NightHawkInLight Posted September 2, 2010 Posted September 2, 2010 (edited) File Name: 3" Lampare TestFile Submitter: NightHawkInLightFile Submitted: 02 Sep 2010File Category: Aerial Shells A test of a new fireball comp before use in larger shells. Frame by frame the video shows some pretty cool images of the dust cloud before ignition. I apologize for the unedited clip. Lightly lifted... Click here to download this file Edited September 2, 2010 by NightHawkInLight
DonD13 Posted September 5, 2010 Posted September 5, 2010 Looks cool. It would obviously look better if it broke at apogee rather than on the way down, but I'm guessing you went light on the lift to avoid potential rupture at lift since you say it was a test shell. I've thought about trying my hand at some smaller lampare shells, I can't build bigger ones because of shoot site limitations, but 3" seems doable. Care to share any design info?
NightHawkInLight Posted September 5, 2010 Author Posted September 5, 2010 (edited) Looks cool. It would obviously look better if it broke at apogee rather than on the way down, but I'm guessing you went light on the lift to avoid potential rupture at lift since you say it was a test shell. I've thought about trying my hand at some smaller lampare shells, I can't build bigger ones because of shoot site limitations, but 3" seems doable. Care to share any design info?I actually tried to lift it lightly, since it's not an effect best seen at 1000 feet, but did not count on it being too small for the mortar. I've since fired another, but broke far too high. I've yet to figure out a happy medium. It doesn't help that my lift is very inconsistent at the moment. I'll be working on a video of my process in the next few days. I may get started tonight but it won't be posted for a little while. In the meantime, the fuel I use is a 50/50 mix of napthalene and charcoal blended together into a fine powder. It compacts easily into a solid mass, but turns back to dust instantly upon impact. Two properties that are ideal for this sort of thing. Update: Scratch that, I worked late and got the video posted: Edited September 5, 2010 by NightHawkInLight
dagabu Posted September 5, 2010 Posted September 5, 2010 Night, that is great! Where are you harvesting your naphthalene from? Are you able to purchase it in powder?
davis050594 Posted September 5, 2010 Posted September 5, 2010 (edited) I did something like this with cremora last night. I would like to try what you did. This made a much better fireball. Edited September 5, 2010 by davis050594
NightHawkInLight Posted September 5, 2010 Author Posted September 5, 2010 Night, that is great! Where are you harvesting your naphthalene from? Are you able to purchase it in powder?I have a source of powdered naphthalene, but I haven't tapped into it yet. For this I used mothballs and ground them together with the charcoal in a blender. If the charcoal is ground first it makes the process much easier, but it still clumps in the mill. Putting the balls in a sock first and smashing them with a hammer makes grinding go faster also. I also used some 'moth flakes' which are also naphthalene, and come in a form much easier to blend. Less comes in a box however and it is the same price as balls. Enoz is the brand name I believe, in a blue and white box.
davis050594 Posted September 5, 2010 Posted September 5, 2010 Do you think this would work with a flash break rather than bp?
NightHawkInLight Posted September 5, 2010 Author Posted September 5, 2010 Do you think this would work with a flash break rather than bp?Possibly, but the bright break may ruin the effect.
davis050594 Posted September 5, 2010 Posted September 5, 2010 Possibly, but the bright break may ruin the effect. Ok, that part was just curiosity. I bet dark flash would work. I'm going to try these with bp at the next club shoot.
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