7 replies to this topic

[blythmags]

Hi everyone

I'm brand new to the world of pyrotechnices and have just ourchased a 1/6 scale radio controlled tank to which I was going to place a blank firing pistol within the turret to discharge a loud bang when I set the main gun off.However, I have been told that the noise you get from this method is unrealsitic and that I'd be better off going for single pyrotechnics, similar those usedoutside for special effects ?

The issue I have is that obviously when the pyro is activated, I don't want this damaging the inside of my fibreglass turret.

I guess my three questions are:

1. What is the most suitable device to alow and loud deep bang with smoke out of the barrel
2. What equipment would I need to place this in my tank
3. Is it possible to activate this from a transmitter ?

As you can probably gather, I'm new to both pyrotechnics and radio controlled stuff so apologies for what may seem to be obvious answers to straight forward questions.

Thanks guys

Regards

John

[Arthur Brown]

Are you a member of a club or organisation of model tank people? There will be a requirement to act responsibly under the firearms acts, the explosives acts, and the violent crime reduction legislation. Having a remote control tank that could fire things certainly has risks. A specialist society should be able to help with all of this.

Whatever you fire down a GRP bore will damage it. You need a steel and proofed barrel to fire powder inside. There are stage pyrotechnic muzzle flash simulators. there are cannon charges made for battle simulation but these rely on being in a steel cannon barrel. Look at the range of stage pyro cartridges and fit a holder at the muzzle end.

Remember that most firework tubes are considered disposable after one use even professional mortars are limited to say 100 uses before they are discarded. This regime would mean that you needed a new tank barrel every few shots.

[blythmags]

Hi Arthur

Thanks for the reply. I am a member of the UKTC (United Kingdom Tank Club) and most members use blank firing pistols but the noise they make is totally unrealistic. I'm not wanting to fire a projectile from the barrel, merely simulate the deep bang and flash/smoke.

I've heard you can get stage special effect (cant remember their name) which might do the trick, but I'm curious what this society can suggest as I know nothing about the potential of pyrotechnics in this respect.

Thanks

John

[Arthur Brown]

What bore is the barrel?

Maroons or arguebus charges seem appropriate. Yes they can be electrically fired but I cannot see a way atm of reloading without dismantling.

[Mortartube]

At this scale, I don't think that you will get a realistic sound without damaging the model. For the sound I think a small amplifier, speaker and an mp3 player hidden in the tank would be better, if you can cannibalise the mp3 player to play on command from the R/C unit.

How much room is inside? A small propane cannon suitably mounted inside the barrel could provide a muzzle flash from the same trigger for the mp3 player. Perhaps something like a gas powdered soldering iron adapted so more air is in the flame to make it yellow.

I know these ideas probably aren't ideal but they may provide a starting point. Real pyro is likely to do damage.

[GZ22]

If you like R/C tanks and want a loud bang, check out Armortek. They're not cheap by any means, but can fire 12g short blanks.

http://www.armortek.co.uk/

[pyroduck7]

im thinking nicrome wire and wistle mix (pottassium perclorate and sodium benzonate) and the nicrome wire would have to be heavy duty, and then have a 9v battery, that the switch would be linked up to a transmitter, iv done it before when i was into chemistry more,i used the elertrics out of a R/C car.

hope this helps

[blythmags]

Thanks to everyone for their comments and advice

Best wishes

John