Introduction: Aerial Shell for Pyrotechnic Display

This is for those of us who cant wait for standerd shells to dry, its easy and fun. its made from newspaper, white glue, superglue, a ball (or object that will fit your needs), and a hair dryer.(It also recycles old news paper)

Step 1: Prep

white glue, white glue solution (75/25 water/glue), super glue, object wraped in plastic wrap, news paper, razor, scissors, Q-tip, hot air hair dryer.

Step 2: Construction

mix glue and water to 75% water (by volume) to 25% glue. cut newspaper into strips 1/2 inch to 1 inch wide by 3 to 4 inches long, dip in glue solution.

Step 3: Construction

Wrap damp news paper strips around object, alternating between wet, dry, pure glue, dry, and wet. untill you reach 1/4 inch thickness.

Step 4: Construction

Finish by appling a few layers of dry paper and glue untill its smoothe and compact. paint if desierd with thinned food dye., i will dye mine when i fill it with my stars. I always dye my shell the same color as the stars inside (ie: copper cloride stars get painted blue-green) Dry with blowdryer then seal with super glue or other quick drying glue. dry it for a good 5 minutes with hair dryer on hot.

Step 5: Cut It Open

cut through the paper with the razor, and separate carfully, the inside will be wet. smooth out the paper and coat with super glue or other quick drying glue. let it dry over night or dry it with the hair dryer. drill/cut hole, or use hole left over from the plastic wrap hanging out. AGAIN make sure it fits your tube! it would suck to do all this work, then have to re-make the shell. fill the shell with stars, or ****another pyro mix **** insert fuse, and seal with ALEX PLUS Acrylic Latex Caulk Plus Silicone, or tape (masking tape or ductape.) if its to small, wrap twine around it to build up layers, but its not reccomended to do so.

**** Spitfire black powder stars****
As follows, use as fill, or in place of stars:
By Volume, not weight:
5 tsp potassium nitrate
2 tsp sulfur
1/4 tsp dextrin
5 tsp Lamp black (WILL work with other forms of carbon, but i have not tested them)
make sure abouve is made into a fine powder, wet with 2 tsp water and enough alchohol to make it form one large clump, knead untill uniform. crumble into random bits all about the same size (or push through a screen of your chooseing) let dry. this will produce fine gold sparks if powderd super fine (powderd sugar like) fill ball no more than 3/4ths full. you can add diffrent metals before you mix,magnisium and copper dust look nice. this will fill about one ball, additional stars can be added although i like it with out.

Step 6: Your Done! (almost!)

Place your lift charge in prepared tube, and launch!

if you did it right, it will launch, if not you will get a unwanted gerb, or a dud.

I will not be blamed of the construction of this is device if its not allowed in your area, nor will i be held responsable for and damages resulting from, or to this device or yourself.

I used a superball for the mold of the shell.

if i have any updates i will edit this. if you have any requests, ideas, or questions send me a message.


Good luck, and remember, Dont play dumb, keep your thumbs!