Using Air Compressors for Explosions

identity

identity

Active member
In the extras for Band of Brothers, the effects guys was talking about how they used some type of compressed air technique to push debris up through a large bowl shaped object to create the explosions. According to him, this technique is safe for the actors, even if they are right on top of the bowl. I know that there are safety concerns in dealing with compressed air, so I don't wanna just try the "hold my beer and watch this!" approach :eek:. Does anyone have any experience/references/links/advice on how to do this?
 
Re: Using Air Compressors for Explosions

I saw a making of something and what they did was take a big bin full of foam created debris that looked liked boards/rocks/wall, and take an air nozzle from like a body shop nozzle and used that to catapult the stuff at the actors along with some baby powder and smoke machines to get it looking real. Nothing really there to hurt anyone unless they were allergic to baby powder.
 
Re: Using Air Compressors for Explosions

Cool, Thanks for the info. That sounds similar to what they did with B.O.B.
 
Re: Using Air Compressors for Explosions

i wish there was a site dedicated to this kind of stuff, its so interesting
 
Re: Using Air Compressors for Explosions

[quote author=identity link=board=fx;num=1098812762;start=0#0 date=10/26/04 at 10:46:02]According to him, this technique is safe for the actors, even if they are right on top of the bowl.[/quote]

Unless, of course, some of the material manages to be blown into an eye of an actor. Even small particles can do a lot of damage. Eye protection would be a good thing 8)
 
found this old thread after searching for 'explosion' and 'debris'...
does anyone have any new information on this air compressor technique? perhaps a link to a website or something? or something similar, home made, maybe?
 
fahreza said:
found this old thread after searching for 'explosion' and 'debris'...
does anyone have any new information on this air compressor technique? perhaps a link to a website or something? or something similar, home made, maybe?
Click to expand...

There was a thread discussing the Thunder Pipe...
http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?t=142557

Someday I'll get around to builiding one myself. I'd like to itemize and price all of the part's first. Maybe the guys at the hardware store could help select the right parts.
 
I was hired by a BBC TV show to build a compressed air powered cannon. The breif was to build a cannon to fire tennis balls and the finished device shoots tennis balls at 812mph (50mph faster than sound)

The cannon uses 100psi of air pressure, and the valve (piston valve) was custom made by myself, and it is the largest valve of its type ever made. It opens in 5ms and this is the reason why the cannon is so powerful.

The same cannon can be used to shoot debris, blood, mashed potato, anything really. If i put less air into the resovoir it shoots with less power. I can also but a 2x2 wooden stake into the barrel and bury it three feet into the lawn. Useful.

Here are some photos of it. The TV show was hosted by Richard Hammond so I named the cannon The Hamsterminator.

n506442569_690232_467.jpg

The plastic bag on the barrel is the Ammo store. (ball bag)

n506442569_572868_25.jpg


http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=dZ-sjJuqv7k
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=qpVNyBJx94c
 
Im not trying to kill the actors, the beuty of compressed air is its very controllable. If i stick 7bar (100ish PSI) int hat thing, yeah it would kill the acotrs, but if i put two bar (30psi) it just goes Poof nice and gently. Its very versatile.
 
This is my first take to compressed air explosions.....jus some dirt and dust.....but it looks good enough for me and it takes less than doing it in post.....

the setup, just and air compressor hooked to a PP chamber that is continously being fill, then a sprinkler valve lets the air through the barrel and voila..you have a small explosion...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=poZfAp85mdo

BTW, what material would you use to get a darker dust color?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top