9 replies to this topic

[josh23]

Hi there,

I need some advice on how to detonate a Microdet, I need to create an effect of someone being shot and have the required body armour and non frag microdets, I just need an alternative solution to firing them as the one I currently have is unpractical.
Any help ASAP would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!
Josh

[paul]

Hi there,
I just need an alternative solution to firing them as the one I currently have is unpractical.
Any help ASAP would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!
Josh

Hey there! Would be nice to know, WHAT method is unpractical, what method are you using, electrical squibs or something?

[Arthur Brown]

What problem do you have exactly! What sort of bullet hit do you need to simulate? What sort of location on set and on the body are you trying to use? Do you hope to get the effect triggered by the "Victim" or a technician, or someone else. The biggest problem is that a bullet hit always holes the clothing, -is this to be a repeated effect in which case you prob dont want the clothing holed. Even stage blood doesn't come out of clothing too readily, especially if it has started to dry.

Have you checked the pyro suppliers for their ideas especially checking the body armour.

[adamw]

Please describe the current situation, or we are clueless about how to improve it!

[Steelrat]

Hi , i take it your thinking of using lemairtre micro-dets , the plastic ones should not be used for blood effects, as they shatter,
and are dangerous !lemaitre has card ones . only use 1/4 strength , and a bullet plate with padding .. even with weakening the cloth you can get a cross split rather than
a neat hole, they do create alot of smoke and a flash and can look abit crap to be honist.
safe way is to use compressed air and a tube.

if you need a chat about it im happy to help you out
Phil

[dave]

Hi , i take it your thinking of using lemairtre micro-dets , the plastic ones should not be used for blood effects, as they shatter,
and are dangerous !lemaitre has card ones . only use 1/4 strength , and a bullet plate with padding .. even with weakening the cloth you can get a cross split rather than
a neat hole, they do create alot of smoke and a flash and can look abit crap to be honist.
safe way is to use compressed air and a tube.

if you need a chat about it im happy to help you out
Phil

where do you get the bullet plates with padding.....or can you diy ?
dave

[Arthur Brown]

You should learn about the real life practise of pyro fx on real life courses, in service training and real world experience.

Please do NOT consider yourself skilled in body worn pyro fx without at least some training by an experienced trainer/fx person.

It is possible to kill someone without penetrating the skin if the through body shock wave interferes with the heart's natural rhythm.

In movie work it often looks more convincing when faked! Also there is the liability and insurance risk, Injure someone and there will be costs, If you do it you will be liable, costs compensation fines and imprisonment are all possible outcomes. Also committing an offence under the Explosives Act will permanently bar you from any licensing in the fx or pyro field.

Remember that watching ER or Scrubs or any of the other "hospital" TV shows does NOT teach you to be a surgeon! But appropriate learning and supervised training would! Do the same with your pyro, learn from the best.

Stay Safe.

[Steelrat]

Hi , i take it your thinking of using lemairtre micro-dets , the plastic ones should not be used for blood effects, as they shatter,
and are dangerous !lemaitre has card ones . only use 1/4 strength , and a bullet plate with padding .. even with weakening the cloth you can get a cross split rather than
a neat hole, they do create allot of smoke and a flash and can look abit crap to be honest.
safe way is to use compressed air and a tube.

if you need a chat about it I'm happy to help you out
Phil

Hi, as mentioned by Arthur, you should only use bullet hits if you know exactly what you are doing, and the construction of bullet plates are not as simple as first
thought, i personal use only D80 s 1/2 and 1/4 for my bullet body hits and positioning of the effect for safe and reliable execution of the effect.

there are many ways to achieve the same look or effect , look on Utube for blood effects using air , they look good and are safe.
if you really need a pyro effect squib, then hire a special effects technician for the day.

Phil

[Arthur Brown]

The sums seem to be;

Competent pyrotechnician £500 a day inc insurance and consumables.
Competent solicitor and barrister £2000 a day, plus legal costs and fines.

Suit yourself!

Do you want to do porridge knowing that by an improvised explosive device you injured someone AND will be barred from licensed pyro for ever.

[nikk75]

The sums seem to be;

Competent pyrotechnician £500 a day inc insurance and consumables.
Competent solicitor and barrister £2000 a day, plus legal costs and fines.

Suit yourself!

Do you want to do porridge knowing that by an improvised explosive device you injured someone AND will be barred from licensed pyro for ever.

Man, have i been under charging!!!!! but i do agree with what you said, if you haven't the training, then get someone who has, I've been doing body hits for 10 years and i still get nervous.....even with all the padding and safety plating, there is always an unknown factor that can change the way the fx is executed. It's like a stunt performer once told me "when you get comfortable, because you have do it before, then it gets dangerous"