Jellyfish effect

[wyzard10]

This year we got a cake called jellyfish. It was a 16 shot cake that had silver/white spinning things that were bowl shaped as they dropped. Any idea how this is accomplished? 76fireworks has a video of this effect, cake id number is MS373

[Mumbles]

The cake looks like it could be just flying fish fuse. For a bigger effect, something like a tourbillion might be better suited.

[nater]

Mumbles is correct. This is an insert from a candle with the same effect as that cake. I would expect identical construction.

 

[OblivionFall]

Last night at my local beach there was a big fireworks show and a couple of the shells had that same effect. Looks like little girandolas/dolas (whatever you call them) shooting through the air. Very cool indeed.

 

But yeah for big commercial shells they use Tourbillions, for a small shell like that they probably worked flying fish fuse into little spirals then stuffed them into a shell.

[Andres1511]

Hummers or whirlwinds/tourbillions (whatever you want them to call) are probably used. There's detailed information about their construction on skylighter.

[pyrojig]

I like the effect called jelly fish for areal shells . It is a half hemi filled with colored stars , and the other half usually a few streamer stars . This can create can be accompanied by a ring of streamers as well to create the bottom of the cap. It is a really wonderful effect when shot in a axis good for view. I like the larger shells that the Japanese do with the " ghost effect" in the cap. I find that these are possible in 4" but 6" shells are much easier to make the effect with .

[wyzard10]

^{Well I broke down and got one of the jellyfish cake and broke it down and it has the same fuse as in naters picture. I have experimented with it and flying fish fuse and there isn't a comparison. This fuse is very energetic and throws off sparks like a sparkler, any idea what kind of fuse this is?}

[MondoMage]

I believe the "trade" name for it is chrysanthemim fuse (Skylighter and others list it under that name). Bent into that particular shape, when it lights the fuse will spin, putting out an umbrella-shaped cloud of sparks.

[dynomike1]

Ok looks like we have gotten by the fish fuse. Does anyone actually know how to build a Jellyfish shell? I think i have it figured out, but i keep arguing with my self on which end apexes first, the heavy end or the light end of the shell.

[rogeryermaw]

If I remember correctly, to get a pattern shell to break in a specific orientation, typically, a drag line is used. I have heard some experiment with a finned tail but have no details on that. Those jellyfish round shells are pretty awesome!

[dynomike1]

I guess i could fuse it to where it starts back down, then the heavy end will go down first. Put the top of the jelly fish on the light end. Seems like it would be easier to weight one end of the shell, since you will only have 3-4 comets just under the head.

[MrB]

I guess i could fuse it to where it starts back down, then the heavy end will go down first. Put the top of the jelly fish on the light end. Seems like it would be easier to weight one end of the shell, since you will only have 3-4 comets just under the head.

Just weighting it wont be reliable. It just causes it to rotate around the offset center of mass. Implement drag. A length of rope is typically used.

B!

[dynomike1]

That may be what I have to do, or like Ned put fins on it.