7 replies to this topic

[Arthur Brown]

Just been talking pyro with a friend who mentioned Pagoda Shells but couldn't describe them, can anyone describe what they look like in action please.

[Sparky]

I think they get their name from the sea shells of the same name. I'm not surprised he had trouble describing the effect, I've seen videos of what I think you mean and I'm struggling to know how to explain what they do 

 

They behave similarly to a maltese multibreak canister shell in so far as they break a number of times during the final part of the ascent but not like a multibreak ball shell. The ones I've seen are not particularly hard breaking and the effect was a circle of stars two or three times and then horsetails at the peak.

No idea how they are constructed! I'm sure someone will know more and be able to explain better lol.

[pyrotrev]

Originally a Japanese invention I think, they have various different kinds of rising effects. All the ones I've seen are from vulcan, though Essex pyrotecnics kind of did a DIY kit of a bundle 4 2" shells (affectionately known as Panda Bollocks) with sequential delays that you can add to a shell of your choice.

[starseeker]

I think Trev that they were also called rising flowers

[Arthur Brown]

Thanks! PDC a picture really was worth a thousand words, The drawing on the box suggested a Chinese wish lantern, but when I saw the vid the "pagoda" becomes obvious.

[Sparky]

Thanks! PDC a picture really was worth a thousand words, The drawing on the box suggested a Chinese wish lantern, but when I saw the vid the "pagoda" becomes obvious.

 

Hey I thought my wordy description was pretty good actually ;-)

[Karl Mitchell-Shead]

Pagoda shell, just a shell with garnish, which usually takes the form of the main burst but in a smaller effect. Loads of them on YouTube.