29 replies to this topic

[brocade]

Yeah i made a number of drying trays some years ago and use piped heat to aid drying process.

The lampblack stars appear to be ready they have dried to a good solid consistency. Ive tried a couple of stars burning on the ground to check they are burning correct, from what can be seen from these ground level burns these should produce an awsome shell. I will be assembling a couple of 6" shells with lampblack stars tomorrow.

[robert johnson]

Wait till you have actually fired the shell. These stars are one the types that burn differently when moving through an airflow which really does make them awesom.
By the way I presume you dont wrap your shell cases when joined and rely on a good joint created by a good rolling technique.

[brocade]

Yes I built 2 x 6" shells with lampblack stars earlier today cases used are plastic round type. Joining of shell case I use dichloromethane in a shallow pot, I pull the shell cases approx 3mm apart at the join line and then rotate in dichloromethane for 1 min approx, then pull halfs together and then place in some clamps ive made and brush around join line with some more dichloromethane and then leave dry for a number of hours. I will test fire these tomorrow and report results in the brocade post

[robert johnson]

Do you use tissue paper in the case halfs before the stars are put in to make handling the halfs easier to handle when constucting them as well as tissue for the burst. Anything larger than 4" shells I do as it does make the handling much easier.

If you need tissue I have about 300 large sheets in heavy and lite weight grades[not the type that glass ware products come in for packaging as it is to porous.]

[brocade]

Yes I use modelling tissue when making my shells on any shell 4" or above I use a layer placed touching the inside of the case and then place one layer of stars directly on this, then place another layer of tissue on top of stars and then place burst inside this tissue. I find this method makes the shell easier to work with and is good practice in that it keeps the burst seperate form the stars.

Yes I keep a good stock of modelling tissue.

[robert johnson]

Forgot to mention elsewhere. Are you able to make ring or saturn shells increably easy to make. Last year for a bit of fun I made an 8" pattern shell of a part of a mans anatomy and got the full burst on video . will have to let you see it as the shell worked quite well,otherwise ring shells are fairly simple to make but I would not waste my time on anything less than a 6" shell

[brocade]

I have to admit yes i have done pattern shells including rings, double rings, bowties, saturn shells and stars and have found these very easy to do and not to much pyro used.

Although I have to confess I have never considered doing the anatomy of a man I suppose im just not that way inclined id much rather get it together with a woman hey but what ever takes your fancy.

[robert johnson]

I think exposing your self is a public order offence I did not think of that. I wander what showed up on air traffic controls radar screen. I mean an 8" is not stealth is it.?

[robert johnson]

Ps i am not bragging

[robert johnson]

What have you been up to, Is it a wee windy where you are tonight?

I spent the day working on some 5" crossete mines using a Titanium flake comp. I think it should be good ,the only time I have used this mix before was on some candles [40mm id] which worked very well,they are going to dry for 7 days then they should be ready for next weekend.

[Rhodri]

Hi Robert / Brocade

Many thanks for your detailed replies regarding colours. I was out of the country for a week so couldn't reply - the information you provided was excellent!

I'll try to source some PVC as a Cl Donor - will let you know of my results.

Rhod

[robert johnson]

I hope that you were on a Firework convention and not a holiday.

[Rhodri]

Unfortunately not. Work calls.

Have sent you a U2U.....

[Matt]

hey, I just thought i would bring up this thread again, im wondering if any of you fine people had learned/made something that your not tellin' us about! haha, just curious as to what everyones been up to recently, we all know that pyro master has his rockets working shmick, What about the rest of you? Ive upraded my rockets (in length/core length) and now they take up film cannister sized shells easily, might put something a bit heavier on em anyway, gotta run i have exams today

-Matt

[bernie]

Went looking back at this thread since Matt brought it back up. Mr. Johnson appears to be making some big bore rockets. A 13mm spindle 'usually' means a 39mm bore rocket. I can't seem to recollect how long a spindle like this is.
I have a short spindle design for a 0.75" i.d bore tube. It requires a very fast bp rocket propellant. A cross between an end burner and trad. It is also adapts itself to a slow whistle comp as well. Either one can't carry much of a payload. A traditional bp rocket spindle is very long in comparison.
Have you ever experimented with whistle tooling Mr. Johnson? Rabenklau(sp) makes some real nifty rockets. They always looked top heavy to me. Not the kind of thing most people think of when they picture a typical NASA type rocket. You ever strap any crosettes on the top of yours?:cool: