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The Mighty Roman War Machine
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X-treme Onager

New low price!


Designed and made in the USA for
better quality, better performance!


Now made from top-quality solid oak non-toxic, formaldehyde-free plywood for a more dimensionally stable, stronger, and less expensive model than if made from natural wood.

Modeled after the Roman Onager, this torsion-based machine can hurl golf balls and tennis balls over 50 feet!



This modern design for an Onager uses the exact same principles as the ancient Roman war machines. It is capable of hurling small stones, golf balls, walnuts, eggs, tennis balls and even potatoes from 20 feet to more than 50 feet! It all depends on how much power you build into it and the weight of your projectiles. Precision crafted of high quality hard wood, the kit contains everything you need to build a working model in one evening.*

The advantages of this new design are:
  • Double cross-grain frame for added strength.
  • Higher skein and arm rest allows for longer slings.
  • The arm can travel farther, well beyond the vertical limit of a traditional onager.
  • A soft arm arrestor eliminates hard impacts between the arm and the frame.


The ONAGER (also called a Mangonel) uses a bundle of twisted ropes (called a skein) for real torsion power. This torsion engine is so powerful, a full-sized machine can hurl a bowling ball almost 1/4 of a mile!

The finished model stands 17" long, 14" high and 12" wide. The kit is precision crafted from top-quality engineered hardwood plywood and includes a working winch and real leather sling-pouch.

The detailed instructions are complete with diagrams, photos and tuning tips so you can get the most out of this fun project. All parts are pre-cut, pre-drilled and can be assembled to a finished model in one evening.

We've put a lot of time and effort into making this kit as easy and complete as possible. It's a fun way to learn about history and engineering!


* Golf ball and tennis ball missiles are not included.
* Can throw over 50 feet when properly constructed and tuned. Your performance may vary.

WARNING! This is a representative model of a real ancient military weapon. It contains a fast moving arm that can cause injury if you make contact when firing. Use only under adult supervision.



Tools required:
Scissors, Glue, Ruler, and a utility knife. Sandpaper is optional.

Assembly time:
For a Master carpenter doing a sloppy job: about 2 hours.
A person with no kit building experience being extremely meticulous: about 10 hours.
The model in these photos was built by Ron Toms in about four hours.

Assembled Size:
- Height: 14"
- Length: 17"
- Width: 12"


Range:
- 20 to 50 feet with golf balls as projectiles, about half that with tennis balls. (Optimal range assumes a well built and well tuned machine)

Shipping weight: 5 lbs.
Box dimensions: 24" x 12" x 4"



Quantity pricing info:
0 to 4 kits, standard price.
5 to 9 kits, 10% off
10 or more kits, 15% off

Orders of $200 or more get FREE ground shipping!

WARNING! This is a representative model of a real ancient military weapon. It contains a fast moving arm that can cause injury if you make contact when firing. Use only under strict adult supervision.


* Can throw 50 feet when properly constructed and tuned. Your performance may vary.
* Golf ball and tennis ball missiles are not included.
* Actual item may differ slightly from the images on this page.
* X-treme Onager is a trademark of RLT Industries.



$59.00
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    Price: $59.00
    Minimum age: 14
    Availability: In stock.

    Buy Now or Add To Cart
    Item code: 10301

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Interesting Notes

The Roman Onager was the main artillery device of the Roman army. It was named after the Asian Wild Ass because they both have a tendancy to "kick" when they go off.

Oftentimes, an Onager would be fitted with a sling on the end of the arm instead of a cup or bucket. The sling will give greater range to a heavier projectile, but can only hurl one rock at a time. The bucket could be filled with lots of rocks at once - an effective anti-personnel device.

The kinds of things the Romans hurled includes heavy rocks and clay pots filled with pitch and tar- on fire.

Onagers are sometimes called a "Mangonel", but Mangonel literally translates as "War Machine" - a category that also includes ballistae and trebuchets.

The Onagers were used from early Roman times right up to the medieval period alongside the trebuchets. They lost their advantage to the cannons and gunpowder in the 13th century.