catapults and trebuchets are capable of throwing just as far backwards as forwards, and the use of a backstop of some sort is recommended, though the use of one does not make the region behind it safe.

Also, just because the throw got away safely downrange does not mean the end of the danger. The arm is likely still swinging wildly along with the counterweight, and there is a sling whipping around. One thing many people fail to take into account is this sling; some people put a metal ring on the slip end of the sling and this ring can HURT when whipping around!

Have fun hurling, but please KEEP IT SAFE!!!