Colin's Firework Display Setup Pictures

 This is one of two "mortar boxes" I fired my 2000 firework show from.  The box was filled with sand and then rocks to prevent movement of the tubes.  Since then I've built safer, more durable mortar racks.

A newer, better electrical firing panel I built in 2000.  It plugs into a car battery, and can fire up to 20 different fireworks (or groups of them).  Want to make your own?  Click here.

 Here's me holding the "PRO MAG", a large shell assortment containing 36 high quality shells.  8 of the shells are canister type, and 2 are double-breaks.  I typically buy at least 3-4 of these for my display.

This is a set piece I made for my July 2001 show, which spelled out "GROUND 0" (the name I called the display before the media ruined that word) .  No, it had nothing to do with the 9/11 WTC attack.  The letters were made of alternating red and blue lances.

 This is the finished set piece from above, all mounted and ready to be fired.  Unfortunately, I have no pictures of this thing when it was ignited, but it worked perfectly...aside from the "G", which failed to fire because the quick match was bent to sharply.

 Here's one of the 4 aerial firework launching stations I used for my 2001 display, which includes fountains, repeaters, and an aerial shell.  All of the devices have been attached to the board, and are being connected with black match.

Another picture of the construction of the above set piece.  In this picture I am attaching quick match to the individual lances of the set piece. 

A picture of me showing a guy (who also happens to be named Colin) the fireworks that will be used in the display later that night.  The 6 stations are shown, along with the mine launcher in the foreground.

My new firing panel.  Included a key-switch for security, and a continuity test mode to check each igniter connection before it was fired.  Large, multi-conductor cables ran from the panel to the firing area, which they were split off in different directions by black "modules" (visible on ground).  All of it was home-made.

"Triangle" roman candle racks.  Each began with a morning glory, which ignited 10 roman candles via quick match once it burned halfway through.  At the end of the sparkler burn, it ignites a large, fluffy mine with reports.

Three mortar (shell) racks and two mine racks.  Mines are fused to go off in pairs of two (red, green, yellow, blue).  Home-made electric igniter built right into the quick match pipe, providing instantaneous ignition upon the push of a switch.

The display site - a large grassy field next to my church.  There was plenty of room to have the fireworks positioned well away from the building and the audience.

An American flag set piece, containing a total of 155 red, white, and blue lances - 2 inches each in length - connected together with sticky match.  It was the most time consuming device to built, but it performed beautifully.