Path: utzoo!utgpu!watmath!clyde!att!osu-cis!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!rutgers!sunybcs!kitty!larry
From: larry@kitty.UUCP (Larry Lippman)
Newsgroups: sci.electronics
Subject: Re: 9-volt / rocket launcher?
Summary: Changing times; more on explosives
Message-ID: <2873@kitty.UUCP>
Date: 29 Dec 88 16:56:40 GMT
References: <2557@ddsw1.MCS.COM> <2862@kitty.UUCP> <12974@cup.portal.com> <14335@oberon.USC.EDU>
Organization: Recognition Research Corp., Clarence, NY
Lines: 77

In article <14335@oberon.USC.EDU>, annala@neuro.usc.edu (A J Annala) writes:
> No one refered the original
> poster to the 1960's vintage books on building larger model rockets out
> of aluminum pipes filled with star shaped propellant castings with all
> of the appropriate safety precautions spelled out in great detail.  I
> don't recall the name of the specific book or author ... but we had a
> lot of fun as teenagers building 6 foot long 3 inch diameter rockets
> with a much longer range and higher boost capability than any estes
> product outside of their ramjet engines.  Only one of these "devices"
> blew up on the pad ... and as a consequence of the safety instructions
> my crew and I were all well protected behind our earthen bunker.

	Times have changed.  What was acceptable in the 1960's may not
be acceptable today due to increased congnizance of health, safety and
environmental issues.  Many restrictions on the use and transportion of
pyrotechnic and explosive devices have occured since those in existance
in the 1960's.  A 6 foot 3 inch diameter rocket filled with propellant
will hardly be considered a "model rocket" today!   Furthermore, not
everyone follows safety instructions, expecially with respect to the
effort involved in building an "earthen bunker".

> Personally, if I wanted to build bombs I'd buy military surplus goods
> containing the appropriate detonators, propellants, and explosives.  I
> wouldn't bother trying to jury rig some home brew detonators ... they
> are just going to be far too dangerous.

	I'm glad that you agree "home brew detonators" would be "far too
dangerous".  Guess what?  You can't buy them military surplus, either.
Explosives, propellants and detonators (with the sole exception of
some magneto "blasting machines" which have occasionally turned up) have
_never_ been lawfully sold as military surplus.  Even the sale of surplus
small arms ammunition was halted by the Defense Logistics Agency in the
1950's.

> As far as other uses for this
> information (e.g. the flame on reviewing the possibility of using flash
> bulbs as reliable ignitors for gun powder), has anyone considered going
> into the special effects business (e.g. fake explosions with a lot of
> flash and no concussion?) for assisting in movie making.  We at USC have
> a very good film school ... and this is just the kind of advice which
> would be helpful in setting up such innocuous explosions safely.

	Explosives use for legitimate motion picture operations is carefully
regulated, and any special effects technician involved will be required to
have the same licenses and permits (which vary from state to state, in
addition to involving ATF) as one who handles explosives for say, a mining
operation.  There are almost no unregulated pyrotechnic products used in
motion picture production, with the possible exception of lycopodium powder.
Do you think that the USC "film school" is a free-for-all for anyone who
wants to devise new explosives under the guise of motion picture use?  Get
real.  Don't take my word for it, though; ask someone who is professionally
involved with motion picture production.

	There is a REAL PROBLEM, TODAY, involving the construction of
pipe bombs and other explosive devices by juveniles and high school
students.  In 1988, less than six miles from where I live there were
two pipe bomb explosions in high schools.  In the incident which occurred
at Lancaster (NY) High School, the intended victim (yes, there was one)
lost some fingers, in addition to sustaining other injuries.  In the
incident which occurred at Akron (NY) High School, a pipe bomb exploded
in a locker, spraying a hallway with shrapnel - just five minutes before
class change (fortunately no one was injured - 5 minutes difference
would have resulted in carnage).

	Someone sent me email claiming that the poster of the article
posing the original question about building detonators was only 13 years
old.  It is true that sufficient information exists in the public domain
with respect to construction of detonators and explosive devices.  If
someone wants it that badly - and has the intelligence and maturity to
know where to look - they will find it.  Under the circumstances, however,
it is irresponsible for anyone to post such explicit information to the
Net - expescially for the benefit of a 13-year old!

<>  Larry Lippman @ Recognition Research Corp., Clarence, New York
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