I'm quite pleased with this pic - whilst it has a naive, snap-shot quality about it, the clever bit is the way the peaceful domestic scene outside the back door at Diplo Hall belies the devastation and and destructive forces about to be un-leashed at 07.00 hrs, May Bank Holiday. This was not to be a "test" firing so we can't really plead ignorance, experience has taught us that a flat trajectory of 70 metres using a 2 ounce round is quite achievable, early indications are giving an MV of around 750 to 800 fps. Ballistics at this scale does involve a certain amount of trial and error, for instance the calibre of 1.5" was arrived at by seeing what stock pipe we had in the 'shop. A variety of fuels have been employed to date but we have settled on the very expensive Sheer Blonde from the John Frieda Collection - quite what this stuff does to your hair doesn't bare thinking about. The detonator (or ignition system) is a modified pezo type spark generator from an old gas boiler delivering a finely tuned spark via two self tapping screws inserted into opposite sides of the combustion chamber. Any how - must be off to order some new fence panels and weird extruded aluminium greenhouse parts for the neighbours and pen a few well chosen words by way of an application to get my status downgraded from "irresponsible" to "eccentric". MORE KINETIC ENERGY (again)
