Search found 1297 matches

by Insomniac
Sat Oct 08, 2011 2:30 am
Forum: Ammo & Parts
Topic: long range ammo MiniBoy Mark I
Replies: 591
Views: 84427

Not sure on how to colour the smoke, I really was never much of a cook so I have only very limited experience in baking cake. And if you superglue it, be careful. Superglue can hold a lot of weight, yes, but it's an acrylic bond. It can crack quite easily and I'm not certain it would be up to the ta...
by Insomniac
Fri Oct 07, 2011 10:40 pm
Forum: Ammo & Parts
Topic: long range ammo MiniBoy Mark I
Replies: 591
Views: 84427

Yes, the water rockets are rockets, BUT they have a fairly short duration of thrust. Neglect that part of the flight, and you have very similar situation to the miniboy. However the water rockets are quite draggy while the miniboy is not, meaning the mercury switch has even less of a chance of activ...
by Insomniac
Fri Oct 07, 2011 1:43 am
Forum: Ammo & Parts
Topic: long range ammo MiniBoy Mark I
Replies: 591
Views: 84427

Correct JSR, a level switch can still be a good idea because it will most definitely detect the impact. One thing to think about is that you might want to handle the projectile with gloves if you find it... the cake will probably break the tube and although it's only a little bit of mercury, it pays...
by Insomniac
Fri Oct 07, 2011 12:18 am
Forum: Ammo & Parts
Topic: long range ammo MiniBoy Mark I
Replies: 591
Views: 84427

To be honest, I prefer the idea of a purely ballistic projectile... No minimal thrust, no base-bleed... Just a well shaped dart being acted on by purely aerodynamic forces. I know no-one has the intention of turning the miniboy into a rocket, but all these discussions of cake being served mid-flight...
by Insomniac
Sun Oct 02, 2011 11:50 pm
Forum: Combustion Cannons
Topic: Why pyrodex should be ok with the batfe for use in spud guns
Replies: 27
Views: 5235

While I don't agree with you on all points, I can see some of your logic and won't argue them, having nil experience with solid propellants myself. The primary reason for not discussing them, as other members have pointed out, is the self-limiting nature of gasous propellants. You sound intelligent ...
by Insomniac
Thu Sep 29, 2011 3:20 am
Forum: Ammo & Parts
Topic: long range ammo MiniBoy Mark I
Replies: 591
Views: 84427

Sorry for not contributing anything, but I can't resist...

Link!

:D
by Insomniac
Thu Sep 29, 2011 2:29 am
Forum: Ammo & Parts
Topic: long range ammo MiniBoy Mark I
Replies: 591
Views: 84427

by Insomniac
Thu Sep 22, 2011 8:52 pm
Forum: Off-Topic Hobbies
Topic: Science and Engineering. Sould I buy an LED TV?
Replies: 16
Views: 2404

One thing to consider is the fact that heat has a SEVERE effect on LED life. If you want to do a true test, try this. Buy a single, high quality LED. Something along the lines of a CREE XP-G . Then use some thermal compound to attach it to a large heatsink (An old CPU heatsink would be ideal). Set u...
by Insomniac
Sun Sep 18, 2011 12:07 am
Forum: Off-Topic Hobbies
Topic: If anyone knows which scumbag stole my MTB, please tell me
Replies: 44
Views: 6485

We've had the same car stolen TWICE from outside the front of our house. The second time they tried to torch it, but before they set it alight (after dousing it with petrol), someone scared them off. So my parents were left with a damaged car which they couldn't claim fully on insurance. @LAG, we re...
by Insomniac
Sun Sep 18, 2011 12:01 am
Forum: Off-Topic Hobbies
Topic: Time for a new cell phone...looking for recommendations.
Replies: 37
Views: 5479

Zeus, may I ask which Huawei you have? Some of their older low-end phones were extremely slow (Ie the Ideos), but I can vouch for the Sonic being quite snappy for what it is. You can't really judge a phone's speed by its brand... My low-end Samsung Galaxy 5 pales next to my sister's newer, but still...
by Insomniac
Sat Sep 17, 2011 8:32 pm
Forum: Off-Topic Hobbies
Topic: Time for a new cell phone...looking for recommendations.
Replies: 37
Views: 5479

One phone you might look at is the Huawei sonic. It's a lower-end Android, but it runs 2.3 (The latest mobile version), has a decent sized screen which is nice and clear, supports all the standard features (multitouch, GPS, WiFi etc...), and isn't painfully slow. My sister has one (picked it up for ...
by Insomniac
Sun Aug 28, 2011 3:41 am
Forum: General How-To & Discussion
Topic: "implosion" launcher
Replies: 21
Views: 4025

Interesting concept, but it seems pretty flawed. There will be a lot of energy wasted deforming the inner chamber, and the inner chamber won't fully crumple, effectively creating a lot of dead space. Plus, there's a lot of surface area to cool the combustion gasses, which can't be good. Admittedly, ...
by Insomniac
Sat Aug 27, 2011 11:52 pm
Forum: Off-Topic Hobbies
Topic: Halogen to LED conversion help
Replies: 50
Views: 7474

The IR cut filters either appear pale turquoise or ruby red, depending on how they're viewed. Looking through one it will have a blue tint, while light reflected from the filter will be red (as it reflects deep red and IR light to function).
by Insomniac
Sat Aug 20, 2011 6:33 am
Forum: Off-Topic Hobbies
Topic: Halogen to LED conversion help
Replies: 50
Views: 7474

A white LED is a blue LED chip with a phosphor coating to add a yellowish red band into the mix. This combines to form what appears to be white light. White LEDs, to my knowledge, do not put out any significant IR nor UV. However, they do have a sharp peak in the deep blue end of the spectrum, which...
by Insomniac
Sun Aug 14, 2011 6:40 pm
Forum: Off-Topic Hobbies
Topic: Compressed air engine
Replies: 91
Views: 11152

JSR, how would a narrow cylinder prevent pressure loss? Unless, you have an enlarged area above the cylinder to increase the air used per stroke, a narrower cylinder is going to start with less air than a wider one, and result in the same pressure loss...