# Flaming Pitch Tossing Catapult Dope Fest: Who's in? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 19, 2003, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flaming-pitch-tossing-catapult-dope-fest-whos-in/220010 "2003-12-19T17:51:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flaming-pitch-tossing-catapult-dope-fest-whos-in/220010/1 "2003-12-19T17:51:11Z")
In [this](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&postid=4373923#post4373923) thread **Astro** was postulating on specifications and useage laws… I said, “why I’d love to host a Flaming Pitch Tossing Catapult building party at my place” [sub]Tho the wife may frown upon it, it should be an interesting thought project[/sub] I’ve got 150 acres of not so densly packed wooded area behind my house. There’s a large barn on the lower quarter, and three old corn fields now basically hay fields. The largest of the three has almost 600 yards at length and 100 yards width. So what would we need? I’m thinking a [Trebuchet](http://www.ic.sunysb.edu/Stu/ntheohar/) may be a better thing to build, but I’m not so sure if we could shoot flaming pitch from it. So to truly have a flaming pitch tossing catapult we’ll need good strong oak wood, plenty of rope, counter weights hmmm what else? I have at my disposal, plenty of cutting tools, a backhoe, dry barn in which to work, plenty of large granite slabs, and about 30 to 40 old oak railroad ties behind the barn…(my wife will need some of those for her garden extension in the spring…but she’s probably going to say ‘NO’ anyway, so we can just postulate for now.) So who wants to consult and which part would you like to consult on? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![paperbackwriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/53a042/32.png) [@paperbackwriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/paperbackwriter)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flaming-pitch-tossing-catapult-dope-fest-whos-in/220010/2 "2003-12-19T18:05:37Z")
I’m in **IF** it also includes that long-ago proposed clam & lobster bake. I mean, c’mon! Good seafood and infernal machines? Who could resist that? _This just in_: CT general statutes have no prohibition against infernal machines! (I imagine that the open fire and arson laws may pose a problem, however). I’m up for construction and I can add another Rhody to the party for Griss. WRT which type, I think that a swinging-basket trebuchet (such as the War Wolf) may be a little much to plan for. Your granite slabs may lend themselves to a fixed-weight type – if you saw the PBS special on catapults you know the kind I mean. ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flaming-pitch-tossing-catapult-dope-fest-whos-in/220010/3 "2003-12-19T18:22:36Z")
Yes, the PBS special was fantastic! I loved it…And yes all dogs are welcome, especially ones with kinship. 🙂 As for clams and lobsters…sure! I’ll check on CMV for lobsters it may be high this time of year 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![chique](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@chique](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chique)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flaming-pitch-tossing-catapult-dope-fest-whos-in/220010/4 "2003-12-19T21:34:59Z")
I LOVE trebuchets! Lovelovelove. So put me down as a maybe, pending money. I wonder if **andygirl** would wanna come along for the ride. . . ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flaming-pitch-tossing-catapult-dope-fest-whos-in/220010/5 "2003-12-19T23:59:17Z")
So the notion is to build one? How long might this be expected to take? When might it happen? (Who - apart from the clams & lobsters - could doubt that this is a great idea?) ---
**Author:** ![Shade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2bfe46/32.png) [@Shade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shade)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2003, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flaming-pitch-tossing-catapult-dope-fest-whos-in/220010/6 "2003-12-20T00:51:52Z")
H: I’d love to host a Flaming Pitch Trebuche building party at my place. W: Never. H: It’s OK, darling, I’ve got I’ve got 150 acres of forest fire waiting to happen behind my house. There’s a large bonfire on the lower quarter, and three kindling fields. W: Oh, ok then. ---
**Author:** ![Gunslinger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4491bb/32.png) [@Gunslinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gunslinger)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2003, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flaming-pitch-tossing-catapult-dope-fest-whos-in/220010/7 "2003-12-20T05:56:00Z")
Hey, if the flaming pitch thing falls through, you could always use alternate projectiles, such as pianos or [goats](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=41020). ---
**Author:** ![andygirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a9adbd/32.png) [@andygirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andygirl)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2003, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flaming-pitch-tossing-catapult-dope-fest-whos-in/220010/8 "2003-12-21T03:27:46Z")
Clearly I am all over this idea. But only if there are wenches involved. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2003, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flaming-pitch-tossing-catapult-dope-fest-whos-in/220010/9 "2003-12-21T03:32:13Z")
Y’know, **Phlosphr** , I’m down here at 18 degrees North and I think it sounds just smashing. Though I must second **andygirl** ’s request for wenches… ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2003, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flaming-pitch-tossing-catapult-dope-fest-whos-in/220010/10 "2003-12-21T05:47:00Z")
Flaming wenches. ---
**Author:** ![GingerOfTheNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cdc98d/32.png) [@GingerOfTheNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GingerOfTheNorth)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2003, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flaming-pitch-tossing-catapult-dope-fest-whos-in/220010/11 "2003-12-21T17:46:10Z")
Good Og, we would be SO IN if you’d only tell us where the heck you lived. I shall provide wench-ness. ---
**Author:** ![andygirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a9adbd/32.png) [@andygirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andygirl)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2003, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flaming-pitch-tossing-catapult-dope-fest-whos-in/220010/12 "2003-12-21T18:13:29Z")
Flaming wenches sound great to me. I like all of my women flaming. Especially the wenches. …or is that not what you mean by flaming? ---
**Author:** ![Siege](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dbc845/32.png) [@Siege](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siege)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2003, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flaming-pitch-tossing-catapult-dope-fest-whos-in/220010/13 "2003-12-21T19:00:11Z")
You want wenches? You’ve got at least one wench, and I’ve got the outfit for it. As for flaming, well, provoke me enough one way, and I may be capable of setting that pitch on fire without a match. I’ve got the qualifications – I’ve watched _Junkyard Wars_ more often than I care to think about, and I received a good teaching in the basics of engineering (build it so it won’t fall apart) from my father, a research engineer. Bring on the trebuchets! CJ ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2003, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flaming-pitch-tossing-catapult-dope-fest-whos-in/220010/14 "2003-12-22T14:02:00Z")
**Ginger** - Connecticut! I live in Connecticut! What’s all this about Wenches? I thought I mentioned that in the OP! Oh guess not. Yes Wenches are good, and allowed. However, they must be treated with respect, as the head wench, my dearest wife carries a 50 pound spiked Mace for if and when the men folk get out of line. careful laddies she’s a brut! No one has said anything about materials? What will we need? ---
**Author:** ![Gorgon\_Heap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f475e1/32.png) [@Gorgon\_Heap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorgon_Heap)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2003, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flaming-pitch-tossing-catapult-dope-fest-whos-in/220010/15 "2003-12-22T14:11:04Z")
Connecticut, ay? Sounds like it could be a flaming good time. ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2003, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flaming-pitch-tossing-catapult-dope-fest-whos-in/220010/16 "2003-12-22T14:21:41Z")
Yes. You need a Mrs. Goodwench.