1569 replies to this topic

[paul]

Nice, Karl. I guess, it?ll look great and will give kind of an surprising moment when everyone thinks there?ll be nothing more after the "stars" burned out...


As noone said anything to my pics I?ll just post this last one and in the future only videos. Seems the only way to get some feedback.

with best regards,

paul

Edited by paul, 17 October 2006 - 02:42 PM.

[leosedf]

I am waiting till you post the video
Looks really nice.
Have you used glue to the stars inside the shell? What kind of glue?

Edited by leosedf, 17 October 2006 - 03:06 PM.

[karlfoxman]

Nice shell Paul, I forgot to post any comments on it! Looks good though mate, im sure it will work great! Yeah they wont expect a load of reports after the stars!! He he! Ill post the video after silly season is over as thats when ill start building the star mine shells for the inserts. Im having one shell with Ruby thunder, one with Emerald thunder, one with Sapphire thunder and one with Aqua marine thunder. All named after precious stones. Thinking ill add some of my tasty gold glitter stars too!

[FrankRizzo]

Absolutely beautiful shell there Paul, and please keep posting photos!! Start a new topic for each shell you make.

You might want to re-think the way you attached the blackmatch to the comets though. Usually comets are just primed, and the blow by from the lift ignites them without any trouble. I'd suggest one or two wraps of twine over the top of the comet to hold the blackmatch on, and then anchor the twine with a few parallel wraps around the circumference. That would leave a good portion of the comet face still open for ignition, plus the fail-safe of the blackmatch.

Again, great looking shell!

[paul]

Normally I put a dab of bp slurry on each of the comets and put a piece of blackmatch into it. I just was layz this time. But I will do it right next time.

Thanks for all the input so far!

[Mumbles]

When I was taught how to make crossettes the teacher advised to tape blackmatch over the ends. These were for internal comets though. I've never put more than 1 comet on my shells, so I cant comet on them. Usually I run the quickmatch over the comet with a slit cut to ensure ignition. I like your advising of how to attach the blackmatch though. My next shells will have multiple comets, so I will try it out.

[RegimentalPyro]

I've never put more than 1 comet on my shells, so I cant comet on them.

<grin!>

[karlfoxman]

He he, when I make comets on my shells. Some will remember my 6" purple shell of shells with 2" purple rising comet. That comet was primed with slurry and dipped in lift gains. It will take fire from lift very easily that way. Just a cover of gampi tissue to protect it. But it worked 100%

[Dj Killerboss]

Very nice Paul, good work.
I'm very interested in the video.
I will also try to build a big shell
Hope it will work well....
Only had to buy some stuff and then the work begins

greetz Chris

[paul]

Here it is

Worked quite good. Don?t know what happened to the other 4 comets, but as it seems I have to use NO tape the next time anymore hehe


The "butterfly" shape came out quite ok, but I?ll use another pattern next time. All the 8 red stars lit, thats cool

[Dj Killerboss]

WoW looks very impressive.
What was your burst charge and what do you used as ejection charge??
The sound of them is also impressive.

greez Chris

[sizzle]

Here it is

Worked quite good. Don?t know what happened to the other 4 comets, but as it seems I have to use NO tape the next time anymore hehe
The "butterfly" shape came out quite ok, but I?ll use another pattern next time. All the 8 red stars lit, thats cool

Fantastic work their Paul, puts my devices to shame.

[BrightStar]

Paul - Really great stuff, thanks for posting. Are the two fuses for inner and outer petals, or just for reliability / safety? The burst looked huge in the video.

Karl - The sky mines should be impressive. Good choice of names as well Will the inserts self-propel like go-getters? They look quite vigorous...

I was interested to see that you have been pressing colour comps here and for the crosettes in your big candle. There are some Lancaster comps suitable for pressing in the PFP Database with large portions of PVC, one with Laminac (polyester) which I haven't seen before. Are the pressed stars denser / slower burning than dried stars? Harder to ignite? Can you just use ordinary colour comps without a binder? It would be interesting to here more about this.

[karlfoxman]

Nice shell Paul, liked the break!

The inserts wont self propel much if they do, the comps were pressed without wetting with water/alc. Be aware that redgum and some other binders act as the fuel in the composition. They didnt need solvent because I pressed them under a few tons so its a solid mass inside the tube. PVC is used as binder in some cases as acetone will be its solvent. I have made veline compositions without the dextrin before but still you have to use the redgum in the formula. My crossettes were pressed under many tons of force and they are binded with redgum that had been activated with meths as this is one of its solvents.

Hope this helps?

[paul]

I now know why the fireflycomets can?t be seen while the shell rises... They burned out before the shell left the mortar, the evidence is the spray of sparks that leaves the mortar just before the liftcharge fires...

This is due to the taped blackmatch. I will use proper quickmatch next time!