nater Posted March 18, 2014 Posted March 18, 2014 (edited) This is a work in progress right now, I pressed and fused 11 3/8" whistle inserts which will form a ring in a 3" cylinder shell. I need to make some 1/4" stars so it opens with color first, but I have not decided what color to make yet that would look alright with the sodium yellow whistle flame. Each insert has 3/4" of sali whistle with a small increment of BP on top and is matched and nosed. In the future, I will used tarred string to secure the half hitches on the nosing stay in place rather than a drop of glue. I will also place the nosing a little higher so it can be crimped around the match easier. Edited March 18, 2014 by nater
Wiley Posted March 18, 2014 Posted March 18, 2014 Are those whistle to report inserts, or just plain whistles? And, just to mess with ya, cylinder shells almost always improve with a bottom shot.
nater Posted March 18, 2014 Author Posted March 18, 2014 (edited) These are plain whistles, and no bottom shot. I have never made inserts like these before, so I want to be positive of the timing for everything before adding the reports. Don't worry though, I have some bottom shots rolled for other shells. I just hope I don't get laughed out of HPA for bringing a shell without one. I'm slowly working my way through the Fulcanelli papers, I'm planning on a 4" color with charcoal streamer inserts, a 2-break, double ring with bottom shot, a 5" 5-timed spider, bottom shot replaced with a larger spider shell, and a surprise on a rocket. I have supplies ready for up to a 6" cylinder. I have mortars from Consumer sized up to 6" Most are steel, but I want to get a 4", 5" and 6" in fiberglass as well. I think that is a good place to stop for now. One can make some impressive shells in those sizes too. Edited March 18, 2014 by nater
Wiley Posted March 18, 2014 Posted March 18, 2014 6" is pretty darn big; far larger than anything I'll be making for many years. Whenever someone mentions a 6" cylinder, I automatically think of that 3 break to lampare BS daylight shell on Youtube. Good stuff.
nater Posted March 18, 2014 Author Posted March 18, 2014 Recreating that shell is not on my radar just yet. If I make a 6" this year, it will just be a single break. Most of what I have in mind for this season are 4" shells.
Wiley Posted March 18, 2014 Posted March 18, 2014 Even a single break 6" holds a massive amount of "stuff" compared to what I'm used to. Whatever you make, I know I want to see it .
nater Posted April 12, 2014 Author Posted April 12, 2014 I changed my mind with this shell, and decided to build it as a day time shell. I prepared a bottom shot with a 3/4" spolette. For the first time, I used a spiral wound tube with end discs rather than a hand-rolled shot. One the paste wrap is dry, I will be able to roll the shell casing around the bottom shot.
nater Posted May 5, 2014 Author Posted May 5, 2014 This shell was finished with a paste wrap and lift, all ready to be fired this weekend.
nater Posted May 11, 2014 Author Posted May 11, 2014 I was not very happy with how the shell turned out. It did function as intended, it lifted intact to the proper height, the whistles whistled and the bottom shot timing was just fine. The 3/8" whistles were not very loud, although that batch of whistle was slow to begin with. The bottom shot was also quite weak. I used blue aluminum for the first time, and it must take a little more to get going than what I did. Oh well, lessons learned, at least the mechanics of the shell worked just fine. Better luck next time. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xeVFYDYKpEE
psyco_1322 Posted May 11, 2014 Posted May 11, 2014 Darn Nate, I hate it when I good shells turns into a flop. I used some crappy flash in my 3" draw out and it was pretty disappointing even though it all worked as it should.
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