My first July 4th "show" - 2017

[rkmcdon]

Hey everyone! Ive been a closet pyro for most of my life and became obsessed with the 4th about 10 years ago. Each year my purchases got bigger, then I started saving mortars from excal packs, finally made my first poor mans rack 2-3 years ago and then took a fateful step last year by ordering fuse. This year I committed to prefusing the entire show and having it go uninterrupted (though not a single fuse). While I was immensely satisfied with the final product (not that I actually saw anything real time mind you), it pales in comparison to what I see on here. Nevertheless, I wanted to post up my efforts to document my birth as a full fledged Pyro ;).

I had a front stage for low effects. Mostly fountains with some small 200g cakes in front.
http://i.imgur.com/Y5PveWy.jpg

I then had too many stages. I made 3 stages into 5 because I'm a newbie
http://i.imgur.com/oHvnmcW.jpg

My front stage had 4 500g cakes set to go off individually. They were the cakes that I thought were most interesting as standalones. The final 5 were (semi) timed to go off in conjunction with the front row on the left. The finally had a row left and write and the big mortar rack.
http://i.imgur.com/GpSw6Gg.jpg

[rkmcdon]

http://i.imgur.com/a29e8Q2.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/LdLK5Kw.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/6VbxUB2.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/DkJTncf.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/dQEKCEV.jpg

[rkmcdon]

As is often the case, there were a couple of mishaps. Primarily some of my timing was off and the finally was way out of wack mostly due to the arrival of the police distracting my assistant so the mortars didn't get lit until the very end causing a big delay. Regardless, I was pretty happy at my first attempt to try anything even remotely in this ballpark. Here's the final video (working on my videographers skills is also a project for next year. Sorry about the quality! (as an aside, the small crackles to the sides of the front stage are a couple of crackling crawfish. How can you not love 2-3 minutes of crackles for $1 in a tiny package!)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7N-CPC6bj1o&feature=youtu.be

[rkmcdon]

This is video a friend took with his phantom. He couldn't resist flying through my display. I'm going to try to harness his eagerness next year to get better video. This is a clip he posted on facebook. It'll be a few days before I can get a copy of the full show

https://www.facebook.com/brent.chavis/videos/10213096094774022/

[MtnViewPyro]

Nice show rkmcdon. Really enjoyed the pace and sounds you mixed in during the big stuff. Sounded like you won over the little ones and in the end, that's most important. Thanks for sharing.

[rkmcdon]

Lol, yeah, the little ones definitely enjoyed themselves. Thanks MVP.

What part of Missouri are you from?

[MtnViewPyro]

I think we are playing message tag ��. I live in Southeast Missouri, roughly 45 minutes from Arkansas border. Not sure how familiar you are with the area?

[Rick_In_Tampa]

...mostly due to the arrival of the police...

Okay... I have to ask. What was THAT about?? I'm assuming the cops were cool with your setup since you got to fire your show.

[PYRODAN]

lol, I like the stairs! Yes, more details about police.........

[rkmcdon]

I think we are playing message tag ��. I live in Southeast Missouri, roughly 45 minutes from Arkansas border. Not sure how familiar you are with the area?
ROFL, sorry about that. still learning names around here so when i see Missouri, I automatically ask. There's no actual thought process, it just happens of its own accord

And yes, the officer was cool...both times :(

I buy together with the neighbor who shares my back fence. While we share a fence, His front door is actually 3-4 blocks from mine. He shot off a few breaks preshow and his neighbor called on him. In fort smith, it is against city ordinance to shoot fireworks in city limits but it is an ordinance that the police don't...police, on the 4th. They do however have to come if someone complains. He gave my neighbor a verbal warning, got a block down the street and we start the show from my backyard and this time, my neighbor called the police, so he showed up at about the half way point, stood in my yard and watched the show then gave me a verbal warning. If they have to come back repeatedly, you can get a $200 fine, so having the show prefused was helpful :)

The stairs are for my neighbors trampoline. we pulled it back out of the way and i used the stairs to set up extra breaks. My last time to do that as i will have a tube for every shell next year.

[rkmcdon]

Not sure how familiar you are with the area?
I live in Fort Smith, AR now, about 90 minutes from the SW border of missouri, but I went to High School in Paragould, AR which is about 10 miles from the tip of the Missouri Bootheal. I was raised in E. Peoria, IL, so between the 3, i've been through Missouri a time or two

[MtnViewPyro]

Ok cool. Mtn. View is not far from Mammoth Springs, Arkansas. Probably 30ish minutes.