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Katterfel22 Regular user Greenville, NC 130 Posts |
What about a florescent painted electric arc and a blacklight strobe. I'm not really sure how it would look but at the moment, ( with the amount of port I've drnuk ) it seems like a good idea. Wouldn't look quite real, but might create the right psychological effect.
Cave ab homine unius libri - Latin epigram
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Mystician Inner circle Wallachia 3485 Posts |
Hmm.. that's actually a very interesting idea, Katterfel.
More .. er.. portable (or less fragile ?) than the custom plasma tube, but otherwise I figure it could used essentially the same way ?
Just hanging out with the rest of my fellow dregs.
http:// www . phrets . com Visit http://www.bizarremagic.net |
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Katterfel22 Regular user Greenville, NC 130 Posts |
Now that I think about it I would need some sound to coordinate with the strobe as well. And some way to get a kind of ozone (?) scent into the air. Saw some stuff at disney this past week that got me thinking about the importance of sound and smell to the overall effect of an illusion.
Cave ab homine unius libri - Latin epigram
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Bill Fienning Special user 635 Posts |
A couple of days ago in Santa Fe, New Mexico, an 18-year old wanted to spraypaint some graffiti on a power transformer. He climbed a barbed-wire topped fence into an enclosure where the power company's high voltage distribution transformers operate.
When he spray painted the transformer, the paint made an electrical connection to him (and hence to the ground) making a nice arc, blowing his clothing off and leaving him with burns on 80% of his body (also killing the power to some important facilities). He is now in critical condition in the hospital; it is not certain if he will live. It is unlikely that he will try this graffiti again.
Bill Fienning
"It's More than Tricks" |
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airship Inner circle In my day, I have driven 1594 Posts |
Darwin at work again. Is there anything that natural selection CAN'T do?
'The central secret of conjuring is a manipulation of interest.' - Henry Hay
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Mystician Inner circle Wallachia 3485 Posts |
I wouldn't give it too much credit, airship - it failed to kill the moron, leaving him still active in our species' gene pool.
He's probably stupid enough to try it again when he recovers though, only this time using Krylon "Fusion" paint or something - hey, since it paints plastic, it can't be conductive, right ? right .. ? ;-) Down with the establishment, man ! Johnny loves Vicki ! Peace ! Make Drugs, not War ! BBZZZZZzzttttt Aarrrggh ! Katterfel - smell of ozone ? now you're getting carried away. It'll be difficult enough. If you must though, use an Ionic breeze or similar (or my gimmick even), that'll generate some ozone. Too much is unhealthy though. Not as unhealthy as trying to spray paint a power transformer at point blank range, but still ..
Just hanging out with the rest of my fellow dregs.
http:// www . phrets . com Visit http://www.bizarremagic.net |
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Katterfel22 Regular user Greenville, NC 130 Posts |
Mystician- I was just thinking in terms of something along the lines of the same smell( as opposed to actually getting an actual ozone smell). There are probably a number of aerosol sprays that would do the trick. If someone actually stops and takes the time to analyze the smell, I'm taking waaaay too long with an opening effect.
Cave ab homine unius libri - Latin epigram
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egregor Veteran user The other side of the veil. 340 Posts |
I have one of those bogus health benefit plasma thingies that is like a massage wand, creates a purple spark that jumps to your fingertips, and gives off a tremendous ozone smell. There are tons of them on ebay cheap, type in quack medical devices, or plasma wand.
My mom says I'm reprehensible, I think I'm perfectly hensible.
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Mystician Inner circle Wallachia 3485 Posts |
The only thing I've found is sorta like a zit zapper.
Weird.
Just hanging out with the rest of my fellow dregs.
http:// www . phrets . com Visit http://www.bizarremagic.net |
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egregor Veteran user The other side of the veil. 340 Posts |
Try this link:
http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll......tegory0=
My mom says I'm reprehensible, I think I'm perfectly hensible.
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Katterfel22 Regular user Greenville, NC 130 Posts |
Thanks much Egregor, I will definitely check that out.
Cave ab homine unius libri - Latin epigram
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Mystician Inner circle Wallachia 3485 Posts |
Wow, that's weird. I'd never heard of it.
It's a Tesla invention, huh ?
Just hanging out with the rest of my fellow dregs.
http:// www . phrets . com Visit http://www.bizarremagic.net |
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billyboy1957 Regular user 113 Posts |
Tesla's life was a strange one and this prompts me to think that he would make a great subject for a bizarre performance. I have a Tesla coil and may give this some thought when time permits.
Ian |
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Harley Newman Inner circle 5117 Posts |
It's a small coil. They were used as quack medical devices for a time, and some folks still believe in it, that way. You can buy new ones, as well.
They're also used in S&M circles, from what I hear. I once had a dominatrix stage manager, who discussed it a lot. I forget the acronym. CBT or something. The use with which I'm familiar, involves the old electric chair act.
“You can’t depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus” -Mark Twain
www.bladewalker.com |
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airship Inner circle In my day, I have driven 1594 Posts |
I've hesitated to say anything, because you could get REALLY HURT attempting this unless you are very, very familiar with electronics and know what you're doing, but...
A stun gun is essentially a high-voltage electric arc generator. There is a staircase voltage doubler circuit inside that doubles and re-re-re-doubles a battery's voltage until it runs to tens of thousands of volts. They can create a pretty nice little spark on their own, but if you diddled with it you could probably boost the power to 'ludicrous' levels and create an even longer spark. Granted, you could only make one spark and then you'd have to recharge. But then you could make another. You might be able to come up with something that looks pretty cool. Best thing is, they come in sizes as small as a pen. So there you are. Know anyone who's an electronics whiz? Pitch it to them.
'The central secret of conjuring is a manipulation of interest.' - Henry Hay
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Doug Higley 1942 - 2022 7152 Posts |
I really have no business here discussing this in depth as I know nothing about Electricity. However in the context of a show or performance an accurate depiction is not even remotely necessary. A simple Flash of brilliant light (with a loud sharp CRACK) will SEEM to the general audience just as stunning as as a true bolt of manufactured lightning. All you need is the essence. They will not only not know the difference at the moment of 'light' they won't even think that it is other if that is what you lead them to believe it is.
By your using Tesla or real electricicty, it would be only to impress other performers or for your own ego. (not a bad thing by the way). The 'folks' won't give a hoot or think more or less of either (unless it would be huge bolts like Doc Wilson mentioned above.) It's like my 'Ears' and 'Toes' for the Dark Museum...they are not forensic by any stretch, they just look like a regular person might think they would look like...but they do fine in a brief exposure during a trick. That's all you need. And not a lot of flashing either...just ONE brillaint flash with the sound. They will have NOTHING to analyze. Illusion should be as simple a thing as you can manage. But that's just my opinion and something to think about.
Higley's Giant Flea Pocket Zibit
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billyboy1957 Regular user 113 Posts |
I'm with you on this Doug and would add as a trained electronics engineer (albeit long ago since I plied the trade), that airship is right - this realistic approach could and probably would be pretty dangerous. It's bad enough in the UK but in the States it's just too easy for lawsuits to appear as if by magic at the end of one's show.
Ian |
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Katterfel22 Regular user Greenville, NC 130 Posts |
Actually, the original idea was to simulate a special effect from a movie. How it's done is not important to me. I just want to create a similar effect. If I can do it with something out of a cereal box and the top of a coffee can I'll be happy. It's the end result I am interested in.
Cave ab homine unius libri - Latin epigram
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Mystician Inner circle Wallachia 3485 Posts |
I dunno about the bright flash idea - to me, anyway, that just doesn't come nearly close enough to approximating the look of an electrical arc.
I have an electronics background too, so that might influence me a bit. airship is probably talking about a Cockcroft-Walton voltage multiplier, it's the same kind of circuit used in the Ion Generator in my electrifried gadget. However, you can't get a bigger spark than 3/4 inch with my unit, and that's with perfect conditions. Also, Tesla was an "AC" man, my gadget is strictly DC. Let the jokes begin.
Just hanging out with the rest of my fellow dregs.
http:// www . phrets . com Visit http://www.bizarremagic.net |
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Katterfel22 Regular user Greenville, NC 130 Posts |
Ok, What about a Pepper's Ghost setup and video of an electrical arc.
Cave ab homine unius libri - Latin epigram
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