24 replies to this topic

[phildunford]

The committee are putting together materials so that we can have a society stand at various public events, mainly displays, to promote UKPS.

Banners with the logo have already been produced. There will also be large pictures of fireworks, membership packs, future issues of Spark and T-Shirts (see other post).

It would be nice if there could also be (inert!) models of shells, perhaps crossectioned, maybe a whole mortar with a shell in it crossectioned. etc etc. These would act both as decoration for the stand and as talking points. They could be shown to members of the public both to educate and engage.

Would anyone be able to produce these items? It's important that they look quite professional, as that is the image we are trying to promote.

Does anyone have any other ideas for what we could show on the stand?

If you are willing to produce some of this display material could you please PM me.

[cooperman435]

This is well up my street!

If you guys want something in particular then just say so but I know Ive a spare 6" or 8" hemi half somwhere that could be used to good effect. How about a super sized cross sectional rocket engine showing the make up of a core and end burner design?

[Richard H]

Sounds good Phil. I'm sure Phil D shall be in touch.

[crystal palace fireworks]

Yes, cut-away shells and rockets showing the layers of composition could be shown using inert coated rice hulls, coated malteser`s or the like to show stars in layers of coloured tissue paper perhaps,..............these could be encased in perspex see-through presentation cubes in formaldahyde.

How about a tube rolling or a fuse making machine in action using inert compounds.........then there could be the lighting of a real fuse by a electric wire/remote box!

There could be a cut-away of a shell in a mortar tube showing the lift charge fuse in situ!

How about a few skylanterns using smart candles as decoration!

Safety clothing and litriture on display!

Pictures of old firework related memorabilia, old firework dummy casings, or a section showing banned fireworks from the old days (jumping jacks, bangers, air b**bs etc).

How about a few table fireworks in action (birthday sparklers, fountains in action).

[portfire]

I've already got 3 dummy shells. (not crossectioned though) 1 4" ball shell, 1 4" double break can shell and 1 4" can showing spiking. I'll upload some pics later to see what you think

[phildunford]

Hi Cooperman,

Your ideas are just what we are looking for. Digger is also up for some model making. I've asked him to get in touch with you so you don't do the same thing. Not that it would matter too much, as lots of models is better than none!

[phildunford]

I've already got 3 dummy shells. (not crossectioned though) 1 4" ball shell, 1 4" double break can shell and 1 4" can showing spiking. I'll upload some pics later to see what you think

Dean - just the sort of thing we are looking for.

The idea is they will be a gift/ semi permament loan to the society, as stand and equipment will probably be kept by one person so it can go on tour as a complete 'set'. So if they are things you use yourself, could you maybe make second set?

[karlfoxman]

I have a Maltese 6" 3 Break with Bottom shot dummy shell. I will try to find the picture I had of it sometime. Its inert and fully built with sand inside.

[phildunford]

Sounds great Karl.

I think I want to see this exhibition myself!

[portfire]

Sounds great Karl.

I think I want to see this exhibition myself!

I'll second that!!!

Anyway, here are the pics of the dummy shells.....Bear in mind I made these around 1 1/2 years ago....I'll be able to do a much better job now.



If Phil and Digger are happy to do the crossectioned shells, then I'll do the complete (semi) ones. I'm also more than happy to give these away.

Dean

[cooperman435]

Oh bugger! Now I have to make them look perfect next to yours Dean!

[Arthur Brown]

Especially valuable would be a dummy, sectioned with a poster or video of what that shell looks like in reality. However please be very careful to ensure that the display promotes good fireworks but does NOT prompt or teach people to make their own on the kitchen table. "A firework which does this (pic or vid), looks like this when it is made" is better than "If you take these chems and arrange them like this..............."

All the medical soaps (ER etc) are very careful NOT to show people how to do procedures so that people do not practise on their friends.

[portfire]

I completely agree Arthur, but one thing you have to think of is that if you have sectioned shells, showing stars, burst/lift charge etc, people will want to know what they are and what they do. Also people will probably want to know how certain effects are created, such as colors, glitters etc, and I see now harm in telling them. I'm not saying that you give them a formula, but rather what go's into a formula and it's function.

The area you have to be careful though, is if someone ask's you 'How do they make the really loud bangs' then what? You can tell them the 2 chems but not the quantities. That person then could go research and experiment, and maybe have a accident, or do you just tell the person 'I can't tell you for your, and other people's safety'. It's situations like this where we have to be careful.

[David]

I completely agree Arthur, but one thing you have to think of is that if you have sectioned shells, showing stars, burst/lift charge etc, people will want to know what they are and what they do. Also people will probably want to know how certain effects are created, such as colors, glitters etc, and I see now harm in telling them. I'm not saying that you give them a formula, but rather what go's into a formula and it's function.

I agree totally. People will naturally be curious- "How does that work", which is a good thing. Probably the best thing is just to have a clear disclaimer regarding the law.

Edited by David, 23 August 2008 - 10:35 AM.

[pyrotechnist]

I completely agree Arthur, but one thing you have to think of is that if you have sectioned shells, showing stars, burst/lift charge etc, people will want to know what they are and what they do. Also people will probably want to know how certain effects are created, such as colors, glitters etc, and I see now harm in telling them. I'm not saying that you give them a formula, but rather what go's into a formula and it's function.

The area you have to be careful though, is if someone ask's you 'How do they make the really loud bangs' then what? You can tell them the 2 chems but not the quantities. That person then could go research and experiment, and maybe have a accident, or do you just tell the person 'I can't tell you for your, and other people's safety'. It's situations like this where we have to be careful.

That is true but the easiest and far most cheapest method of making an explosive is to make black powder which nearly anyone can find the formula to. Anyone who wants to make flash powder may have a hard time obtaining aluminum or if they want to make the more energetic counter part with perc. Both chemicals and more so with perc are tricky to get hold off and ain't cheap. I ain't saying someone will not find the ingredients to make flash but just that it is unlikely.

I do believe we should state how the firework works and how colour is created and effects etc. We shouldn't hold ourself's back to much just because some idiot may want to blow himself up. No matter what we do or say we are always going to have an idiot who wants to try and create the biggest and loudest explosion and with todays technology that information is easy to find.

Edited by pyrotechnist, 23 August 2008 - 11:19 AM.