the quest for 8"stutatas

[fredhappy]

I am trying to master the stutata type of shell.They come both as canister types or round ones. I like building the round ones.

 

The stutata shell is basically a low breaking shell of shells. The mothershell is timed to go off in about 1 second after liftoff. For a standard shell of shells I normally use a 2 second delay.

These type of shells are very spectacular. It is important not to use too much lift.

 

I have been making quite a few of these lately. I have experimented with different timings. 8"is my preferred caliber for these type of shells. 14x2.5"insert fit in these ballshells just nicely . I've also build loads of 6"sos and stutatas, this calibre works nicely too.

 

When shooting these shells I used to overlift them quite a bit. This is more of a psychological issue for me. These shells are large, so I tend to overlift them . But I have noticed it is

best to view them as 2.5"shells instead of 8"ers. . They should not be shot too high, 60/70 meters is high enough for my taste.

 

http://youtu.be/vuy0Zwx3oAQ

 

Last NYE I'd made a whole bunch of these stutata (studata??) type of shells, in calibers 6 and 8". Only once a year I make salutes+salute inserts, so I experimented with these type of inserts for NYE.

My main issue with these shells were that they went far too high. For timing I relied on 6 mm bickford timefuse with a crossmatch. Although this method ensures 100% ignition , there was a slight delay caused

by the crossmatch, and this interfered with my preferred timings.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYPF2F9rQ2U

 

I've recently shot these stutata 8"ers. This time I'd used 10mm monetti timefuse. This timefuse is very superior to bickford timefuse. I view it as spolettes on a roll. No priming is necessary, although I

did tape some 5 strains of blackmatch over de timefuse just to be sure. I experimented with insert timings, but personally I like the inserts to go off all at once as oppposed to a more intervallic cadence.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qcgiyCh1js

 

I liked the timing of this stutata. Just a short piece of 12 mm timefuse. Please ignore the comet( too long) , it was a stupid decision of me to add one. I was standing relatively close to the mortar, and the effect was extremely spectacular. A big cloud of inserts completely surrounds you for a short moment...I love these type of shells...

[Hoppy]

Very nice, thank you for sharing. Now if only I had the time for 2-2.5" inserts I do see a few 6 & 8" hemis nearby that I would donate to making a 'stutata'

[WonderBoy]

Nice shells! I am happy that you are getting into studata type shells. I shot a pair in competition at PGI this past summer, which were inspired by the shell at 21:13 in this video:

 

 

I like the inserts to have several timings, creating a nice rhythm as the shell cycles. I use the "top hat" method of priming my time fuse which has given me pretty snappy timing.

 

I just might have a small studata prepared for a club shoot next weekend.

 

 

WB

[a_bab]

Fredhappy, the 2.5 inserts are round? For a shell of shells I guess they must be, so they develop a nice round pattern.

[burningRNX]

Verry cool, defenitly something to add to my to do list, I like those seperate "cluster timings" alot, and these have a perfect height imho.

Forgot to mention that last 5" collorchancing, good combination.

[fredhappy]

#a_bab: the inserts are round ones indeed.

 

#burning rnx: thank's for your comments. To be honest, I like the all-at-once timing the best, this gives the most spectacular effect and can be observed a lot in commercial stutatas.

 

I seem to have accidentily deleted my youtube uploads, I'll see if I can put them up again once I get home.

 

#wonderboy: very nice shell indeed, although it does seem to go quite high.

 

Again...these type of shells need to be timed short . It goes against ones natural inclination to shoot these football sized shells high , but they do work nicely at low altitudes.

 

I w

[psyco_1322]

Nice shells! I can understand your idea of breaking them low, so the effect is closer, but I'm not sure that's the route I will go. My 8" was in competition and I'm sure they wouldn't like it broke low, likely to deduct points. I also like to see to full effect as one when it's up in the air. Although a shell of salutes broke low would be a nice effect.

 

A 6" Ball of Doom

 

My 8" SOS

[fredhappy]

#psycho: yeah baby!!nice shells. I understand what you are saying about not being able to apreciate the full effect when it goes of low.

 

But that's the point with studata's, you should be a bit close. When viewed up close and personal, it is a truly magnificent experience to be completely surrounded by exploding inserts.

 

Ok, I ve upload the clips to my youtube again..me and my big clumsy fingers...

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNru6o9Goaw

these shell of shells were shot a bit high...personally I like them low, and with all-at-once timings for the inserts. But it is just a matter of personal preference.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6OeT0oS7GOs

14 mm delay...

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJyiGB0JcMQ

I liked this one the best..I was standing relatively close to the mortar, it just seemed like the sky exploded when the mothershell went off...

 

It's so much work for just a couple of seconds ,but I love these type of shells...

Edited January 28, 2013 by fredhappy

[Pretty green flame]

Fred, those Stutata Lampi shells (multi salute) are awesome. Also, a job well done on all of your shells.

[chemtech89]

I would like too see your videos but they have all been removed. Can you fix that?