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Fun, danger, and 70s airplane toys

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Re: Fun, danger, and 70s airplane toys

#131

Post by 1970-01-01 »

implements wrote: post #113
JasonFruit wrote: post #97

We removed the engine from my control line model and made a much more dangerous device! We mounted three wheels on the edge of a Frisbee and mounted the engine vertically in the cut out center. Then we started it and let it uncontrollably bounce, fly, and spin around the driveway, scattering gravel, until it ran out of gas or quit running from sheer abuse.

Wasn’t there a flying toy where an engine was mounted between two counter-rotating disks? (80s or before, possibly)

I remember playing with one of these. I remember it went up and never came back down.

https://www.flyingdiscmuseum.com/novelty/multi-piece/h242871...

Re: Fun, danger, and 70s airplane toys

#132

Post by dtgriscom »

thesaintlives wrote: post #112
tragomaskhalos wrote: post #85

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Saltpetre was available from chemists (ie pharmacies) in the UK, but me and my pals had limited success making decent gunpowder with it - I strongly suspect it was heavily laced with some form of fire retardant precisely to thwart pyromaniacal little herberts like us.

Dry all parts. Mix in food blender, bingo!

... hopefully the "bingo" is delayed until after the mixing process.

Re: Fun, danger, and 70s airplane toys

#133

Post by nibbleshifter »

FatActor wrote: post #130

What I remember most of mine was the smell of the exhaust: a bit like overdone cheeseburgers. Let's talk about Estes model rocket D-size engine bazookas. Because that's where the 70's really shined.

"Inadvisable experiments with Estes motors" was a staple of the 2000's for me.

Unfortunately around 2009 or so there was a change in regulations that made them practically unobtainium in my home country, the importer started getting demands from customs for an "explosives permit".

Re: Fun, danger, and 70s airplane toys

#134

Post by nibbleshifter »

tragomaskhalos wrote: post #85
denton-scratch wrote: post #68

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So regulate charcoal. And black powder requires saltpetre, and doesn't require nitric acid. You can make saltpetre from piss, but I don't know how. And is black powder so scary? You can get it out of firecrackers, which are sold (here) without ID, although I guess you might have to prove your age to buy fireworks. It doesn't detonate, so it can't be used to prime a high-explosive like ammonium nitrate fertilizer.

Saltpetre was available from chemists (ie pharmacies) in the UK, but me and my pals had limited success making decent gunpowder with it - I strongly suspect it was heavily laced with some form of fire retardant precisely to thwart pyromaniacal little herberts like us.

Its still sold in the UK for certain culinary purposes, surprisingly enough.

As for why your experiments weren't as spectacular as you hoped: the particular charcoal you use is really important. Its best to make your own with a paint can, some willow, a nail, and a campfire.

Adequate crushing of components into floury powder follows, then adequate mixing, and ideally wet-pressing and corning.

Source: an extremely misspent youth.

Re: Fun, danger, and 70s airplane toys

#135

Post by djmips »

denton-scratch wrote: post #64
greenbit wrote: post #49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Those sure were different times. I recall in the mid 1970s, as a kid no less, being able to go into a pharmacy and buy sulfur or KNO3 w/o any trouble at all. However it wasn't more than a couple years later, when a request for phosphorus was met with an icy "do I need to call your mother" stare, that my budding career as a chemist came to an end. Besides, the Radio Shack across the street had this computer set up for…

Sulphur? My local hardware store sells flours of sulphur for gardeners. It's used for acidulating soil, and for combatting some kinds of fungus. I don't know why anyone would want to regulate the sale of elemental sulphur; it's not toxic, caustic or explosive. It's less flammable than a piece of wood.

I would collect sulphur - good quality from near the railroad tracks as small amounts would inevitably bounce out onto the ground from large shipments going by.

Re: Fun, danger, and 70s airplane toys

#136

Post by djmips »

euroderf wrote: post #42
tragomaskhalos wrote: post #19

The 70s really were another country - see also: chemistry sets. These are pale and anodyne things now with a mere handful of bland household-level chemicals - assuming you can even find one in a toy shop at all. But as a lad these were both readily available and full of dozens of intriguing substances that would send a modern health and safety wonk into apoplexy. Who among us did not incinerate all of the supplied ma…

Who among us lit up the chunk of sulphur and (out of innocent curiosity) took a good snork off it, realizing too late that it was a stupid thing to do ? I sure did. Tinkering with chemistry also motivated me to look for sources of hydrochloric and sulphuric acids, but in New York state the guy at the pharmacy said I needed parental permission. Wasn't gonna happen.

You found out why they called it brimstone! I did exactly what you did as a kid and I wondered if it didn't permanently damage my lungs...

Re: Fun, danger, and 70s airplane toys

#138

Post by xkcd-sucks »

greenbit wrote: post #49
tragomaskhalos wrote: post #19

The 70s really were another country - see also: chemistry sets. These are pale and anodyne things now with a mere handful of bland household-level chemicals - assuming you can even find one in a toy shop at all. But as a lad these were both readily available and full of dozens of intriguing substances that would send a modern health and safety wonk into apoplexy. Who among us did not incinerate all of the supplied ma…

Those sure were different times. I recall in the mid 1970s, as a kid no less, being able to go into a pharmacy and buy sulfur or KNO3 w/o any trouble at all. However it wasn't more than a couple years later, when a request for phosphorus was met with an icy "do I need to call your mother" stare, that my budding career as a chemist came to an end. Besides, the Radio Shack across the street had this computer set up for…

For all the broke young thrill seekers still out there and reading hn, KNO3 is readily available as "stump remover / killer" (for which it's ... better than placebo) and dirt cheap since it's technical grade

Re: Fun, danger, and 70s airplane toys

#139

Post by JasonFruit »

AnimalMuppet wrote: post #126
JasonFruit wrote: post #119

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm not sure that device qualifies, but I've often told my wife that I hate the farewell phrase, "Stay safe!" that's become so common lately. Sometimes you have to balance whether something is enough fun to justify the risk of death.

Well, the blades were wood, and not super sharp. I'm not sure it would have killed me. I'd sure regret getting hit by it, though.

There's always infection. Don't give up hope!

Re: Fun, danger, and 70s airplane toys

#140

Post by matthewaveryusa »

nibbleshifter wrote: post #134
tragomaskhalos wrote: post #85

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Saltpetre was available from chemists (ie pharmacies) in the UK, but me and my pals had limited success making decent gunpowder with it - I strongly suspect it was heavily laced with some form of fire retardant precisely to thwart pyromaniacal little herberts like us.

Its still sold in the UK for certain culinary purposes, surprisingly enough. As for why your experiments weren't as spectacular as you hoped: the particular charcoal you use is really important. Its best to make your own with a paint can, some willow, a nail, and a campfire. Adequate crushing of components into floury powder follows, then adequate mixing, and ideally wet-pressing and corning. Source: an extremely mis…

yeah its a meat preservative. I used to buy it at the butchers, then cook it into sugar and some cotton balls to make spectacular smoke bombs
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