This week, Dick challenges the team to build a medieval machine gun known as a Ribauldequin. The first ever multi-barrelled gun, it could pump out walls of lead that could rip through armour and repel wave after wave of attacking knights.
The toughest and most dangerous part will be casting the barrels, dealing with molten bronze at temperatures of over 1,000 degrees Centigrade. They are also making bullets and playing with gun powder. What could possibly go wrong?
Dick Strawbridge challenges a team of modern-day engineers to rebuild some of history’s most impressive machines.
Comments (20)
2 months ago
Gun Crew
The ammunition made by Clare isn't a sustainable weapon for use in smooth ball cannon. After a few firings the bands that wrap around the solid shot will carve groves into the barrel and weaken it until not long after the barrel will burst. What she was making wasn’t a giant Minie round but ball designed to be fired out of a muzzle loading rifled cannon circa the 1860’s. The bands on the shot are intended to fit into the groves inside of a rifled barrel to rotate the shell as it travels up the barrel.
If and that’s a huge word, their three days had allowed they might have fitted a 15th Century breach loading mechanism and also added the 1860’s upgrade of rifling the barrel.
The ammunition made by Clare isn't a sustainable weapon for use in smooth ball cannon. After a few firings the bands that wrap around the solid shot will carve groves into the barrel and weaken it until not long after the barrel will burst. What she was making wasn’t a giant Minie round but ball designed to be fired out of a muzzle loading rifled cannon circa the 1860’s. The bands on the shot are intended to fit into the groves inside of a rifled barrel to rotate the shell as it travels up the barrel.
If and that’s a huge word, their three days had allowed they might have fitted a 15th Century breach loading mechanism and also added the 1860’s upgrade of rifling the barrel.
What a shame that the production budget doesn't run to a few animations, a la Scrapheap. These genuinely explain principles, which I think really engage kids (and adults), rather than concentrate on the big bangs. Producers note - people can be interested in both mechanics and entertainment without alienating your audience. So spend a bit more and make a much better programme. Episode 1 was also very repetitive - felt like it was cut for the US market with endless repetition. Finally, what a bad title for a show - it doesn't really explain what it is at all. All that said, though it could be better, it's interesting and I'll be there with my boys for episode 2...
Great idea spoilt by the unnecessary restriction of doing it in 3 days. The constant reference to the fact that they are up against it, and will they make it is pointless, we know they will make it. I'm sure the ancestors didn't build it in 3 days. Concentrate on the achievement.
Nice to see a show which details the practical side, instead of just being "academic".
Some more solid detail on the weapons would be good (historical examples or quotes). Mr Stickmaker (below) might be able to help you there!
Otherwise, an excellent program.
Mr will (below) seemed to want some kind of pedantry Open University study. Or perhaps he works in a library and couldn't bear the gentle, upbeat background music.
This show gives a great example of the practical application of knowledge and skill. Not too academic, not dumbing down, nor condescending.
Look forward to more.
Oh dear. Yet another interesting idea spoiled by a narrative seemingly aimed at a not too bright eleven year old and a bunch of ridiculous claims to sex it up. The non=stop snatches of pop song covers didn't help either.
a steel barrel could have been available to medieval man as we can find evidence of these in guns of the period and would have improved the reliability of the bronze cannon but not enough about this improvement was mentioned
As the program idea was to use ONLY materials from that time, does anyone know if the original cannon used a steel bore barrell ? I mean what was the point of the bronze casting if the steel barrel was good enough for the cannon to work.
The ribauldequin is not a machine gun; it is a volley gun. A machine gun uses a mechanism (hence the name) to load and fire. A volley gun is manually loaded and the barrels set off by a powder train.
Comments (20)
2 months ago
Gun Crew
The ammunition made by Clare isn't a sustainable weapon for use in smooth ball cannon. After a few firings the bands that wrap around the solid shot will carve groves into the barrel and weaken it until not long after the barrel will burst. What she was making wasn’t a giant Minie round but ball designed to be fired out of a muzzle loading rifled cannon circa the 1860’s. The bands on the shot are intended to fit into the groves inside of a rifled barrel to rotate the shell as it travels up the barrel. If and that’s a huge word, their three days had allowed they might have fitted a 15th Century breach loading mechanism and also added the 1860’s upgrade of rifling the barrel.
2 months ago
Cannonier
The ammunition made by Clare isn't a sustainable weapon for use in smooth ball cannon. After a few firings the bands that wrap around the solid shot will carve groves into the barrel and weaken it until not long after the barrel will burst. What she was making wasn’t a giant Minie round but ball designed to be fired out of a muzzle loading rifled cannon circa the 1860’s. The bands on the shot are intended to fit into the groves inside of a rifled barrel to rotate the shell as it travels up the barrel. If and that’s a huge word, their three days had allowed they might have fitted a 15th Century breach loading mechanism and also added the 1860’s upgrade of rifling the barrel.
3 months ago
George the blacksmith
This was really good, however it could have been done so much better. Shame really.
3 months ago
stephen
when is it on lol i realy want to know omg yolo please tell me innit bla thanks
3 months ago
Steve G
I support the comments made by 'Red leader' and 'Nick W' below . . . . . . . BTW somehow my gut reaction is I think I know you Nick W :-/
3 months ago
the old gunner
Great idea, terrible programme. Consign it to children's TV where it might survive. A real shame.
3 months ago
Nick W
What a shame that the production budget doesn't run to a few animations, a la Scrapheap. These genuinely explain principles, which I think really engage kids (and adults), rather than concentrate on the big bangs. Producers note - people can be interested in both mechanics and entertainment without alienating your audience. So spend a bit more and make a much better programme. Episode 1 was also very repetitive - felt like it was cut for the US market with endless repetition. Finally, what a bad title for a show - it doesn't really explain what it is at all. All that said, though it could be better, it's interesting and I'll be there with my boys for episode 2...
3 months ago
arran
looking forward to the next show
3 months ago
Red Leader
Great idea spoilt by the unnecessary restriction of doing it in 3 days. The constant reference to the fact that they are up against it, and will they make it is pointless, we know they will make it. I'm sure the ancestors didn't build it in 3 days. Concentrate on the achievement.
3 months ago
darren rees
Sorry will not play for me, tried it on the PC and laptop....nothing!
3 months ago
Hey_You_Guys
Great show, very entertaining, looking forward to the next one.
3 months ago
BlackRoof
Nice to see a show which details the practical side, instead of just being "academic". Some more solid detail on the weapons would be good (historical examples or quotes). Mr Stickmaker (below) might be able to help you there! Otherwise, an excellent program. Mr will (below) seemed to want some kind of pedantry Open University study. Or perhaps he works in a library and couldn't bear the gentle, upbeat background music. This show gives a great example of the practical application of knowledge and skill. Not too academic, not dumbing down, nor condescending. Look forward to more.
3 months ago
Monkey_Spanker
Well I enjoyed it...
3 months ago
will
Oh dear. Yet another interesting idea spoiled by a narrative seemingly aimed at a not too bright eleven year old and a bunch of ridiculous claims to sex it up. The non=stop snatches of pop song covers didn't help either.
3 months ago
Reason
a steel barrel could have been available to medieval man as we can find evidence of these in guns of the period and would have improved the reliability of the bronze cannon but not enough about this improvement was mentioned
3 months ago
Stevie Boy
As the program idea was to use ONLY materials from that time, does anyone know if the original cannon used a steel bore barrell ? I mean what was the point of the bronze casting if the steel barrel was good enough for the cannon to work.
3 months ago
duztee
Defiately interesting. n the short space of the progame they managed to explain woodwork, metal casting and some excellent firing scenes
3 months ago
BTMsteve
when is this available on demand?
3 months ago
Simon Atford
Thank you Stickmaker. You've saved me the trouble of pointing out that error :-)
3 months ago
Stickmaker
The ribauldequin is not a machine gun; it is a volley gun. A machine gun uses a mechanism (hence the name) to load and fire. A volley gun is manually loaded and the barrels set off by a powder train.