The Hurl - Wiki

There are many things we could have here. We have a forum, file uploads, pages and some other things, but what should we have here?

I think as much as is reasonable be on TheHurl.Org because it is not some random third party host like this is (However nice) and Ron nicely gives us unlimited file space. Here we only get 100 mb so file sharing and personal image galleries need to stay on the hurl along with personal/device related threads which may have temporary images and such because those images pile up fast. Basically these forums will only be for stuff about this wiki site.

So what does go here? Lots of information, just no questions about hurling. (Questions about the site are fine on the forums, hurling questions should be on TheHurl.Org) Information that will continue to be useful should be here. Information about designs, definitions of Abbreviations and Types of Hurling Devices should be here along with some Links, but what else? Maybe a FAQ, Plans, Construction and design tips, statistics, contest information and may other things could be here. What do you think?

So basically all the content that is not in the forums and the personal pages?

I think it should be just the opposite. This looks like a very functional forum - good for disscussion.
Whereas, if I make a page on Wiki and other people come along and change it, I might be nonplused.
Maybe I don't fully understand Wiki yet.

It occured to me that an issue that may be driving the logic here is site revenue. Don't get me wrong, I totally agree that the site should be self-supporting. Anyway you can do this with vBulletin (eg [http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/] ). Just encase the forum with space overhead to run ads.

The point is, say I want to post information about my design, the FAKA. I can make http://www.spincraftsoftware.com/Files/MyHurl/FAKA.html or I could define it here where if will be accessible and arranged with other information. Look at the pages I created. They are great examples of the usefulness of wikis. Everyone can update and add to them making them complete and up to date lists and definitions. I would not want to be responsible for any of those pages because I don't know enough about each particular design. Any personal information/research that you would not want messed with belongs on your blog on http://TheHurl.org

We could also have a FAQ here. Most posters to the hurl have similar questions which could be answered. The main thing I like about http://TheHurl.org is the unlimited storage and ability to have discussion attachments. That is great for getting questions answered, but makes a poor reference. The list of questions and discussions/answers is great, and any information that comes from those discussions that may be wanted later should be filtered out and organized in a collective effort, which is what wikis are great for. We can link back to the topics on the hurl if needed, or quote them.

Once we get a community established here, and some content, we may want to have some hurling discussions here, but not the type we have on the Cat-mess (Single threaded project/device driven with lots of videos and pics. Those can stay on the cat-mass designed for them). For now I want to set up a specific type of content (Definitions, links and stuff like that) for this site so it will not get diluted, and will get developed. Once that is done we can expand into more discussions, plans etc.

This does look like a good form for free form discussion, however the Hurl appears far better for the stuff there already. We just need to draw the distinction between answers to specific questions and general information. For now I say lets keep the hurling discussions on the hurl until we get a good picture of the dividing line.

Sound good?

On the Abreviations page - Shouldn't HCW and FCW be under Trebuchet types? That is typically how I refer to a traditional Treb.

I was thinking that somewhere in the trebuchet pages there should be a section that discusses the effect of changing certain variables has on the release of the projectile. Longer sling length, lower release, more closed hook, lower release, lighter projectile, lower release. Those are the variables and results of which I am fairly sure. The list should also include changing counterweight, arm length, counterweight arm length, arm weight, and maybe some more variables. These ones we would need some general testing to see what their effect would be. I think you have some smaller trebuchets that would make this testing a little easier. The chart would need to contain a disclaimer that these are the results of relatively minor changes made to an already optimized machine.

The need for this chart would be during competitions. Say your machine was well optimized on your first throw. For your second throw you want to add more weight to try and increase distance. Should I make my sling longer or shorter to still have a good timing? or should I open or close the pin to keep the optimum release angle. The chart would not be able to tell you how much it should be changed, but would give you a starting direction for which way to change one variable when you have adjusted something else.