Author Topic: Bowling ball tracer or smoke (Read 2154 times)

Reynoldsfx2 · « **on:** February 20, 2013, 07:39:59 AM »

Has anyone added smoke or tracer effects to their bowling balls launched out of their mortars?

Victor3 · « **Reply #1 on:** February 21, 2013, 12:07:22 AM »

You might try some glow in the dark paint.

Talk of pyro 'stuff' added to projectiles (other than small "firecracker" type guns) is generally frowned upon here...

RocklockI · « **Reply #2 on:** February 21, 2013, 07:42:29 AM »

I've wondered about the same thing !

I saw a BB mortar at Cutbank I think someone's ashes where in the finger holes IIRC

It made a nice arc with aches spewing out but they were all gone by the time it hit the ground .

I've thought of installing a small estes rocket motor in the hole . The burn time on these is very short then a delay ,then a smoke trail .

Of course I am not recomending this to anyone .....just thinking .

Maybe just flour in all three holes, one hole open the other two filled with flour and almost sealed off with tape ,so the flour might leak out slower and 'trace' all the way to the ground .

Gary

DieselNate · « **Reply #3 on:** February 21, 2013, 09:28:24 AM »

Well I can imagine that "pyro stuff" might be a bit of a fire hazard but in theory one could do a sugar saltpeter paste and fill the finger holes with the mixture while adding a small length of fast fuse then load said bowling ball/fire hazard with the finger holes pointed at the charge. Probably best shot over water or in the sand dunes.
Or the colored chalk you get for chalk lines in the finger holes with a pipe plug in the hole with an orafice drilled in the center and experiment with the size of the orafice for chalk release.
Nate

Cannoneer · « **Reply #4 on:** February 25, 2013, 04:46:11 AM »

Welcome to the board, Reynoldsfx2. It must be the kid in me, but ever since you opened this topic, I can't get this it out of my head.

First of all, I would never do this unless the mortar was sending the ball over a body of water that it couldn't possibly traverse (don't want to start a grass fire).

I was thinking of common road safety flares placed in the finger holes. The finger holes might have to be enlarged and all three holes deepened, but all that could be worked out pretty easily. I'd imagine that it would be a treat to watch the ball rotating and tracing an arc across the night sky.

The only thing I can't figure out is a safe way to light the flares (3) and then set the ball in the tube over the charge.

If the BB with unlit flares was fired out of the mortar, would the flame blowing past the ball through the windage, be enough to light the flares?

I suppose it's a moot point anyway, because what would be the point of doing this unless it was dark; and if it was that dark, how could you be sure that no one was on the water?

Double D · « **Reply #5 on:** February 25, 2013, 05:04:32 AM »

Cyalume sticks work very nice and won't explode or start fires.

DieselNate · « **Reply #6 on:** February 25, 2013, 02:33:54 PM »

Glow sticks Brilliant!

Victor3 · « **Reply #7 on:** February 26, 2013, 12:28:48 AM »

Quote from: Cannoneer on February 25, 2013, 04:46:11 AM

I was thinking of common road safety flares placed in the finger holes. The finger holes might have to be enlarged and all three holes deepened, but all that could be worked out pretty easily. I'd imagine that it would be a treat to watch the ball rotating and tracing an arc across the night sky.

That would probably end up as a "one shot deal" as road flares burn very hot and would melt the plastic into a blob. Couldn't reuse the ball with a 2nd set of flares.

Cannon Cocker · « **Reply #8 on:** February 26, 2013, 02:59:06 PM »

The simplest thing would be to tape some fuse in the finger holes. You could also shoot whistles (fireworks type) by sticking them in the finger holes. Wrap them with tape to create the right diameter. It would give that "bombs being dropped in a movie" type effect. Cut the fuse close, and fire with it facing the breech. You would also see the fuse on these and have a sound and visual effect. For use over water or secure non flammable area only of course.

RocklockI · « **Reply #9 on:** February 26, 2013, 06:07:33 PM »

I may be silly ,but I thought BBs float . Maybe just under the water ,IIRC Ernie said something about that at Cutbank 1.

As I am a sailor I would be be not be pleased to run over BBs floating in the water .

May be I'm wrong ....?

Gary

DieselNate · « **Reply #10 on:** February 26, 2013, 07:35:58 PM »

Quote from: RocklockI on February 26, 2013, 06:07:33 PM

I may be silly, as I am a sailor ...? ,but I thought BBs float .

Gary

Hey Sailor Gary the twelve pounders are just about neutrally buoyant (depends allot on water temp) so anything under 12 will float in fresh water and a twelve pounder will definitely float in the ocean. I will have a BB mortar in the near future and have already purchased 100 BBs of the 100 about half are 10lbs or less. they will be used exclusively at Salton sea and retrieved with the boat.
Nate

Cannoneer · « **Reply #11 on:** February 27, 2013, 04:24:48 AM »

Recalling some of DD's and Ernie's past BB mortar posts, (as Nate said) they did report some float and some don't. Hey, I'm not concerned about dinging some dinghy's bow, I'd be worried about one descending from the heavens and landing on someones crown.

In fact the other might be kind of humorous;

Old salt Tracy: "What the ------ was that."

Cap'n Rocklock: "I'll be --------- if we haven't just been rammed by a -------- bowling ball."

Old salt Mike: "Get the eyeglass and scan that beach for any sign of those two -------------- Doug and Ernie".

Zulu · « **Reply #12 on:** February 27, 2013, 04:29:35 AM »

Quote from: Cannoneer on February 27, 2013, 04:24:48 AM

Recalling some of DD's and Ernie's past BB mortar posts, (as Nate said) they did report some float and some don't. Hey, I'm not concerned about dinging some dinghy's bow, I'd be worried about one descending from the heavens and landing on someones crown.

In fact the other might be kind of humorous;

Old salt Tracy: "What the ------ was that."

Cap'n Rocklock: "I'll be --------- if we haven't just been rammed by a -------- bowling ball."

Old salt Mike: "Get the eyeglass and scan that beach for any sign of those two -------------- Doug and Ernie".

Old Salt Tracy: "Wait a minute, I want to measure the exact dimensions of the ball and trace the sphere on a piece of paper."

seacoastartillery · « **Reply #13 on:** February 27, 2013, 05:40:30 AM »

Yep, that would be me, Michael. Too many years inspecting rocket parts including the destruct mechanism which holds an explosive charge to completely destroy a rocket with a haywire trajectory so it doesn't land on Mickey Mouse in Orlando!

As far as the topic is concerned, Mike and I decided quite some time ago to go with Glo Sticks as DD mentioned, They are the only reliable method we can think of that will NOT start a fire. However, it would not be responsible to fire during complete darkness. Bovine critters can wander into the impact zone unseen. We would fire only at twilight's last gleaming after completely scanning the zone with binoculars.

Tracy

Victor3 · « **Reply #14 on:** February 28, 2013, 01:44:01 AM »

What about LED?

I've bought piles of these when they go on sale (and I see they're on sale now)...

http://www.batteryjunction.com/titanium-keylight.html

Buck a pop with battery included and you can get them in white, red, green or blue LED.

Tracers aside, I recommend these to anyone who wants a great disposable keychain light. I've tried similar that cost much more but with no better function, light output or battery life. I have them stashed anywhere I might need one, some over 3 years old and still working fine.

Cannon Cocker · « **Reply #15 on:** February 28, 2013, 07:36:46 AM »

Quote from: Victor3 on February 28, 2013, 01:44:01 AM

What about LED?

I've bought piles of these when they go on sale (and I see they're on sale now)...

http://www.batteryjunction.com/titanium-keylight.html

Buck a pop with battery included and you can get them in white, red, green or blue LED.

Tracers aside, I recommend these to anyone who wants a great disposable keychain light. I've tried similar that cost much more but with no better function, light output or battery life. I have them stashed anywhere I might need one, some over 3 years old and still working fine.

Best idea yet. You would also be able to find it that night in the dark.

Double D · « **Reply #16 on:** February 28, 2013, 01:00:35 PM »

Quote from: Cannon Cocker on February 28, 2013, 07:36:46 AM

Best idea yet. You would also be able to find it that night in the dark.

If they survived firing and impact. I have key chain spy camera I am going to try also...firing and impact is my biggest concern.

Victor3 · « **Reply #17 on:** February 28, 2013, 10:30:12 PM »

Quote from: Double D on February 28, 2013, 01:00:35 PM

Quote from: Cannon Cocker on February 28, 2013, 07:36:46 AM

Best idea yet. You would also be able to find it that night in the dark.

If they survived firing and impact. I have key chain spy camera I am going to try also...firing and impact is my biggest concern.

They seem pretty sturdy. Maybe if you stuck them in the finger holes, taped over them with clear packing tape and positioned them toward the muzzle they might would be okay.

Victor3 · « **Reply #18 on:** March 02, 2013, 09:36:11 PM »

Okay, I saw the ultimate at the $ store today..... 2 for a buck glow sticks with a whistle. Light and sound effects.

http://www.99only.com/club99/glow-whistle-assorted-2-pack

michaelfreeland · « **Reply #19 on:** March 04, 2013, 08:27:51 AM »

As the resident "Pyro Guy" I use smoke compound from Skylighter, press it in the holes, let it dry in 1" increments, prime it with BP dissoved in Nitrocellulose Lacquer, and am VERY CAREFUL about where I shoot them.
Be very careful with anything that burns past apogee. Only YOU can prevent forest fires.

Onit12345 · « **Reply #20 on:** March 05, 2013, 02:51:25 PM »

How about the falling leaves fuse they have on skylighter? I would attach a foot of fuse in the finger hole with glue then make a round cardboard disk with a small hole in it to pass a little of the fuse into your black powder charge to light it. I know it sounds confusing, you will first load the bp, then cardboard disk with a little of the fuse passing through it touching the bp, then load the bb, and leave the extra foot of fuse between the Bb and cardboard so when you light your charge the bp will light the portion of the fuse u have passing through the cardboard and not the entire fuse all at once.
Hope this makes sense

Cannoneer · « **Reply #21 on:** March 05, 2013, 11:11:07 PM »

Three cheers to the last two posters (Michael & Onit) for steering us out of the land of Oz.
Good grief boys, I was starting to feel a little too dandified here.
Maybe a wrong assumption on my part, but I always thought we dealt with things that go boom, bang, pop, ziiip, whizz, zooom, etc.. Ha!

Double D · « **Reply #22 on:** March 06, 2013, 12:45:00 AM »

How about this. Just shoot the bowling ball with out anything....you can see it go for a long long ways.

michaelfreeland · « **Reply #23 on:** March 06, 2013, 05:05:04 AM »

AMEN to That !
We made a fixture for what my buddy calls "Whistler" balls; essentially 30+ finger holes, evenly spaced on the surface. We use the 6Lb Kiddie balls for these, and they scream the whole way

Cannoneer · « **Reply #24 on:** March 06, 2013, 05:58:03 AM »

Yes Douglas, that's fine for daylight hours, but we're talkin' about some "zero dark thirty" maneuvers here; although colored smoke trails would look great in daylight.

This should please everyone; well, you can't please everyone, but maybe it'll please someone.

Okay, we still go with a body of water that the charge can't possibly send the BB over.

We also go with the 12-pounders and fill the deepened thumb hole with molten lead; this should put to sleep any fears of a floating mine.

Night vision equipment: Scan the entire perimeter for ships, boats, canoes, kayaks, sea otters, etc.; all clear, green light launch.

I don't care if it's flares, pyrotechnic compound, magnesium, etc., as long as it burns bright and lasts the duration of the flight. Event must be recorded for posterity.

Victor - Flares, or whatever else burning and melting the finger holes is a moot point, because the ball's goin' down in the deep. In fact the burnt out holes might be of benefit to any homeless crab that decides to appropriate it for their abode; just imagine the leg muscles the crab's going to develop totin' that thing around.

GGaskill · « **Reply #25 on:** March 06, 2013, 10:41:04 AM »

If you use 13 pound balls and heavier, they will sink by themselves.

Victor3 · « **Reply #26 on:** March 07, 2013, 12:34:48 AM »

Quote from: seacoastartillery on February 27, 2013, 05:40:30 AM

However, it would not be responsible to fire during complete darkness. Bovine critters can wander into the impact zone unseen. We would fire only at twilight's last gleaming after completely scanning the zone with binoculars.

Tracy

Wait a minute....You guys got cows with night vision goggles in Colorado or what? How on Earth do you boys tip 'em if they can see you coming?

Unseen? With the advent of 30K candle power spotlights I can now detect a cow from two miles away. And they usually aren't moving all that fast at night.

Cannoneer · « **Reply #27 on:** March 07, 2013, 04:58:19 AM »

Quote from: GGaskill on March 06, 2013, 10:41:04 AM

If you use 13 pound balls and heavier, they will sink by themselves.

That's even better, if the 13-pounders are sure to sink, then that gives us one more hole to fill with something that will stimulate the audio/visual senses; and then AlGore won't be able to complain about the lead, or maybe he's so engrossed in his Swiss bank accounts right about now that he wouldn't even notice.