Do you ever find yourself staring at a firework display and wondering what the different effects are? They don’t have to be rockets all the time, do they? See a pyrotechnics eyes glisten when you ask him/her whether they’ve got any rockets!
The sky must be flooded with an array of colors patterns, colours and effects. Shhhh! Don’t divulge to anyone the fact that in reality, there are just several types of fireworks. There are however many different effects that result from these types, and this is where the skill of the designer comes into play.
In this article, we’ll explore the various types and what the overall impact of them is and therefore the way they can be used in a display.
Roman Candles
Roman candles form the most common food of a fireworks show, lasting up to 30 minutes and offering the ability to continue. They can produce a range of effects including, comets, bombettes and mines or crossettes, butterflies and serpents. There are also noise effects like flash reports, hummers, whistles, crackle and screechers. Usually eight shots per candle they are either fired singly at regular intervals across the length of the area or in bouquets of 3 5, 7, or 6 and are angled to create a lattice, or different designs within the skies.
Rockets
They are among the most well-known types of consumer firework and are used to describe all the things you see in the sky! A rocket motor at the end of a stick moves the pyrotechnics payload up into the sky and explodes to create an impact at the trajectory apex. The sound of the rocket motor, usually accompanied by an silver or gold tail, is a typical sound of a TV sound engineer wishes to present “BIG” fireworks. Ironically the professional industry employs fewer rockets because the stick and the rocket motor come back down. If you are buying a rocket at the shop, beware of the huge head which is usually full of air and created to convince buyers to purchase it. bigger isn’t always better with rockets!
Cakes, Combination Batteries, or Cakes
Combination Batteries or Cakes as they’re popularly known (because they look like cakes!) are a very popular alternative to ensure continuity
and display duration. They are composed of shorter tubes that are bonded together to fire in succession – sometimes very rapidly and sometimes very slowly. They’re similar to roman candles with regard to many effects that are produced by the tubes, however they are pre-angled, so the effects on the ceiling of fans and z-shaped, w shapes and varying speed of ignition create many possibilities. Cakes come in a wide assortment of sizes ranging starting from a tiny 19 shot bubbling willow cake to a large 600 shot rapid fire peacocks tail battery. The first is designed to give an effect similar to a normal roman candle, whereas the second will fire an enormous fans of over 600 effects within 8 seconds to create a huge peacock’s tail that flies in the sky.
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Single Shot tubes
A relatively new addition to the arsenal of choreographers who work with firework single shot effects have become popular with the show that uses pyromusical effects. A wide range of effects that are single shots could be used to emphasis an event in the soundtrack. They can also create an additional dimension, bringing motion and animation to the spectacle by making chase sequences. Be it the chase of comets across in the Olympic Stadium or one shot comets racing around on the outside of the London Eye, they can be used to create memorable photos. They are one effect created from one tube, however they come in a range of colors and effects.
Fountains
Fountains are another type of fireworks and are utilized in a variety of ways to enhance a display. From tiny silver fountains to massive show coloured chip fountains, which release a massive explosion of sparks that reach 8 meters into the air. When they are arranged on wooden frames or set pieces, they can be used to create stunning lattice patterns and can also be used as drivers to make Catherine wheels. Fountains last a long time between 50 and 60 seconds at times which is why they’re great for creating a focal point to an exhibit.
Mines
These are usually utilised to signify the beginning and ending of a firework display. They may also be used in co-ordination with music to mark a crescendo, or major changes in tempo or key. When they are fired from a long distance, they can generate a large star-shaped wall that can amaze the crowd. Mines come in many different sizes and give a variety of visual and sound effects.
Aerial Star Shells
Saving the best till last and only for professionals in pyrotechnics, we offer airborne starshells. The professionals will almost always use these as opposed to rockets. They are fired from mortar tubes. aerial star shells are launched in to the sky. They can be able to reach a height of 250 meters in a matter of seconds. It is constructed to trigger the explosion at the top in the flight vertically and massive clouds of stars are lit to deliver patterns colours and sounds. The blast from the largest star shells can create 150m of star-filled sky. Star shells come in a variety of dimensions and are fired in a series of barrages.