after eleven years of competition, the National Catapult Contest ceased official operations in 1977. The following year, Pompeiiana published the first edition of the book Catapult Design, Construction & Competition. This book presents a detailed account of the entire history of this event, including detailed diagrams demonstrating how the various types of catapults were designed and constructed, and a detailed list of records, which includes the participating students and schools, the dates, the weight of projectiles hurled, and the distances achieved. A second edition of the book was later published in paperback in 2006, and titled Catapult Design, Construction and Competition with the Projectile Throwing Engines of the Ancients. Types of catapults reconstructed Counterweight Trebuchet This type of catapult uses a swinging arm to hurl a projectile at a target. A cradle for the projectile is attached to the longest section of the arm, and a counterweight is attached to the shorter end. When the weight is released from the frame, it drops and causes the long arm to spring forward, launching the projectile forward. According to the official records of the National Catapult Contest, a catapult of this type named Zephyrus, built by students at North Central High School (Indianapolis), was the catapult that finally achieved the original goal of the projects, which was to hurl a 100-pound rock one hundred yards. In fact, Zephyrus hurled a 100-pound rock 579 feet—nearly twice the goal—in 1977. Additional Zephyrus records included hurling a 40-pound rock 798 feet, a 50-pound rock 750 feet, and a 75-pound rock 623 feet. Twisted Rope, or Torsion siege engine This type of catapult utilized a mechanism similar to that of a cross-bow, with a spring-loaded device attached to ropes. The rope is pulled back and made taut then when triggered, springs forward launching a projectile such as a spear or a stone. In 1977, the twisted rope catapult named Remus II, built by students at Eastwood High School in Indianapolis, set a National Catapult Contest record by hurling a 1-pound spear 701 feet. Bent Wood Similar to the trebuchet, the Bent Wood variety of catapult uses a wooden arm to hurl a projectile. In this case, the wooden arm is pulled back, or bent, so that enough tension is built up that when released. A projectile is then set in a cradle at the long end of the arm so when the arm is released, it