Mini Weapons of Mass Destruction

PopularMechanics.com selection for one of The Best DIY and Home Improvement Books of 2009 We've come a long way from the Peashooter Era: with the advent of modern household products and office supplies--binder clips, clothespins, rubber bands, ballpoint pens, toothpicks, paper clips, plastic utensils, and (of course) matches and barbeque lighters--troublemakers of all stripes have the components needed to build an impressive, if somewhat miniaturized, arsenal. Toy designer John Austin provides detailed, step-by-step instructions for each project, including materials and ammo lists, clear diagrams, and construction tips, for mayhem-loving MacGyvers. The 35 devices include catapults, slingshots, minibombs, darts, and combustion shooters. Build a tiny trebuchet from paper clips and a D-cell battery. Wrap a penny in a string of paper caps to create a surprisingly impressive 'bomb.' Several of the projects even include variations where combatants mount laser pointer sights to their