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Path: utzoo!utcs!lsuc!pesnta!amdcad!fortune!horton
From: horton@fortune.UUCP (Randy Horton)
Newsgroups: net.rec
Subject: Re: Blowing things up
Message-ID: <5038@fortune.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 22-Feb-85 13:23:28 EST
Article-I.D.: fortune.5038
Posted: Fri Feb 22 13:23:28 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 23-Feb-85 03:41:40 EST
References: <579@unmvax.UUCP> <52300001@hpfcla.UUCP>
Organization: Fortune Systems, Redwood City, CA
Lines: 27


 > Does anyone else on the net like to blow things up or see huge fireballs?

I used to make model rockets which would blow up at the zenith of their flight,
using variations of the following formula:

potassium perchlorate
magnesium POWDER

This will create a brilliant white fireball.  Changing the proportions of the
ingredients will affect the rate of burn.  50/50 works well.

Adding sulfur creates a more powerful explosion, with a less dramatic fireball,
but I am told the combination is UNSTABLE.

Various other chemicals can be added to make the fireball different colors,
I don't remember for sure, but I think that these are right:

strontium nitrate- red
cupric oxide(?)- green

If enough people mail to me expressing interest, I will write or mail out an
article about exploding model rockets, boom and flash varieties, and how to
contruct and launch same while retaining life and all body parts :-).

Randy Horton
{dual,ihnp4,etc}!fortune!ranhome!randy