2022 Challenge

The Challenge for April 2022 (deferred from April 2020) is to send a ping-pong ball through the air from a launcher to land in a ring 10 feet away. Apparently these balls vary in weight and diameter so entrants may prefer to bring their own with which they have calibrated their launchers.

• All parts of the launcher (apart from string if used) must be constructed from Meccano (genuine or reproduction).
• The launcher shall be powered by gravity only, no springs/elastic bands/electric or any other power source.
• The distance shall be measured horizontally, from a vertical line off the part of the mechanism nearest the ring, to the centre of the ring. (So no, you can’t build a tower and just drop it in!)
• The target shall start with a large circle comprising 5½ inch curved strips for the heats, then reducing to a flanged ring, part no. 167b. It will be supported with its centre 12 inches above the floor, and set at 45° to the horizontal (flange down for 167b).
• Members who are not entering the challenge shall be invited to judge whether the ball has passed through the ring.
• Each entrant shall be allowed 5 shots, and the number that go through the ring will be counted. The winner is the one who has the greatest number of shots passing through the ring.
• In the event that more than one entrant achieves the same highest score, the ring shall be reduced to a flanged ring part 167b (on the same centre as the large ring) for the final round, which shall again consist of 5 shots each.
• If more than one entrant achieves a score of 5, the entrants shall fire in turn until one misses, at which point that entrant drops out. Whoever survives this “sudden death” playoff is the winner.