Sparky

Make them yourself....simples. I will also be buying a vast quantity very soon and stockpiling as many as you can reasonably need to tide me over until I work out how to get round the changes.

 

I genuinely respect and applaud all the efforts that certain people on here have made to try and protect the hobby and I hope we all can support them to continue. It is hardly the fault of this organisation or any individuals in it who actively trying to make things better but only partially succeed.

Our problem is we are a handful of enthusiasts with limited resources to meet the various requirements put upon us and we have almost no power. No one cares if we lose the right to buy e match or the right to make small quantities of pyrotechnic devices. The systems in place that create these regulations are not geared up to accommodate these unusual exceptions and we get treated like we were the same as a corporation.

There will always be ways around the restrictions and if you have a creative mind there will be a way. We do need to create a cooperative which contains people in the trade but who can help. I see no reason why we can't work together to create a semi-pro group run like a business with numerous part-time employees just like crew for a fireworks company. If re-enactors can do it then surely we can?

What would it take to create a Pyro Society that had a store, that had insurance, that offered training, that had explosives experts and legal experts to assist with the sharing of knowledge. Why can't we have a co-op of suppliers who can use the stores and supply chemicals via regular meets.

If some half wit can buy a container and stick it in a field in Essex and fill it with CAt2/3 fireworks and sell fireworks once a year out the back of a van LEGALLY then why is it we can't get our act together to start a pyro company that offers pyro services on a small scale but which legitimately empowers members (employees) to get training, get rated by the BPA, learn about A&K, by fusing for their part-time trade have the right to buy e match etc etc etc.

Am I just that naive?

We have people here with A&K. licenses to sell all manner of chemicals, explosives experts, legal; experts, people who run pro fireworks companies and we can't get a membership scheme in place to give everyone the chance to access training and get what they need to buy what they need.

It's a pretty poor show if you ask me and that is not a dig at the people who are trying it's a dig at people who just moan.

hi guys...in the uk since the 1988 firearms act amendments came into force shotguns with  barrels shorter than 24" are section 5 prohibited weapons the same as handguns,semi automatic centrefire rifles and automatic weapons...curiously electric stunguns fall into this category as well

 

Yes but BP revolvers, muzzle loading guns, signalling cannons etc do not fall into that category, Please wait for my application to be complete and approved or denied and I'll fill you all in.

 

People need to stop freaking out over this. The law is there to prevent people using hand guns and sawn off shotguns to commit crime. Not to stop and old fart like me enjoying a toy cannon that weighs 35lbs and could not be used to commit a crime unless I was built like Arnold Schwarzenegger.

 

I know what you are saying but then again all the rockets I've fired in this "category" seem way too light to be a well packed ball shell and they also make distinct rattling noise when you shake them. I know I shouldn't but I'm very tempted to do a dissection.

I would not mind a modest licensing process and fee to placate the morons in EU who actually think this legislation will prevent real terrorists from blowing people up.

However, we should not stand down from the Do Nothing option. This proposed legislation is total bollocks and we all know it. We are the electorate and this legislation is going to directly impact our lives for no good reason. We should be fighting this with every last drop of energy we have in our bodies. 

 

Let's get this in perspective shall we. Alcohol and smoking costs billions, kills millions and here we are feeling sheepish about making the odd pyro comp and setting it off as far from neighbours as possible. It makes me sick how we have been marginalised by numerous idiotic bureaucrats who have no interest in what we do and seek only to create a role for them and lifelong career.
 

If you wrap visco it definitely burns faster but not as quick as qm. It is definitely something you should keep in mind if you are using visco to time shells. 

Club together for a bulk buy?

I'm trying to think of a time when I might not wear shoes to fire fireworks

I make my dummy shells by adding rice as the filler. It's almost the perfect weight to replace a break charge and stars.

If everyone made something on that scale we could fire the worlds smallest display.

Not quite the same thing but I would spend hours laying all my fireworks out in categories. This was back in the days when you could spend hours choosing each and every firework you wanted (and I did spend hours!). I'd have fountains in one section, candles in another...then the huge stash of rockets and even shells when we were allowed to buy them. I will never forget buying my first box of 3 inch chinese shells. I'm sure my parents thought I was slightly odd.

Now everything comes in a pre-packed box, how dull.

OK hands up who used to take them apart and make an uber snap-it

Wow it makes damn fast BP!!!

That is all

Phil,

I was in the music business and ran a recording studio many moons ago so have plenty of experience with audio solutions. I'm not sure what size audiences you are looking at or what type of music and volume you want. A vocal PA is very different to one you want to pipe pop, dance or even classical music through.

However....

If you want to address a large field with 1000 or so people and you wanted the music to be a good volume e.g. something that will be nice and clear above chatter and fireworks then you would need a combined output in the region of 3 - 5k as a starting point (probably more). It's often better to spread a number of speakers over the area rather than 2 big main stacks but this causes cabling logistical problems. We used a 10K rig to perform to about 3,000 people but in a very tight outdoor area.

A 300W rig is really designed for quite small enclosed spaces and for a band would be a vocal rig only. We used to own a 1k rig and that was only just suitable for a small band in a pub venue and we only ran vocals and keys through it.

To be fair I don't have much experience with anythig other than bands or indoor clubs so I could be miles off. Being outdoors and the type of music and volume you need changes everything. I would contact a PA hire company and try a few solutions they recommend and see what you think. Try before you buy I think is the way forward.