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Whoppa and Polaris like rockets-how good are they?


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#1 Guest_Anthony_*

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Posted 02 December 2005 - 11:18 AM

:) I am having a think ahead to New Year's Eve and would like to get a fistful of Whoppa and Polaris design display rockets to let off at midnight that evening. What's members experiences of the many different brands of these types of rockets and are any of them worth the money? Over to you! :D

Edited by Anthony, 02 December 2005 - 11:19 AM.


#2 JamesH

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Posted 02 December 2005 - 12:10 PM

I have had a few of those rockets in the past, and I must admit, I was very impressed with their performance. The gold willow whoppa is a real skyfiller, and has a perfectly symmetrical burst, I strongly recomend them.
Reviews on the whoppa, whoppa deluxe and polaris rockets can be found at www.firework-review.org.uk
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#3 Spyrotechnics

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Posted 02 December 2005 - 02:58 PM

don't think Anthony is able to access UKFR :unsure:


Whoppa certainly the better buy in my book - especieally the simple gold willow :)

#4 fishy1

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Posted 02 December 2005 - 03:37 PM

personally, i'd rather buy 5 decent size rockets for ?20 than spend it on one.

#5 sizzle

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Posted 02 December 2005 - 03:52 PM

Yes, I'd rather have more rockets with slightly smaller bursts for less money than one big one, you may have difficulty buying a Whoppa or Polaris as all rockets with sticks above 4' in length are now being banned in the UK. As far as i've been told they have now banned all imports so what's left in the country is all you'll get.
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#6 Guest_Anthony_*

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Posted 02 December 2005 - 03:55 PM

Yes, I'd rather have more rockets with slightly smaller bursts for less money than one big one, you may have difficulty buying a Whoppa or Polaris as all rockets with sticks above 4' in length are now being banned in the UK. As far as i've been told they have now banned all imports so what's left in the country is all you'll get.

This ban, does it affect WECO rockets too? Who is responsible for bringing about this sales ban? Is it the UK Govt, UK fireworks industry or Europe or the UN and why have they chose to target ALL large single rockets? Is is hazard classification or something deeper and more serious? What a sad day for the loss of large rockets! I can only see people getting hold of them illegally from Europe where these are legal and use them here. :(

Edited by Anthony, 02 December 2005 - 04:19 PM.


#7 Guest_Anthony_*

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Posted 02 December 2005 - 04:09 PM

ALSO will this mean assorted rocket selection packs containing small medium and large rockets in various sizes be outlawed as well? There are quite a few of these available. :D

#8 Spyrotechnics

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Posted 02 December 2005 - 05:18 PM

basically ANY rocket that contains more than 20g of powder (and that includes rocket motor, burst charge and effects) will be classed as 1.3G.

Currently around 98% of ALL rockets sold in the UK contain more than the 20g of powder and will therefore be reclassified as 1.3G with the obvious knock on effects with regards to storage and transportation etc etc.

The HSE have announced that the new classifications for fireworks (of which the above is part) will be applied from 01/01/2007, basically making 2006 the last year you will be able to buy a rocket with a half decent effect :(



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#9 Richard H

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Posted 02 December 2005 - 05:49 PM

You can practically say goodbye to anything containing more then 20g of powder including the motor. All but the smallest of rockets will be very difficult to buy. It is incorrect to say they will or have been banned, clearly they have not.

The UN has changed the hazard classification of rockets containing more than 20g of powder to 1.3G. Transport of these becomes very difficult now. Very few retailers will stock the larger or even the medium sized rockets from early 2007 onwards. It is estimated 98% of rockets currently on sale will soon disappear.

Only the larger and dedicated firework retailers might possibly continue to stock them, but transporting them to the customer is probably out of the question. The future for rockets looks rather bad folks.

See:
http://www.unece.org...G-21-inf03e.pdf

#10 fishy1

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Posted 02 December 2005 - 05:56 PM

You can practically say goodbye to anything containing more then 20g of powder including the motor. All but the smallest of rockets will be very difficult to buy. It is incorrect to say they will or have been banned, clearly they have not.

The UN has changed the hazard classification of rockets containing more than 20g of powder to 1.3G. Transport of these becomes very difficult now. Very few retailers will stock the larger or even the medium sized rockets from early 2007 onwards. It is estimated 98% of rockets currently on sale will soon disappear.

Only the larger and dedicated firework retailers might possibly continue to stock them, but transporting them to the customer is probably out of the question. The future for rockets looks rather bad folks.

See:
http://www.unece.org...G-21-inf03e.pdf




ah well, that is a pity.

hopefully by that time tho, i'll be onto bigger shells and will lose interest in rockets.

#11 The_Djinn

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Posted 02 December 2005 - 08:58 PM

I like the piece about the celebration crackers and fire fighters being hindered when 5 metres away... I have yet to see any firefighter etc get closer than 200 metres to any hazard material when it is burning let alone a fireworks container / factory blaze.

Didnt think much to the report for 2 reasons... to me UNDETERMINED comments.. means lack of proof to me and not enough pictures :) but I did like the hole shot through the witness plate by the roman candle.. just go's to show the power in cat4 candles.

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#12 PyroKid

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Posted 03 December 2005 - 10:49 PM

If you are on the look out for a rocket that is capable of providing a near professional burst, i would thoroughly reccomend Standard Firework's "Titanium I Super Rocket".

I purchased 3 of these beautys as part of the finale of a show that i put on for my brothers birthday and boy were they something.

They retail for about ?15.99 but in my opinion they are well worth it.
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#13 sizzle

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Posted 03 December 2005 - 10:54 PM

Also try Panda's: Galaxy Stars rocket ?14.99, Sattelite Voyage ?12.99, Super b**b ?12.99 and South Ending Rocket ?14.99

I've tried all three and found them fantastic, especially the Galaxy Stars and Super b**b as they're both double break, the Galaxy Stars is available in four different effects. Trust me, these are BIIIIIG rockets, the Galaxy Stars literally lit up the entire area for a second or two.
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#14 Spyrotechnics

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Posted 05 December 2005 - 10:24 AM

we stocked the Panda rockets this year and had really good feedback :)

#15 Guest_Anthony_*

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Posted 05 December 2005 - 10:56 AM

Let's just hope the UN doesn't decide to reclassify other Cat3 display fireworks and deliberately and spitefully take them out of the hands of the UK public and firework enthusiasts, that would be a disaster! :(




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