11 replies to this topic

[Sambo]

Hi, im going to attempt to make a 6" peony with a lampare pistil.
My question is it possible? Has anyone seen it done?
I was thinking of using a double petal set-up with the inner petal using naphthalene as the lampare effect.
Any thoughts on this method?

Sam

Edited by Sambo, 27 June 2008 - 06:22 PM.

[Arthur Brown]

Pistil - very probably worth a fag packet design

Pistol - we do not make firearms here! Please be very careful this is a case where spelling could be dangerous.

[Sambo]

sorry im useless at spelling lol.
Any thoughts?

[pyromaniac303]

Sounds like a good idea, but due to the dimmer flame from the lampare shell, you will have to make the stars a charcoal based comp, or something similar in brightness, then change to the brighter coloured stars after a second or 2 to get the full effect of the fireball created. Can't wait to see the video if you get round to making it.

[dr thrust]

that sounds a good idea i found a video here 5" chrysanthemum 8 to green stars to show the effect pyromaniac 303 has suggested, even on its own its a beautiful shell, just got to imagine the pistil , i hope you build it to, it sounds like an interesting project

Edited by chris m, 27 June 2008 - 11:34 PM.

[seymour]

I have seen a video of this effect. I believe it was a "compartment style" shell, that is a two break canister, one break the Lampare effect and the other break the stars. Instead of using a spollette or timefuse between them, a hollow spollette tube with blackmatch strands through it is used to ensure that both of the joined shells burst simultaneously giving the effect of one break. Passfire members will know what I'm talking about.

As with all lampares that I have seen on video, the effect did not seem very impressive, perhaps they pack more of a punch in real life? I'm sure a member who has experience in viewing these things in person can clear this up.

Sambo, I see several shortfalls of your plan. If you plan on doing a spherical shell as peony implies, assuming the lampare is an inert object taking up a large part of the fairly limited space you have in a 6" shell, the symetry is very likely to suffer. However a lampare is not inert, and assuming you are doing the conventional flash + liquid fuel (not that you necessarily are, there are alternatives I am sure) that will affect the break even more than if it is inert. I can see all the stars being shattered or blowing blind if they are anything but primed to the maximum and bound with Gum Arabic or similar.

I cannot see a 4" spherical lampare (about the very most you could cram into a 6" shell) being all that impressive.

Do not take this as encouragement to give up, please prove me wrong!

Good luck

[pyrotrev]

The way I've heard of doing this is with concentric shells, the inner holds stars + burst, the outer casing has a filling plug and is filled with petrol etc. just before firing. Obviously the inner shell has to be well coated and with a kind of spollette tube to communicate the fire from the lift to the delay fuse. It can be made to work, it would likely work best with blue stars since they're not so bright normally and the colour contrasts well.

[Sambo]

Thanks for the input everyone.
I'd prefer to use a solid fuel rather than a liquid for the lampare just due to ease of containment. Ill probably use naphthalene spiked with fine granulated bp to help fire propagate to the stars, with a 5g flashbag in the centre to get it going.
Ill roll some crys 6 onto my blues now and give that way a go.

Cheers

[Sambo]

Just finished the shell now, sorry i have no construction pics.

In the end i opted for using naphthalene spiked with approx 5% 3Fg, 5-10% fast willow bp from mill, and some bp on rice hulls to bulk it out a bit.
I used a 5g flash bag in the centre and 5g flash mixed with the rice hulls used for burst.
It was basically a double petal but i didn't use a inner hemi, i formed the cavity with a 4" hemi then removed it and put the spiked naphthalene in the cavity. The shell is plastic, i wasn't in the mood for pasting lol.
Ill post a vid as soon as i fire it, hope the weather cheers up soon

Sam

Edited by Sambo, 03 July 2008 - 11:43 AM.

[Sambo]

I fired the shell last night, sorry i don’t have a vid the camera batteries died

The shell didn’t seem to have a visible fireball as a pistil so i am unsure if i just didn't see it or it burned up way to quickly to be noticeable, i could have confirmed this if only it was filmed. All the outside stars lit perfectly which makes me think that the naphthalene did light but didn't burn for long enough.
The brake was also slightly weak due to the lack of burst.

I might have another attempt just using a 8" hemi so i can fit more "lampare" into the centre, and using diesel in a baggy.

[Mumbles]

I discussed this with a friend the other day. As far as I can tell, he invented the effect. It is so easy, you'll want to kick yourself. Pyrotrev had it right. The pistil term threw me off too. It's more of a lampare outer petal that the stars are ejected through. Shell is in the middle, and the lampare is built around it. He said he only uses plastic shells for this, actually the only use for plastic shells that he has. Sealed shell in the middle, and the outside is filled in with the fuel, he uses liquid. A hole is drilled where the leader loop usually goes, and fuel is pumped in with an RC mechanical fuel pump. "Hot glue the living piss out of the hole" and you're done. The fireball is actually relatively bright so metallic stars are just fine. I particularly liked it with red, but have never seen blue or purple which I would imagine would also be very good.

He said the only down side is that you're competing in a 6" category with a 4" shell so you have to break the inner petal hard(flash).

This would probably work with a solid fuel too actually.

[Sambo]

Thanks Mumbles, ill give it a go when i get some plastic 4" hemis.

Cheers
Sam