An Old Man's Toys

[HiDesertHal]

These are some of the the toys I like to play with. All are functional except the P-51 Mustang model. I'm also into model railroading, astronomy, playing piano, and target shooting with my wife. (And occasionally Ballroom Dancing!)

One must be active in his older years!

Hal, age 3 X 3 X 3 X 3 3

 

[KentA]

Can we assume that steam engine in the middle is a working model & the cannon fires black powder?

 

[GlassKnees]

The cannon looks to me like the kind that uses calcium carbide. As a kid, I had one that looked like that. It came with powdered calcium carbide that you put in a chamber at the top. The cannon had some water and when you depressed a button, a small measured amount of carbide fell into the water producing a combustible gas that was ignited with a sparker thingy - produced an impressive boom!

I agree with you about being active. I too play the piano:

I got into the multicopter hobby because I wanted to learn about how they worked and wanted to learn to fly them. I have documented my experiences - trials, failures, successes, etc. on YouTube as well. I would like to go to school and study math, probability and statistics. Since I'm retired, I have been focused on investing and have learned about trading options. I also swim and ride bicycles to keep fit - so many things to do and they all beat working!

 

[HiDesertHal]

Can we assume that steam engine in the middle is a working model & the cannon fires black powder?

You're half right! The Steam Engine is a working model, using Sterno as a fuel to heat the boiler, but the Cannon
uses Acetylene Gas gas ignited by a Spark to produce the explosion. Black Powder would be too dangerous!

The Cannon is partially filled with Water, and is charged when a plunger is pushed admitting a small amount of Calcium Carbide to fall into the water. The reaction of the Carbide to the Water produces explosive Acetylene Gas, which is ignited by a flint-and-steel Spark mechanism to fire the Cannon.

Calcium Carbide was used in coal miners lamps over a century ago to produce light from an Acetylene flame.

Today you can buy Calcium Carbide (called "Bangsite") at fireworks stands for use in the cannons, which come in different sizes.
Hal

 

[HiDesertHal]

 

[KentA]

My 94 year old mother has a brass cannon about that size that has been fired using black powder. It was her father's. In the unlikely event that I outlive her, I hope it is passed on to me. I could set it up on the picnic table & defend the neighborhood.

 

[GlassKnees]

When I was in jr high, I briefly considered dropping a couple of tubes of "Bangsite" into a manhole that was in the street near my house and then putting a road flare near the opening. Fortunately, I didn't have the guts to do it!

 

[HiDesertHal]

The cannon looks to me like the kind that uses calcium carbide. As a kid, I had one that looked like that. It came with powdered calcium carbide that you put in a chamber at the top. The cannon had some water and when you depressed a button, a small measured amount of carbide fell into the water producing a combustible gas that was ignited with a sparker thingy - produced an impressive boom!

I agree with you about being active. I too play the piano:

I got into the multicopter hobby because I wanted to learn about how they worked and wanted to learn to fly them. I have documented my experiences - trials, failures, successes, etc. on YouTube as well. I would like to go to school and study math, probability and statistics. Since I'm retired, I have been focused on investing and have learned about trading options. I also swim and ride bicycles to keep fit - so many things to do and they all beat working!

"Helen" has a lovely, lyrical piano style...a bit Chopinesque. I always liked Debussy's "Claire de Lune" and Beethoven's "Moonlight Sonata".

Victor Borge once said that The English translation for Claire de Lune was "Clear the Saloon"!

I don't read music, so I play from memory. I stay in simple keys and use chord progressions to advantage. My favorite pieces to play are mostly songs by Gershwin and Cole Porter, as well as some great songs from Rodgers & Hammerstein musicals, such as Oklahoma, South Pacific, Carousel etc.

Here I am at my 6 ft parlor grand:
Hal




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