by Ned Gorski
This is Your Audience
This is a Big Honkin’ Fireworks Rocket
This is Your Audience on Fireworks Rockets!
Rockets
Obviously, in this introduction to rockets, we won’t be discussing military rockets, which have a long and rich history. Neither will we be discussing rockets designed for space exploration, which we’ll leave to NASA.
But leaving those aside, there is a wide variety of rocketry that folks can and do explore for purely recreational purposes. Such rockets include model rockets, amateur rockets, high-powered rockets, and fireworks rockets. The purpose of this article is to discuss fireworks rockets. However, in order to distinguish fireworks rockets from the other types, we will briefly mention and define each of these.
The following rocketry classifications and descriptions come from Wikipedia:
- Model rocketry: “A model rocket is a small rocket capable of being launched by anybody, to generally low altitudes (usually to around 100-500 m (300-1500 ft) for a 30 g (1 oz.) model) and recovered by a variety of means.”
Estes® rockets are an example of the types of rockets launched in model rocketry. Typically, only commercially manufactured rocket motors are used in model rocketry. However, one Skylighter project highlights the hobbyist manufacture of rocket motors for Estes® rockets.
Model Rocket
- “Amateur rocketry, sometimes known as amateur experimental rocketry or experimental rocketry is a hobby in which participants experiment with fuels and make their own rocket motors, launching a wide variety of types and sizes of rockets. Amateur rocketeers have been responsible for significant research into hybrid rocket motors, and have built and flown a variety of solid, liquid, and hybrid propellant motors.”
Skylighter sells many of the chemicals which are used in the manufacture of motors for amateur rockets.
Launch of an Amateur Rocket
- “High-power rocketry is a hobby similar to model rocketry, with the major difference being that higher impulse range (i.e., more powerful) motors are used. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) definition of a high-power rocket is one which has a total weight of more than 1500 grams and contains a motor or motors containing more than 62.5 grams of propellant or more than 160 Newton-seconds.”
Commercially manufactured motors are most frequently used in high-powered rocketry.
A High-Power Rocket Being Readied for Launch
- Fireworks Rockets
In his 1947 book Pyrotechnics, George Weingart uses the term “Sky Rockets” to refer to fireworks rockets.
From Wikipedia: “A skyrocket is a type of firework that uses a solid (fuel) rocket motor to rise quickly into the sky. At the apex of its ascent, it is usual for a variety of effects (stars, bangs, crackles, etc.) to be emitted. Skyrockets use various stabilization techniques to ensure the flight follows a predictable course, often a long stick attached to the side of the motor, but also including spin-stabilization or fins.”
Some fireworks rockets, which employ high-powered fuels such as whistle, strobe, or hybrid fuels, blur the distinction between fireworks rocketry and other types of recreational rocketry. In general, though, the presence of pyrotechnic effects intended for entertainment is the distinguishing characteristic of fireworks rockets.
Launch of a Large Fireworks Rocket by Dan Thames,
2-Inch Whistle Motor, 10-Inch Ball Shell Heading
Photo by Mark Stallings
Fireworks Rockets In-Depth
Except for the project on homemade Estes®-type rocket motors, mentioned above, the focus of this article and at Skylighter is on fireworks rockets. The description of fireworks rockets will be expanded upon in this section.
The purpose of fireworks rockets is entertainment. The rocket motor is often designed to provide an entertaining visual and/or audible effect, such as a long glittering or spark tail, or a loud ascending whistle.
Additionally, often the rocket motor is fitted with a “heading,” which creates a traditional fireworks display–for example, a loud report, a shell burst of stars, or a display of other types of fireworks inserts–at the end of the rocket’s powered flight.
Anatomy of a Fireworks Rocket
Cross Section of a Typical Fireworks Rocket
The diagram above shows the elements of a typical fireworks rocket. The top of the rocket is on the right, and the bottom of the rocket is on the left.
This rocket has three main components.
Continue Reading: Everything You Need to Know to Start Making Fireworks Rockets…
I see the 1/2″ ID rocket has the same green plastic faux-bamboo gardening stake stick as I used. What’s the Al foil on it for? To prevent the exhaust from burning/melting away the stick?
[Reply]
what is the point of the rocket stick?
thanks bob
[Reply]
Harry Gilliam Reply:
January 31st, 2012 at 9:08 PM
Bob, the rocket stick acts like the tail on a kite. Keeps it moving straight. –Harry
[Reply]
Nice rockets, you made something good
[Reply]
Topic: ‘dialing in” BP
I bought the tools and have had mixed success; its related to the strength of my black powder certainly. I have weighed carefully (digital scale) , coffee grinder the ingredients to dust, (sulfur and charcoal was already there) mixed in water slurry and whipped it for a while and set the mud in the sun. Re sieve again until I had dust.
What is my error, I get puny thrust, adding oxidizer and re blend does not improve it.
I backed off adding the larger grain charcoal to my mix, thinking I am short on oxidizer not fuel. When I did do so for the ‘tail’, my results were worse.
What is the secret, to getting a ‘hot’ powder?
Randy
[Reply]
PopPopH Reply:
September 29th, 2011 at 9:39 AM
Randy, I am new at this also but I have perfect results every time using the Red Gum BP ball milled for 8 hours and then screened through 20 mesh. For the 10 oz. batch of BP I kick the Potassium Nitrate up to 7.90 oz. That would be:
Potassium Nitrate: 7.90 oz
Charcoal 1.5 oz
Sulphur 1.0 oz
You can get the Ball Mill for $39.00 (Rock Tumbler) at HarborFreight.com and modify it the same way (easy) described in here.
[Reply]
PopPopH Reply:
September 29th, 2011 at 9:48 AM
Randy I forgot to mention that the instructions for making Red Gum BP is at Skylighters. Also it sounds like your BP mix in a slurry had way too much water and the water leeched out the Nitrate. The Red Gum Powder uses Denatured Alcohol to disolve the 3 grams of Red Gum (for a 10 oz batch) and the Powder should be more like a Putty and not too wet and screened while it is wet and rescreened when it dries. I use this powder in my Stingers and 1/2 id BP rockets. You know whn these take off cause it sounds like an F-16 launching off of a Carrier Deck…….Scaled down of course to hobby level.
[Reply]
Another one was a steam engine ( which was common in those days ). The engine appeared first then the tracks. Once that was completed the wheels turned and what appeared to be smoke came out of the stack.
I didn’t know LSD was available in the ’40′s.. Just kidding. Looking forward to more info.
[Reply]
Addendum to above, Im have eliminated the clay nozzle and they still blow up.
[Reply]
Paul Cloyd Reply:
August 10th, 2011 at 7:10 PM
Dale, you probably have a hot powder that is too loose in the motor casing, too loose could either be large bp grains or not pressed tightly. You can mill your powder down to a finer grade and if hammering it in the motor, use smaller increments of powder per press. I think if you are comfortable with the density of the powder you can add 2-5% charcoal and slow the burn rate down. Hope this helps.
[Reply]
what do you use to ignite a bp rocket? Is it illegal to make fp in the us?
[Reply]
Well I have had some interesting situations ,when a friend of mine and I launch my
home made rockets. Mainly because I live in town and can not test them until I go way way out to his place. Consiquently we have been lucky to have to have rockets cato and headings go off shooting stars and such all around us. But the other day we
had one of my whistle rockets cato. It was a 3 LB . And my friend was laughing at the same time saying OWWWWWWWWW. He must have got hit with a piece of unburnt
fuel. It hit him hard enough to cause and instant bruse the size of a quarter. He was
busting up laughing at the same time saying wow that realy hurt.. We will probably
start wearing safty glasses from now on. So I can see how the on your back wondering what the F__just happend could happen. But never let them make you stop.
We must continue to blow up our back yard and be FREE FREE to blow up ourselfe if we want to. Keep on thinking free.
[Reply]
bob Reply:
June 22nd, 2011 at 8:26 PM
what cinde of fuel are you using
[Reply]
I would just like to say that I think your website is great! I really enjoy reading the newsletters and articles in your archives. This may sound dumb, but one of these days I am going to order from Skylighter!!! Just got some things to get first.
[Reply]
Brilliant Harry. Thanks.
[Reply]
Years ago, back in the 40′s I had seen some beautiful fire works one year and had never seen them again. The fire works that I had seen was awesome. When the rocket burst open a scene appeared. I recall one that was a wicker basket that was brown in color unfold. When the basket was formed green vines with leaves grew. After the leaves roses of different colors blossomed. The entire picture lasted tor a long time.
Another one was a steam engine ( which was common in those days ). The engine appeared first then the tracks. Once that was completed the wheels turned and what appeared to be smoke came out of the stack.
The last one that I can recall was the USA flag. It started with the flag pole then the flag unfolded with the 48 stars with the red stripes on it. Seems like there may have been a second rocket that was fired at the same time or seconds later where a bald headed eagle was shown as flying, meaning the wings were or appeared to be moving as a bird in flight.
Since then I have yet to see any of the fire works display up to this day.
How was any of this done ? I imagine that it cost a small fortune at that time period and a far great cost to make that today. Sure would love to see that again also, would love to learn how to make them myself.
If it’s of any interest or importance I had seen this as a child in Vandergrift, Pennsylvania in the mid 40′s.
Frank
[Reply]
Irish buck Reply:
October 10th, 2010 at 11:47 PM
At the worlds fair in spokane (4th of july) 1974 I think .The displays showed the moon landing, old Abraham and George quite cool.
[Reply]
Frank Reply:
October 11th, 2010 at 11:13 PM
Hi Irish Buck,
That must have been an awesome site to see. I’m sure glad that that skill wasn’t lost through out the years. I sure would love to learn how to make those types of rocket displays.
[Reply]
Frank Reply:
October 11th, 2010 at 11:41 PM
Hi Buck,
Do you have any ideas as to how they made those types of rocket displays ? I would think that they must have had several rockets bundled together then separated to make the displays come alive. Just a guess.
Anyone have any ideas ? It sure would be a challenge to make with great expense as well but, really worth the effort.
Frank
[Reply]
Robert Reply:
February 21st, 2012 at 6:01 PM
Assuming your description is accurate as to the effect, it is conceivable the wicker basket with flowers was an aerial display, but to make a brown colored basket, it would’ve had to be a smoke effect in a daylight display.
The other descriptions could not have been aerial displays. The most sophisticated shell or skyrocket stabilization techniques could not produce an effect of such detail. You must’ve conflated an aerial display of shells and/or rockets with some ground works that were part of the same show. You’re describing transforming set pieces, wherein lances (colored fire sticks) attached to an erected framework are fused to fire partly simultaneously and partly sequentially to “paint” moving pictures in the dark.
[Reply]
Very good article. I just wish you had some video’s like youtube video or something
[Reply]
Safety 101 (How not to test fire a black powder engine)
My first accident in 63 years.
It was getting late, and I decided to static test fire one of my 4oz rocket engines in the back yard. I had a stand made for it, so the engine would be strapped onto the stand with the nozzle pointing up. I decided to fire it from my workshop, using an old battery powered ignition controller. I would observe the ignition standing behind the workshop door. So far, all was going well.
I dug out some old igniters, but they were so old, that when I pre-tested one, it fell apart, including the ignition switch on the old controller. Not wanting to give up, I decided to use a piece of (old fuse) I had. The fuse is suppose to burn at a rate of 2 feet per minute. I cut off 15 seconds worth, to give myself enough time to get up the steps, and into my workshop before ignition. Even though it had rained all day, and enerything was soaked, I had the garden hose ready, just in case, and positioned the test stand about 5 feet from the steps to my workshop door. So far, so good.
Things start going down hill quickly. As soon as I lit the fuse, it started burning reeeeeal fast. I thought “Oh shi**”!
I turned and made a dash for my workshop door. The last thing I remembered was lying on my back, looking at the ceiling of the porch over the door to my workshop. I tried to get up, and crawl to safety behind the workshop door, but was in so much pain, all I could do was lay there, (about 6 feet from the untested engine), hoping the engine wouldn’t malfunction. While I was struggling to get to my feet, the engine ignited. It made one hell’ve racket, that got the attention of my wife, who was in the kitchen fixing dinner. She looked out the kitchen window and saw me rolling around on the workshop porch (trying to get up), and thought I had been hurt by the rocket engine. By the time she made it out to my workshop, I had managed to get to my feet. That’s when I realized what had happened. I was in such a hurry to escape the rapid burning fuse, the sole of one of my aging house slippers came loose, and caught on the lip of the bottom rung of the (3) wooden steps to my workshop. I apparently made a grab for the railing as I fell.
About that time the pain set in. My left shoulder hurt like a son-of-a- *&^%$#$. When I looked at it, I noticed I had dislocated the arm bone(it was sticking out where it wasn’t supposed to). I popped it back in place with the palm of my right hand. That smarted a bit too! Then my wife said “what happened to your knee”? It was bleeding profusely. I apparently laid it open when it hit the steps, as the rest of me was on it’s way to meet up with the porch floor. When I decided to go inside and clean my knee, I noticed my right foot didn’t work so well. Four of my five toes were looking straight up at me as if to say, “what did you do that for”? When I fell up the steps, besides dislocating my shoulder, gashing my knee, I bent my toes backwards on my right foot. I was apparently in so much pain form my other acrobatics, I didn’t notice the toes had been rearranged.
I managed to hobble in to work the following day, but was sorer than a 10 cent call girl. There was something good that came out of all the chaos. My experimental engine worked great. Unfortunately, all I got to see was the ceiling of my workshop porch!
Moral of the story:
Don’t wear old house slippers with a loose sole while testing a new rocket engine.
Never use old fuse to ignite an experimental engine.
Never use an old ignition controller to test fire an experimental engine.
Never attempt to use an old igniter to test fire an experimental engine.
Never try to out run an old fuse.
[Reply]
Frank Reply:
October 11th, 2010 at 11:36 PM
Thanks for the great tips my friend. I’m not laughing at your pain but, your creative ability to put your story into humor that makes it interesting to read.
Just a suggestion; next time try wearing safety shoes and a fire retardant fireman’s clothes. A heat protective helmet would be in order as well.
Good luck on the next testing of a rocket motor.
Frank
[Reply]
Bob Gross Reply:
October 12th, 2010 at 12:10 AM
Frank, I’m pleased that you enjoyed the true story. I couldn’t help but laugh myself when I looked down, and saw my toes pointing straight up.
The accident shows what can happen during a moment of stupidity. I have been sucessfully building black powder rockets since I was 12 years old. I still love the smell of the burnt powder.
Be safe…
Bob Gross
[Reply]