3 medieval war machines: Catapult, Springald, Ballistaworking models (a construction set) 335/340/351
Contents:
·1 springald, 9 bolts, 1 carriage, 11 miniatures of a crew
·1 catapult, 2 stones, 12 miniatures of a crew
·1 ballista, 6 bolts, 12 miniatures of a crew, 3 siege shields
Age: 8+
Size of each box:10\"x7\"x1\" (26x18x2 cm)
Size assembled: the catapult (8\"x2 1/2\"x 7\" (19x6x17 cm)), the springald (5\"x6\"x4 1/2\" (11.5x14x10.5 cm)), the ballista (6 1/2\"x6\"x4\" (14.5x8.5x15.5 cm))
Complexity: easy to medium
This set includes working models of 3 different mechanical artillery devices those were invented for medieval wars, especially for sieging and holding fortresses.
The first one isa catapultinvented byLeonardo da Vinci who created many machines those forestalled their time. 500 years ago he was developing a lot of weapons especially offensive ones. This catapult with a winch is a perfect sample of his work, it’s a real masterpiece.
Then there isa springald(a.k.a. an espringal, a bricole, a scorpio) thatis akind of a catapultfor throwing large bolts. First it wasdepicted in diagram in an 11th-century Byzantine manuscript, but in Western Europe is more evident in the late 12th century and early 13thcentury.It would have been ideally suited to operate in a defensive role, firing bolts through holes or slits in battlements at close range at an attacking enemy.
And the third one isa ballista– a war machine known from Ancient Greece till fire weapon invention.To throw bolts it used two leverswith torsionsprings consisting of several loops of twisted skeins.These skeins were made of livestock veins, horsehair or even of ladies’ locks.
The models made of cardboard (1.5 mm thick) reproduce their real prototypes faithfully. Cool that they are working models: while real catapults and springalds used flexure of wooden planks these models use flexure of plastic planks wrapped in paper. In the ballista the system of intertwisted cords works like the skeins producing proper tension to launch bolts.
As a result you can launch 3 bolts at once at 6-7 feet (the springald) or 1 heavy bolt at 9 feet (the ballista) or a small stone at 8 feet (the catapult)! And note that there is an elevating mechanism in the ballista and a traversing-elevating mechanism in the springald: you can handle aiming right and left or up and down.
The assembling is easy, clean and safe: you need no glue, no knife or scissors.
Bonus:
-the set includes 35 miniatures of soldiers made of thick flat cardboard. They can be used as crews or as enemy troops – a good target for your bolts and stones!
-there is a small carriage for spare bolts
-there are 3 siege shields to cover soldiers and weapons from enemy fire
This set is good for your collection if you gather miniatures of old-time military hardware. Or it could be a nice gift if a friend of yours does.
Of course you can use these models in any wargame you like.While there are different models of houses, fortresses, castles etc in this series by UmBum, you can create an interesting scene combining the machines, old-time buildings and other details of terrain.
