The Highland Fling
Friday, October 30 continued

FRIDAY: The fixed arm is raised into place, and we begin to raise the sides of the fixed counterweight trebuchet. The sun shines for most of the day, a first. The question on everyone's mind is, Will we get both machines done and assembled in time for the launching this weekend?

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Key: (88) The fixed machine with the Doug fir arm being raised into place. (89, 90) With Steve Lawrence calling the raising, pullers on the ropes raise a center pole into place, by which the 2 sides of the counterweight machine will be raised. (91) One side going up. (92) Colin Stotts on top, with a rainbow, TFG flag and the first side up on the fixed machine. (93) Colin taking photos from his perch on high. (94, 95) Both sides are up, as the engineers and safety inspectors from Historic Scotland look on. (96) At lunch time, Paul Denney and Julia Douglas of Artefacts demonstrate another machine called, variously, an onager or mangoneau, that hurled two rocks before the arm cracked. (97) University of Durham professor Michael Prestwich, then Paul Denney (right, Julia behind Paul) are interviewed on camera about the machine's performance.

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