phildunford

Excellent day. Special mention for Rob L for organizing the food & Karl for a great display.

Been pretty despondent about UKPS lately, but this was a great AGM - lots of enthusiasm and great ideas. Hopefully a chance for us to put recent petty squabbles behind us and start building up the society agaiin.

Was great to see new faces as well as some familiar ones...

Process is freely available on the web & in books, but involves use of concentrated Nitric & Sulphuric acids & considerable work in freeing the product of residual acid (which will encourage decomposition). NC lacquers are available from pyro suppliers and some specialist paint suppliers (for old bikes & guitars!) and possibly the powder too. Much easier!

Not that it makes much difference, but I think there is again a little confusion here. Two bits of legislation.

'100g rule' this was likely to be lost under new UK regs. Waynes work (along with institute of chemistry & others) has kept it in and clarified it such that it is accepted that devices can be made. Nothing to do with Europe.

Explosives precursors. This was European legislation which we are lumbered with whether we like it or not. Member states can enact it different ways. Some have chosen to ban all chemical sales to individuals. UK is almost certain to go down the licensing route, due in no small part to us (UKPS members) being asked for our input. Again, thanks to Waynes contacts at the Home Office.

Like what?? This update of the current legislation has taken years and from what we have heard, the HSE are happy with the updates we have been informed about.

 

I think it IS time to get excited!

Too right mate!!

Wayne will no doubt correct me, but I think the next review is due in 2020 or something, so this will be law until then. If we behave ourselves and keep the pressure on it's possible that we may get even more concessions. 100g apples to all mixes that are not BP (or I believe in the new legislation, flash) for which acquire & keep will also be required, so no problem with candy rockets.

No one is more anti-legislation & dubious about the 'powers that be' than me, but I hear myself saying get excited - get VERY excited!

We had a guy from the Home Office at the AGM telling us about the current thinking. The legislation is not finalised, and several points were bought up at the AGM which I don't think they had considered, however...

Broadly, it looks like a £40 yearly licence will allow people to buy the things they want. Although £40 is a pain, the upside is NO ONE will be able to say you are not entitled to be in possession of the chemicals you need.

There are very few people waiting to get on the 'hidden forum'. We do try our best!

The reason we don't have thousands of members is complex. Fear (quite justified) of 'the knock', the general lack of desire of people to join things, the fact that for some people, experimental pyro is a very occasional hobby and often (I'm afraid) pure apathy.

We would love all the new members we can get. The more people we have, the more powerful we become & the less load there is on the poor old, over stretched committee! Any ideas to increase the membership gratefully received!

Though I am getting a bit off topic here...

Hi Peret.

We Brits are a reserved lot, but there does come a time when you can push us too far. If and when that happens we can and do bite back, and I would not want to be in government then...

This is a useful thread and the numbers from suppliers are encouraging.

However, I would suggest we avoid being too keen on getting into licensing,as there is still the option of 'no change'.

I will email the membership when I get a moment, but regrettably, this is far from being in the thousands...

Well they had no business being asleep anyway...

Just some consumer stuff for me - quite good though.

Hopefully this year will see my experimental facilities up and running - & then watch out!

Likewise & make your New Year's Resolution to do lots more for the UKPS - could be a pivital year...

Some good stuff in this programme as I recall.

Just that Jem Stansfield drives me barmy by jumping about six feet in the air every time there is a bang - what was he expecting?!!!

Not exactly my sort of music, but not bad.
 
Main thing is our son (and UKPS member) Matt was the lighting designer for the video and all the lighting was hired from him! If you are very quick, you can even see his name at the end of the credits...
 
Cooool!!

Don't usually venture into these regions, but you have to take a look at these chaps.

Saw them locally a while ago - awsome - and you won't hear me use that word very often!

This one for the rebels amongst you:

http://www.youtube.c...h?v=T-n8ITk6UWM

This one for the patriots:

http://www.youtube.c...h?v=P5h4PFBuzvw

Should cover most of you!

Sorry - no idea how you embed a video...

IC will tailor it to our requirements if we can fill a course - at least they have previously.

The theory now takes up a day - we have sometimes done a second 'practical' day, but this is probably of no great benefit to those who have already fired or taken part in a pro show...

Will contact Illuminate this week & see what they can offer us.

We would like to arrange a CAT 4 training course in the not too distant future.

We are looking at a venue somewhere around the Midlands and the cost is likely to be in the region of £120 for the day.

We would need 10 or more participants to make it viable, so before we start working on any more detail could you please put your name forward if you are interested. You need to be 18 or over, to train on CAT 4.

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