The Poet Creek Express - Foamie Hybrid

[KCStudly]

Thanks Michael. I'm also looking forward to your renewed progress!

We are getting pretty excited about the chunk. It is always an adventure! We are also looking forward to some of the improved features that we incorporated into the new trailer. We tried to resolve as many of the little nagging and labor intensive things that have been tedious in the past, so hopefully we will enjoy it even more!

[dales133]

That catapult is sweet as man.
Ive never seen anything like it.
Might have to kick the craze off down under

[KCStudly]

That catapult is sweet as man.
Ive never seen anything like it.
Might have to kick the craze off down under

That sounds good, but be warned, it takes an "army" (team) of "slaves" (hard work) to get it done. Also, make sure to respect the dangers of having that much power on hand. Failure is imminent when you push things to the limits. To quote Bob Carbo, father of the torsion diviison, "We're going to break something, either the machine or the record".

Anyone can play, tho, by starting small. Our team captain shows how on the main web page: http://www.siege-engine.com/ (look for the Engines of War list on the right hand side of the page). Just remember, even the small machines can pack a wallop.

I finished up the wiring today and Eric, with some help from Karl, got the decking screwed down. We got the big welder/generator (Miller Bobcat 25hp) loaded up on Eric's UT and went over what's left to do and pack. We would have gotten more done but it was wet and raining out.

[dales133]

Awsum.
Be sure to post a movie of it firing

[bonnie]

Ditto. And thank you for giving me such a fun sport to follow.


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[GPW]

A Sport with "Smashing Results “ !!! ...

[bonnie]

A Sport with "Smashing Results “ !!! ...

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[dales133]

[KCStudly]

Karl and I finished the final pack up on the ballista field kit, including about 600 lbs or so of tools in the bed of the truck (Dodge Ram diesel 3500 crew cab long bed with Jake brake and nifty bumper cam... makes hitching up a cinch). Took the rig out for a test drive including some surface roads and highway miles, and it towed like a champ. The street side hubs got noticeably warmer than the curb side ones, but never objectionable (perhaps brake bias due to the wimpy factory wires that cross over), tire temps were all good, just mildly warm in cool evening conditions, and she pulled straight and steady. I'll try to get some pics of the rig tomorrow while we're on the road and maybe one or two of setting the machine up.

Saturday we hurl gourds!

[Wolffarmer]

I have not checked in for a while. Busy with harvest stuff and re shingling the house. I see progress being made. And just in case anyone of you punkin chuckers have missed this.


Flaming piano going air express.

[Philip]

I have been watching the chunkin shows on cable for a few years. That event is on my wanted to do list.

[KCStudly]

Hadn't seen that one, randy. Thanks for sharing.

Phillip, welcome. Keep checking the Google+ link above^^^ for team up dates and come on down to DE for the big event next month. When we arrived on the field in NH today we found out that we have a shoe in for first place in the torsion division; we are the only machine in the category. All we have to do is get one shot off.

There are two fewer entrants this year here, just 18 compared to 20 last year, and unfortunately about three of them are youth division (smaller machines, 5 lb pumpkins), so even fewer big machines. That's okay though, as it is good to have newcomers getting into it, and we are still having fun. Kind of wish we were going to DE ourselves.

The trailer pulled great and we got mostly all the way set up before it got dark.

Eric's boys got some great still shots of us tipping the bundles up, all from the same perspective, that he turned into a sort of time lapsed video .gif, so stay tuned for that.

[bonnie]

Mercy


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[KCStudly]

First shot today was 966.7 ft.

Second shot we juiced the bundles up another 1/8 turn at all four corners, maxing out the hydraulics to the point of stalling the power pack engine and breaking welds on the winding frame; and raised the trailer deck up a few more inches so that we could get to our desired 40 deg tilt. Unfortunately a piece of the pumpkin cleaved off while exiting the pouch and it was declared "pie", despite the bulk of the pumpkin going a very long way, probably in the 1200 foot territory (but they don't measure pie shots).

Dave calculated that the torque required to turn the bundles at this point is 33575 lb-ft.

For tomorrow we have picked a rounder pumpkin and hope that the dew will swell and the frosty morning temps will stiffen the already rock hard rope bundles.

[dales133]

Video please!