Chinese Lanterns - Underground UFOs

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Vanoord
54.4% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

16 years ago

A little idea that SimonRL had a few months back and I listened to politely because I didn't have a clue what he was on about...

However... 🙂

I was at a wedding a couple of weeks back and rather enjoyed the release of a couple of dozen Chinese lanterns, which vanished into the sky (around 10 miles from Gatwick airport!)

For those who don't know what I'm on about, this is the sort of thing - http://www.fireworkfactory.com/index.php?cPath=170&gclid=CPTEn4_huZsCFZkA4wod8kuQDQ

Question is: in a big chamber (eg slate), would this be of any use for lighting - basically, you set fire to the burner and off it goes until it hits the roof.

My suspicion is that the light output would be nowhere near what's required, but it might provide a rather nice 'ambiance' 😉

Hello again darkness, my old friend...

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Mr.C
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

16 years ago

Hmm - I heard an interview t'other day, with a lady who'd had her house roof set on fire by some!
Not much chance of that in a slate mine though. Perhaps she should of used some on her roof instead of thatch 😉

We inhabit an island made of coal, surrounded by a sea full of fish. How can we go wrong.......

grahami
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

16 years ago

Back in the '80s we did try illuminating a Cwmorthin chamber with an army flare..... but the smoke was something else, especially after it was kicked to the bottom of the chamber....
Before:
🔗Cwmorthin-Slate-Mine-Archive-Album-Image-37164[linkphoto]Cwmorthin-Slate-Mine-Archive-Album-Image-37164[/linkphoto][/link]
On the way down...
🔗Cwmorthin-Slate-Mine-Archive-Album-Image-039[linkphoto]Cwmorthin-Slate-Mine-Archive-Album-Image-039[/linkphoto][/link]
After...
🔗Cwmorthin-Slate-Mine-Archive-Album-Image-37163[linkphoto]Cwmorthin-Slate-Mine-Archive-Album-Image-37163[/linkphoto][/link]
No more photos were taken after this - we couldn't see our hands, feet, or anything.

Not reccomended, as my statistics lecturer used to remark about Russian Roulette....

I suspect the lanterns may not be entirely smokeless either - and probably not as bright ?

Grahami

The map is the territory - especially in chain scale.

ian S
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

16 years ago

Whatever you do, don't set these thing away near the coast, they get the Coastgaurd out..............Oops

I am a mole and i live in a hole !

Vanoord
54.4% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

16 years ago

I'm surprised how much light that white flare produced!

The smoke is always an issue - and one that I don't think people consider before they let them off. The orange ones are much worse, though - they also leave a lot of particularly unpleasant dust behind. Best not to let them off in confined spaces... 😉

Hello again darkness, my old friend...

Mr.C
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

16 years ago

"Vanoord" wrote:
I'm surprised how much light that white flare produced!

The smoke is always an issue - and one that I don't think people consider before they let them off. The orange ones are much worse, though - they also leave a lot of particularly unpleasant dust behind. Best not to let them off in confined spaces... ;)

Unlike a certain security training officer at Manchester Airport a few years back.
During a course he demonstrated to the audience, that the smoke grenade they had as a training aid was inert - it wasn't!

We inhabit an island made of coal, surrounded by a sea full of fish. How can we go wrong.......

Gwyn
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

16 years ago

Perchance that Simon has been looking at images by Tokihiro Satoh ?

simonrl
51% (Neutral)
Administration

16 years ago

Safe to use then, expecting some sort of firesetting effect from them was probably erring slightly too far on the side of caution 😉

my orders are to sit here and watch the world go by

Wormster
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

16 years ago

I would reckon so 😮 might have to bring sum up to BB, make for an interesting photo trip somewhere :tongue:

Better to regret something you have done - than to regret something you have not done.

Gwyn
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

16 years ago

#10

And would a mass release in Nant Ffrancon require the permission of RAF Valley?
I've seen large home made versions ascend over the Carneddau. They can carry payloads.
In an underground context you'll find that you won't need the advertised 10 minute burn time and can tweek accordingly.
You might consider making your own, using different fuels and maybe, infra-red photography! Enjoy!

Wormster
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

16 years ago

#11

"Gwyn" wrote:
You might consider making your own.

hang on a mo..............................

........rummages in cupboboards 'n stuff.................

.............bingo! one hot air balloon kit.........................

.....................evening's fun for the bb...........................who knos?

Better to regret something you have done - than to regret something you have not done.

Vanoord
54.4% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

16 years ago

#12

Any chances of you giving this a go tomorrow, Mr.RL? :flowers:

It might need a cotton thread to restrain the lantern, but it would be interesting to see the results before I order a box of 144 lanterns... 😮

Hello again darkness, my old friend...

Vanoord
54.4% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

16 years ago

#13

The answer...

🔗Rhiw-Bach-Slate-Mine-User-Album-Image-41189[linkphoto]Rhiw-Bach-Slate-Mine-User-Album-Image-41189[/linkphoto][/link]

🔗Rhiw-Bach-Slate-Mine-User-Album-Image-41188[linkphoto]Rhiw-Bach-Slate-Mine-User-Album-Image-41188[/linkphoto][/link]

Basically, quite a nice distraction for lunching by (with candles added), but not an entirely practical method of lighting a chamber.

Still want to try it in one of the larger chambers, perhaps the lower reaches of Cwmorthin...

Hello again darkness, my old friend...

Wormster
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

16 years ago

#14

wow that looks kinda fun!! well done that lama

Better to regret something you have done - than to regret something you have not done.

Gwyn
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

16 years ago

#15

It's an alpaca, I think, Wormster!
Interesting! Thanks for the pictures, Vanoord. :thumbup:

Vanoord
54.4% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

16 years ago

#16

Well noticed, Gwyn :)

There's a bit of air movement in the first pic, but the second shows air that's more still.

We opted for using kitchen string to keep the lantern tethered and once the fuel had run out, it drifted down quite quickly.

Hello again darkness, my old friend...