The Jousters are getting all medieval on this challenge by building a giant crossbow. Plywood will be layered together and attached to a shaft. The ends of the plywood spring will be drawn back and will fling the dart towards the target. It's actually quite simple to build and shouldn't pose any major engineering problems. However, they will have to overcome a lackadaisical attitude if they're going to get this done.

The Iron Maidens, who are the first ever British all-woman team, have a strange contraption in mind. Basically a spring will be compressed and fling the dart through the air when it is released. However, they are adding a pivoting 1/4 circle to pull the dart up the chute and release it. The theory is that it will provide better acceleration and a smoother take-off. Finding all of the components, then fabricating this hard-to-visualize machine might be tricky.

Jousters cwise fr top lt; Capt Tom, Scotty, Sparky & expert Paul Denney	Iron Maidens cwise fr top lt; Capt Suzanne, Harry, Wendy & expert Tod Todescini
The Maidens' rotating flinger	The Jousters Crossbow
The Maidens waste no time in finding a boat-trailer base...	...and springs to power their odd contraption
However, the Jousters' scavengers are taking their time	Finally, they find some bits of plywood for making the bow
Fabrication of the quarter-circle is complete and the expert is pleased	The odd key-notch at the end of the planks will be used to hold the rope
Judge Lt. Col. Simon West	The stock of the cross-bow will come from this chunky steel I-beam
To keep the flinger from wobbling around, they add struts for support	3 smaller springs strung together makes for one large spring
Robert delivers lard which will be used to grease the boards, allow them to slip past on another as they are bent	The boards are staggered to be think in the middle and thinner on the ends. All are bolted together for strength
Don't forget to make your dart	That winch will pull the crossbow
The Iron Maidens' Dart Thrower	The Jousters' Cross Bow

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