Pirotecnia Posted September 29, 2012 Share Posted September 29, 2012 Hello! Today i've found this piece of a broken chinese fireworks shell. I found an unusual thing (i think). A hole at the top, like the hole that japanese make to fill their double petal shells. I never seen that before on a chinese shell. Give your opinion! Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mortartube Posted September 30, 2012 Share Posted September 30, 2012 It might be a Horsetail shell. It is my understanding that these are made with a weak point so that they burst with a bouquet effect rather than a harder looking break. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fredhappy Posted September 30, 2012 Share Posted September 30, 2012 (edited) It's definitely not a horsetail shell. These are predominantly cannister type of shells, not round ones. With horsetail shells the break is placed underneath the stars, and the stars are expelled through the top of the cannister. The lid is the weakest part with these type of shells. Horsetails somewhat resemble a mine type of construction. I use the loading hole technique for building shell of shells, it helps a lot with fitting as much inserts as possible into a round ballshell . It is more likely that this is a pattern shell. I have seen shell autopsies on passfire where they use the loading hole technique for these type of shells. So it's probable some kind of pattern shell, or a shell of shells. Did you actually see the shell fired to which these pieces belong to??? Edited September 30, 2012 by fredhappy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pirotecnia Posted September 30, 2012 Author Share Posted September 30, 2012 It's definitely not a horsetail shell. These are predominantly cannister type of shells, not round ones. With horsetail shells the break is placed underneath the stars, and the stars are expelled through the top of the cannister. The lid is the weakest part with these type of shells. Horsetails somewhat resemble a mine type of construction. I use the loading hole technique for building shell of shells, it helps a lot with fitting as much inserts as possible into a round ballshell . It is more likely that this is a pattern shell. I have seen shell autopsies on passfire where they use the loading hole technique for these type of shells. So it's probable some kind of pattern shell, or a shell of shells. Did you actually see the shell fired to which these pieces belong to??? Well, it has been fired during a show, so, i don't know. But i think what you wrote is the most probable reality. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FREAKYDUTCHMEN Posted October 19, 2012 Share Posted October 19, 2012 It's definitely not a horsetail shell. These are predominantly cannister type of shells, not round ones. With horsetail shells the break is placed underneath the stars, and the stars are expelled through the top of the cannister. The lid is the weakest part with these type of shells. Horsetails somewhat resemble a mine type of construction. I use the loading hole technique for building shell of shells, it helps a lot with fitting as much inserts as possible into a round ballshell . It is more likely that this is a pattern shell. I have seen shell autopsies on passfire where they use the loading hole technique for these type of shells. So it's probable some kind of pattern shell, or a shell of shells. Did you actually see the shell fired to which these pieces belong to??? Your theory is totally wrong fred. I think it's a horsetail actually, they are mostly round shells completely filled with stars. Can you check the amount of layers pirotecnia? And can you show us the inside of the hemi? Sometimes you'll find prints of the stars.Closing a horsetail at the top helps to fill stars as much as possible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pirotecnia Posted October 19, 2012 Author Share Posted October 19, 2012 Your theory is totally wrong fred. I think it's a horsetail actually, they are mostly round shells completely filled with stars. Can you check the amount of layers pirotecnia? And can you show us the inside of the hemi? Sometimes you'll find prints of the stars.Closing a horsetail at the top helps to fill stars as much as possible. Hi, Yes, it has about 3 layers and there are prints of the stars in the casing.Although, the shell not broked at the top hole. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FREAKYDUTCHMEN Posted October 22, 2012 Share Posted October 22, 2012 Can you show us a picture of the inside? How big were the stars? Horsetails mostly break at the equator of the shell. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pirotecnia Posted October 22, 2012 Author Share Posted October 22, 2012 Here is a photo of the star prints in the strowboard. I don't know the size of the stars.. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ExplosiveCoek Posted October 23, 2012 Share Posted October 23, 2012 If you measure the distance between two spots, you'll know the diameter of the stars . Actually 2*radius of two stars. However, assuming that the stars are equal in size, you'll get the diameter of an average star used in this shell. How big was the shell, 5'', 6''? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pirotecnia Posted October 23, 2012 Author Share Posted October 23, 2012 Well, the stars has 2 cm of diameter and the shell, 6 inches. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FREAKYDUTCHMEN Posted October 23, 2012 Share Posted October 23, 2012 Then it's a horsetail for sure ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FREAKYDUTCHMEN Posted October 23, 2012 Share Posted October 23, 2012 Ahh and fredhappy, the shape of the horsetail is made because the shell is still moving upwards when it breaks. Use about 25% more liftpowder than you normally would Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fredhappy Posted October 23, 2012 Share Posted October 23, 2012 I am not ashamed to admit I was wrong on this one, I've learned something new.. I will try and build one asap, I ve accumulated lots of stars already, it seems like a fun thing to try and build. best Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dagabu Posted October 23, 2012 Share Posted October 23, 2012 This is what we call a horse tail in the USA: http://louisianafireworks.files.wordpress.com/2011/12/horsetail.jpg -dag Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nater Posted October 24, 2012 Share Posted October 24, 2012 Nice picture there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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