CHAPTER VII

DRAWBRIDGE AND SIEGE TOWER

=A Drawbridge= (Plate XII). Two pieces of wood for the front, H and I (Fig. 320), must first be sawn 11 inches by 2-1/2 inches. The white wood of chocolate boxes, etc., is the best.

Next two strips of wood, 7" × 1/4" × 1/4" are cut (satin walnut stripwood will do)--D E and F G in Fig. 321.

The bridge is made of a piece of white wood, 2-5/8 inches by 5-1/4 inches. The posts, D E and F G, are nailed to the bridge so that the bridge turns on the nails. (Note that the bridge is nailed about 3-1/4 inches from bottom of post.)

Next two lengths of stripwood, R S, are sawn 10" × 1/2" × 1/4", these are nailed to pieces H and I (nails are about 8-1/2 inches from bottom), so that the portions R T project about 5-1/2 inches. The strips R S turn freely on their nails.

Before nailing them in position, their ends should be rounded as in the figure. The posts G F and D E (which hold the bridge) are then glued to H and I. A piece of wood, V, about 8 inches by 2-1/3 inches, is glued to the lower parts of H and I, and joins them together.

Next the piece of wood Q is cut; its width will be the distance of post F G from D E (about 2-1/2 inches)--this distance should be carefully measured so that the piece fits well; its length will be about 5 inches. The arch is cut with a fret-saw. Piece Q is kept in position by having the ends of the arch glued to posts F G and D E, and by a length of stripwood (1/2 inch by 1/4 inch) glued along the top as shown in the plate. Lengths of stripwood (1/2 inch by 1/4 inch) may also be glued down the sides. Holes must be drilled in the ends, R, for wire loops, care being taken that these holes are over the bridge; wire loops must be placed on the bridge exactly underneath, and these loops are joined by chains, which can be made of wire or else bought from an ironmonger.

Fig. 320 shows the inside of the drawbridge; A, B, C and D are the lead weights for raising and lowering the beams. These weights can be cut from a piece of sheet lead or may be lead buttons. They are attached to the beams by chains and wire hooks. E F is a ledge for the defenders of the bridge to stand on. Sides have been added and a platform, L. The battlements, G, H, K, etc., are made of pieces of stripwood 1/2" × 1/2" × 1/4", glued round the top.

The ladder is made of matches as described in Chapter IX.

=A Movable Siege Tower= (Plate XIII). Two pieces of wood (A and B in Fig. 322) are sawn to the shape and measurements of Fig. 323. To the broader ends of these, pieces of stripwood 1/2 inch by 1/2 inch are glued and nailed (C in Fig. 323), and other pieces, D, 1/4 inch by 1/4 inch (about three on each side), are fastened at equal distances apart. D_{3} and the corresponding piece on the other side must not extend to edge of B, but a space must be left of 1/2 inch for the posts of the drawbridge.

Next the wood is cut for the foundation and the platforms, J, H, etc.

A stands about 6 inches from B, so this must be the width of all the platforms, except the foundation, F, which is wider and projects about 3/4 inch on each side of A and B, and the platform K, which rests on A and B.

The other dimensions of the platforms will be the same as those of the pieces of stripwood on which they rest. The platform K must be about 1/4 inch narrower than tops of A and B, to leave room for posts L and M. A and B are now glued and nailed to the base by means of the pieces of stripwood, C, at their ends, and the platforms are glued in position.

Two pieces of stripwood 1/4 inch by 1/2 inch, S and T in Fig. 324, are now cut equal in length to distance of K from H, for the supports of bridge. Place these in position between K and H, and measure distance between them; this gives width of drawbridge; its length is 6-1/4 inches. This can now be sawn. Fix in position as explained for previous toy.

Next cut two pieces of stripwood 1/2" × 1/4" × 10-1/2", L and M. At the ends of these drill holes, 1/4 inch in diameter, through which passes the chain of the drawbridge. Fix these in position by triangular wedges glued to sides and to platform J.

On top, K, add struts to support M and L, as shown in the plate. The chains of the drawbridge are looped over nails driven into A and B, just above platform J.

The base may be mounted on small wheels and strengthened with projecting beams by which the tower may be pushed into position. (These are not shown in plate.) Ladders to reach the top can also be made (see Chapter IX), and a battering ram may be swung from platform H, as shown in the plate. A tower of this kind was used by the Crusaders in the siege of Jerusalem (1099).