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Jet-Engine-Alike Fire Sculpture Will Please Your Inner Pyromaniac
Posted by Kit Eaton at 12:30 AM on August 13, 2008
Flames, thunderous noise, drama and the threat of explosive, combustive doom: That's why this sculpture by Dave Umlas will please your inner fire-starter. Made from stainless steel, propane gas-air jets and what seems to be a turbine-like system somewhere in its construction, it exists merely to thrill you with flames. If the still photos of the sculpture aren't enough for you, check out the video. It's freakin' firey.
Awesome. I'm not sure I'd stand as close as the guys in the vid clip did: In action, and from close by, it must be like standing directly behind a Vulcan bomber as it lights up its engines and takes off*. Only less safe. [Lost Arts Collective via Makezine via Neatorama]
*This is the single loudest, most impressive and chilling sound I've ever heard. If you're unfamiliar with the Vulcan's roar, check this out.
Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
There are currently no AU comments for this post.
crayonwaxy
Posted 1:01 AM 13/8/08
When i see this, i hear beavis and butthead going "fire, fire, yeah fire!!"
crayonwaxy
Gann
Posted 12:57 AM 13/8/08
@strider_mt2k: Yeah, I think the air pressure is supplied externally.
My only complaint is that all that fiery goodness is wasted. I'm not suggesting something this manly be desecrated by producing electricity, something this glorious should be put to work setting the world record in bacon cooking.
Gann
strider_mt2k
Posted 12:50 AM 13/8/08
NICE!
I think the turbine sound is coming from an external unit, but no matter.
I WANNA TRY IT!
strider_mt2k
Hectorvex
Posted 12:49 AM 13/8/08
I think Gitmo just ordered one of these...
Hectorvex
ps61318
Posted 12:49 AM 13/8/08
Curse the content filters, I can't see the video right now. Which is likely for the best. Because this sort of thing could induce various kinds of conniptions. Conniptions I can ill afford at the office, let me tell you....
ps61318
Kaiser-Machead's WALL-E fetish
Posted 12:41 AM 13/8/08
Holy cosmic orifice Batman....
Kaiser-Machead's WALL-E fetish
NightBlade
Posted 12:37 AM 13/8/08
Oooh... Aahh...
Somehow, this reminds me of deodorants and lighters.
NightBlade
dandaman247
Posted 12:37 AM 13/8/08
i love america...
dandaman247
Gann
Posted 12:33 AM 13/8/08
My inner pyromaniac just got wood.
Gann
drg40
Posted 1:25 AM 13/8/08
The original Vulcan used to make the most ungodly groan as it went round corners which was not nice. 72 Squadron (English Electric Lightings) had a nasty habit of following the Vulcan demo, when they were afraid of being upstaged, with a squadron fly past which was truly terrifying. They did a low level supersonic approach at right angles to the crowd line and as they hit the line did a vertical climb on full reheat.
In 1963 at Abingdon I saw this stunt. The totally silent approach at low level from the far horizon of a number of two engined fighters going very fast followed by an enormous crash as the sound caught up with itself was enough to scatter the crowd.
Later I found my "wife to be" sheltering under the wing of the Vulcan being entertained by its crew from the noise of the Lightnings. At least, that's her story, and she's stuck to it ever since.
drg40
Gann
Posted 1:23 AM 13/8/08
@Curves: If you haven't seen it before:
+ Watch video
Gann
Curves
Posted 1:07 AM 13/8/08
My eyes just glazed over and all I could think was FYER, FYER, FYER!
@crayonwaxy: Zactly!
Curves
Shutaro
Posted 1:04 AM 13/8/08
@Kaiser-Machead's WALL-E fetish: There's only one way to top this... Kill the Batman.
Shutaro
Illuminatus
Posted 1:03 AM 13/8/08
I! HAVE MADE FIRE!
@Gann: Yes. All forms of heat are ultimately for the cooking of delicious bacon.
Illuminatus
Curves
Posted 1:33 AM 13/8/08
@Gann: Pure Pyro Porno!
Curves
FinalValgas
Posted 3:06 AM 13/8/08
That vulcan airplane really sounds like something out of star wars.
FinalValgas
FinalValgas
Posted 3:06 AM 13/8/08
@drg40:
Interesting! Thanks for that little tidbit of info.
FinalValgas
tehdahl
Posted 3:03 AM 13/8/08
I'm just waiting for it all to go up in flames.
Er...
tehdahl
Abnormal
Posted 4:53 AM 13/8/08
Take one of those steel octane boost cans fill it one third full of gasoline. Use a large nail to poke a hole in the lid and place in the middle of the wood before lighting the fire(outside!). As the gas boils, it will ignite and release its fiery goodness in a flame up to 8 feet tall. The roar that it makes is amazing. Never had one explode but you can't be too careful.
Abnormal
four12
Posted 4:50 AM 13/8/08
Any post that has a Vulcan in it is a great post in my books.
four12
Purple Dave
Posted 4:46 AM 13/8/08
I actually like the stills better than the video. The design of the structure looks neat, but the whole forced-air aspect of it doesn't let the flames dance like they should, and it mostly seems like it just has on/off functionality.
@Gann:
Now _THAT_ was cool!
Purple Dave
whiteknight
Posted 9:53 AM 13/8/08
Hmmm this could be a rather dangerous inspiration. All I need is a dead coffee maker, some copper tubing, and a turbocharger.....If you read about a kid who blew himself up in the desert while playing with a "turbocharged fire-contraption" don't worry....he died happy!
whiteknight
StarChaser Tyger
Posted 9:50 AM 13/8/08
The very beginning of the video, before the air started, made it look like a steampunk tiki...
@Abnormal: Apparently the valve has been changed so you can't do it anymore, but it used to be possible to take a can of WD-40, spray some into the cap to get liquid, then pour it into the little ridge around the valve and light it. The internal workings would melt and you'd get a nice 8 foot or so jet like that.
StarChaser Tyger
robpruitt
Posted 7:23 AM 13/8/08
Jet fuel prices are at least still low enough to make this activity a great replacement for the normal family outing.
robpruitt
FiveLiters
Posted 4:40 AM 16/8/08
So if one of these tips over in your lap,can you sue McDonalds and tell them you didn't realize it was hot?
FiveLiters
ResedaBabawaba
Posted 12:01 PM 15/8/08
Actually the video doesn't do it justice at all. I built it with 2 gas inlets, 2 blowers and 2 spark plugs so there are multiple "looks" it can do, from subtly flower-like in the middle to a raging - helicopter sound blue/yellow/red/sparks jets from every orifice. When I get a better camera I'll post a video of a whole show from burningman. (where I can really let it run and not get the cops called for the noise) Also - Abnormal: Please for the love of all that is pyromaniacal in the world, don't go blowing up gas and aerosol cans. It makes the rest of us pyros look bad. Thanks everyone who liked it.
ResedaBabawaba