Austin - Mini weapons of mass destruction targets: 100+ tear-out targets

BUILD IMPLEMENTS OF SPITBALL WARFARE

John Austin

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Austin, John, 1978

Miniweapons of mass destruction : build implements of spitball warfare / John Austin.

p. cm.

ISBN 978-1-55652-953-5

1. Amusements. 2. Miniature weapons. I. Title.

GV1201.A875 2009

793dc22

2009026891

Cover and interior design: Jonathan Hahn

Illustrations: John Austin

2009 John Austin

All rights reserved

Published by Chicago Review Press, Incorporated

814 North Franklin Street

Chicago, Illinois 60610

ISBN 978-1-55652-953-5

Printed in the United States of America

5 4 3 2 1

To all those brave little green army men who experienced
horrible melting deaths and are now buried in millions of unmarked
sandbox graves. And of course to my father, Steve Austin,
who bought me all those courageous PVC soldiers.

MiniWeapons of Mass Destruction is a humorous, MacGyver-inspired tactical guide that illustrates the full potential of everyday items to be transformed into a menacing miniarsenal.

This bible of forbidden knowledge will prepare you for a zombie uprising or the inevitable alien invasion. To prevent mass hysteria, proper training is essential. Each weapon is cataloged with an easy-to-read bill of materials, step-by-step instructions, and alternate construction methods. And in the final chapter youll find a small library of simple targets you can use to master your MiniWeapon shooting skills.

This is a book for warriors of all ages. It pushes the laws of physics, inspires creativity, proposes experimentation, and fuels the imagination. Many of the catapults and launchers are great representations of their real-life counterparts, but they cost only pennies, making them great for group exercises and perfect for large-quantity builds.

This book is for entertainment purposes only. Please review the safety page for your personal protection. Build and use these projects at your own risk.

The unexpected can always happen! When building and firing MiniWeapons, be responsible and take every safety precaution. Switching materials, substituting ammunition, assembling improperly, mishandling, targeting inaccurately, and misfiring can all cause harm. You should always be prepared for the unknown. Eye protection is a must if you chose to experiment with any of these projects.

Always be aware of your environment, including spectators and flammable materials, and be careful when handling the launchers. Devices that are based on combustion shooters require gaseous fuel; always start with a small amount of the recommended aerosol, then gradually increase the amount to determine what you need for a successful launch. Crossbows and darts have dangerous points, and elastic and latex shooters fire projectiles at unbelievable force and can cause damage. Never point these launchers at people, animals, or anything of value.

It is important to remember that since miniweaponry is homebuilt, it is not always accurate. Basic target blueprints are available at the back of the book; use these to test the accuracy of your MiniWeapons.

This book also features minibombs. Despite their names, they could never be modified to do serious damage. However, they are very loud and can cause hearing impairment or hearing loss. Ear protection is recommended for all bombs.

Always be responsible when constructing and using miniweaponry. It is important that you understand that the author, the publisher, and the bookseller cannot and will not guarantee your safety. When you try the projects described here, you do so at your own risk. They are not toys!

The BB Pencil is a small, pocket-sized rifle designed to elastically launch a single BB. Requiring limited supplies, this is a great mechanical gun with incredible accuracy. The pencil retains its original form, making it easy to conceal in plain sightthe perfect double-agent tool.

Dissect your inexpensive mechanical pencil using brute strength. Pull out the innards and snap off the pencil tip. If you are unable to perform the decapitation by hand, use pliers. Once removed, the pencil tip can be discarded.

The outer housing of the pencil becomes the barrel of the BB Pencil. Make sure the housing pathway is unobstructed by any plastic fragments that might have broken off during disassembly.

Carefully use scissors or a hobby knife to remove the tapered end of the plunger. This will make room for the BB to sit in the barrel, waiting to be launched, and will prevent it from falling out.

Next, securely fasten a wide rubber band to the eraser end of the plunger with tape. If the eraser is newer, cut a slit in the eraser head to slide the rubber band into for additional support.

Once youve modified the plunger, slide it back into the pencil housing barrel.

Lay the rubber band on top of the pencil housing. Eliminate any slack in the rubber band and securely fasten it to the pencil housing with tape. Any malfunction during operation will be directly related to the taping of the rubber band, so make sure its secure.

Your BB Pencil is now fully operational. Load a single BB into the muzzle end of the barrel and choose your target carefully. Then pull back the plunger and let it rip!

This mechanical marvel is capable of firing BBs with incredible force and can cause damage. It is important to remember this MiniWeapon is homebuilt and not always accurate. If you wish to test your BB Pencil, basic targets are available in .