[Arthur Brown]

Thanks to Phil There is a nother spark on the doorstep for members.

[martyn]

Thanks for another edition Phil.
Re: the Dave Smith article, you ask if anyone knows of cheap high speed video cameras.
Have you considered using the movie mode of a still camera?
I knw some of the Casio, and presumably other makes can shoot over 1000fps.

[starseeker]

Thank you phil,

the spark magazine and John bennets Fireworks all in one week!

[scjb]

Bit OT, sorry!

I've not read the article in question, but I have been using the Casio EX-FH20 for a while. The high-speed modes are fine, especially when you consider the price-point! At 1000fps the resolution drops right down (all the way to 224x56 pixels), but if you're zoomed in and looking at something in particular it's adequate for analysis. The 210fps mode is great, and even at the limited-sounding 480x360 resolution it's possible to take some gorgeous movies. It also offers a 40fps burst at 7MP resolution... got some great pics out of that mode!

Sorry again for the tangent.

EDIT: SPaG

This post has been edited by scjb: 09 February 2012 - 08:50 PM

[dave]

martyn, on 08 February 2012 - 08:36 PM, said:

Thanks for another edition Phil.
Re: the Dave Smith article, you ask if anyone knows of cheap high speed video cameras.
Have you considered using the movie mode of a still camera?
I knw some of the Casio, and presumably other makes can shoot over 1000fps.

i guess it might be time to check out some of the new (er) cameras, i find this sort of thing interesting.

might also be useful for small scale model explosions (think thunderbirds)

dave

[Peret]

I particularly enjoyed this passage from the children's book, which couldn't possibly be written today:

"But chlorate - as the first is called for short - is such a fiery fellow, and dislikes the yellow sulphur so much, that an explosion is likely to occur if the two get much together; therefore at Messers. Brock's they are kept entirely apart. Here is a chlorate mixing shed, there is a sulphur room. You might remember that fact in your own chemical experiments and firework doings."

Ah, the age of innocence! No internet forums to warn them, no You Tube tutorials to guide them, no interfering busybodies with surveillance cameras to stop them; just free access to chlorate, sulfur, and probably magnesium, paris green and calomel as well. We've lost so much.

[crystal palace fireworks]

Peret, on 13 February 2012 - 11:21 PM, said:

I particularly enjoyed this passage from the children's book, which couldn't possibly be written today:

"But chlorate - as the first is called for short - is such a fiery fellow, and dislikes the yellow sulphur so much, that an explosion is likely to occur if the two get much together; therefore at Messers. Brock's they are kept entirely apart. Here is a chlorate mixing shed, there is a sulphur room. You might remember that fact in your own chemical experiments and firework doings."

Ah, the age of innocence! No internet forums to warn them, no You Tube tutorials to guide them, no interfering busybodies with surveillance cameras to stop them; just free access to chlorate, sulfur, and probably magnesium, paris green and calomel as well. We've lost so much.

Glad you enjoyed it, I also thought the photo of the large mobile shell launcher with wheels was interesting = this must have fired there largest 25 inch shell, but what do you make of the huge globe for the set piece? could this have behaved like a mechanical gyroscope? Im also unsure of what to make of the `Fire Balloon` wording/caption under the photo of man loading a shell into a tube? what was this firework?

[Masterchief]

Hi, I still have not received my issue of spark

[Richard H]

Hi Karl,

Does the membership secretary have your correct address? Might be worth a quick email to membership@...

[Peret]

crystal palace fireworks, on 14 February 2012 - 03:34 AM, said:

Im also unsure of what to make of the `Fire Balloon` wording/caption under the photo of man loading a shell into a tube? what was this firework?

I believe it's just an old term for a shell. I looked in my Cutbush (1825) and found he uses the terms "shell" for the paper case and "balloon" for the finished firework, viz. "The thickness of a shell for a balloon of 4 inches 2-5ths, must be 1/2 an inch."

While I was looking, I think I found the ultimate unobtanium pyrotechnic ingredient - "scraped ivory". But since only one ounce was required for 49 pounds of other ingredients, it can probably be omitted without upsetting the performance too much.

[maxman]

Thanks to Phil and the team for another issue of spark With regard to Fireworks mag that has recently arrived, I looked on the http://www.fireworks-mag.org/curr.html website and was reading what was going to be in the current issue in the Also section "Collection of firework recipes;" yet I can't see this in the magazine?? Does anyone know if this has been dropped or am I looking in the wrong place? I was also somewhat disappointed not to find any article from the UKPS!

On the subject of cameras, I have just got a Panasonic TZ20 that I have had a little play with. The HD video is fantastic at 1080I and there is also a slow motion setting that records at I think 220 frames per sec. I've not tried it with fireworks yet but am expecting good results as the sensor has now been changed from CCD to MOS which eliminates that horrible vertical purple streak that plagues all CCD camera recordings when bright light is present.

Maxman

[phildunford]

maxman, on 16 February 2012 - 01:28 PM, said:

I was also somewhat disappointed not to find any article from the UKPS!

Maxman

I'm afraid I have been too busy to put anything together for John Bennett's magazine this time... I usually manage to get two or three articles in there (thanks John). Maybe after our elections, there will be some 'new blood' willing to put pen to paper...