SpudFiles

If you are willing to help, I have an idea. This came about to me through the effects to everyone else of the EF5 tornado that swept through alabama and parts of georgia. I was thinking about some way for people to get attention, cheaper than buying an air horn or a flare gun which only last for a few seconds. Of course, this is impractical, but its worth a shot. This is based around a .357 magnum revolver type of gun, uses co2 cartridges for propellant, and shells will be loaded with some sort of flag coated in a sticky mixture that recharges over the day, and glows super bright green or orange at night. I know, your probably thinking its just a flare gun, thats what I think too, but if I can build it for cheap enough, it may just be the next life saving device.

I think flare guns will still beat you. Using homebuilt equipment will be extremely expensive compared to factories.

Yeah, but for a prototype, it could work out. This was one of those ideas that when they pop into your head they seem like an awesome idea, and then you type/write/think about it and it seems stupid a few minutes later because stuff like it has been already made. I am going to try it though, maybe just make one about 7 inchs long, just small enough to fit into my hand, length wise, and then add in a sticky substance to the end of the projectile, and a blinking led to the other end.

so does it stick to something high up then? or does it fire into the air, then stay there somehow? (helium or something)

I suppose if you made something very compact like a revolver chamber and had 6 flares, maybe you could get something going.

Yeah, cammy, sort of. Pretty much aim at the highest point near you, and it will stick to you. Qwerty, it would hold 6 to 8 flares, and stay lit over night, with a bright orange flag during the day.

What sort of materials would you want it too stick too? cos if it was metal some sort of magnet would work and would not fall off easily, if it was wood then something with a simple spike would do as it would stick in the material, if you used some kind of pressure sensitive adhesive (like they use in sticky tape)it may not stick very well and might fall off, if you manage too find some kind of VERY sticky substance that they use in sticky bombs etc then that would work as it is designed to stick to a surface when thrown at it, but finding things like that anywhere is nigh on impossible, if you find some then hats off too you indeed, but it is rather unlikely. Overall it really depends on how light your projectile will be. what kind of lighting/illumination mechanism were you thinking of?

POLAND_SPUD really does have a point... I can't imagine why you'd want to suspend something in the air while there's a tornado nearby. It'd be short-lived, to say the least.

No no no, you got it wrong... This would be AFTER the tornado, when its gone... Use your brain maybe? And read previous posts. If you dont like the idea, dont comment on it. Nuff said. Cammy, one of my friends dad works at a nuclear power plant, and they have that sort of sticky material for some reason... So I may just be able to get some.

What do they use birdlime for in a nuclear power plant

No clue, but apparently they have it... I suppose its some sort of repair material because I got to mess around with a bit of it when my friend had some at his house... Crazy stuff to, throw it at anything, and it sticks and its pretty hard to pull off, then when you pull it off its stuck on your hand...

Can you explain to me why you need an airborne signal when the tornado is gone?

Thread cleaned, no flaming tolerated! Rule 1: Don't be a jerk. If you don't like the idea skip it...

Sae, think about it. If your trapped under something, and no one can see you, if you put up an airborne flare people will know to look in that area. Thanks jrrdw for cleaning this thread...

Why a revolver? A re loadable single shot would be infinitely simpler, more reliable and smaller. I can't see the need to fire them in that quick of a succession.