Review by Joseph P. Tartaro | Executive Editor
READY THE CANNONS, by William Gurstelle. ©2016. Published by Chicago Review Press. Orders: 800-888-4741; online: ipgbook.com. 7×10 trade paperback, 129 pages. Price: $16.99. Available at storefront and online book stores.
This is more than a fun book by a professional engineer who has been researching and building model catapults and ballistic devices for over 30 years. Interspersed with directions and illustrations for building whiffle ball launchers, marshmallow bazookas, hydro swivel guns, a mack-mack gun, cast metal canonry and other ballistic launching devices are historical details about the invention of the World War II tank-killing bazooka, the Bofors anti-aircraft canon and other artillery items.
Gurstelle explains how and why many of these items were invented, and then tells you how to build one at home using tools and materials found in the home or at your neighborhood hardware store. People who have enjoyed his earlier books, Backyard Ballistics, will discover in his newest book a number of new and entertaining homemade armaments. Included in the new projects are a variety of slingshots—or wrist cannons—and a near-supersonic ping-pong ball launcher.
Appendix I covers materials and tools, while Appendix II guides you to other sources of related information.
