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parmatar New user 11 Posts |
Ok, I'm new to prop building, and prop effects in general, but is there any way I could rig up a system to blast air so I could say, extinguish a candle from 10-15 ft away? Even better, I'd love to be able to adjust the strength of the blast, and/or shoot water as well. I understand tanks will be necessary, but could they be sized to fit in maybe a backpack? thanks.
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kaytracy Inner circle Central California 1793 Posts |
There are a few questions that need to be asked I think. If you want the "blast" of air to not be heard, then the outlet needs to be rather close to the candle- try blowing one out from across the room! The movement of air is fun to study, fluid mechanics I think it is called -Projectiles via air is another thing entirely (google Potato gun)
For a 15 foot shot, with just air- I would have the Actuator at the 15 foot mark, and the air hose right next to the item. Think Paint ball gun- without the paint ball.... For small amounts of water- Walt Noonan has some good stuff on his Flea Circus video, from making the air resevoir and control, to the water splash. These fit into a breifcase or small trunk- the entire Flea Circus! If you just want a candle that goes out- there are many possibilities.
Kay and Tory
www.Bizarremagick.com |
Michael Baker Eternal Order Near a river in the Midwest 11172 Posts |
~michael baker
The Magic Company |
Dave Fiscus New user 94 Posts |
The "airzooka" (see above link) toy is a recent version of a science novelty around for many years. I remember these toys from the late 1940s. The giant smoke rings sent out from the famous Time's Square billboard smoker's mouth were made using the same concept, but with smoke added. The air is expelled in a doughnut-shaped puff (a perfect smoke ring) and can easily travel 25 feet or more, depending on the size of the air chamber.
When I was a teacher my 6th grade science students made these from cans and rubber cut from big balloons. I once made a huge one from a barrel and a big sheet of rubber and was able to muss up a student's hair from 50-60 feet away! Basically the device is an air chamber with a piece of rubber across one end and a smaller diameter hole in the opposite end. We used a tin can with both ends removed. The front had a piece of cardboard taped on with a quarter-sized hole in it. The rubber was taped around the oposite end. When the rubber is stretched back (pinch the rubber or just tape a cord to the rubber's center to do this) , it draws air into the chamber. Releasing it expells the air rapidly out the front. The chamber size and the hole in the front controls the size of the puff. Now for your trick.. It is not practical to use this device in your situation because there is a puffing sound as the air is released. You'd have to think up a way to #1 silence the device; #2 mechanicaly trigger it a distance away (if you do a one-person act) and #3 the candle would be puffed out from the side.. pretty obvious something blew it out! You'd also have to fiddle with it before the show to sight it in so you wouldn't miss ther candle flame. If I wanted to put out a candle "remotely" I'd tape a flexible air tube to the rear and have the end of the tube right next to the flame. A squeeze ball would deliver the air. Better yet, try stringing the wick through a little metal tube, leaving enough still exposed to light. Raising the tube would likely extinguish the candle. Experiment with the simple stuff before buying air tanks! Dave |
parmatar New user 11 Posts |
Thanks a lot guys, I think I have the idea now. the squeeze ball seems to work better in my situation. cheers!
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