An article in the June issue of Railroad Model Craftsman has “sparked” a childhood memory and led me to start yet another project.
Every 4th of July, Uncle Gerry would show up with a jar of Calcium Carbide and a Conestoga “Big Bang” cannon for my brother and I to play with but the highlight was heading down to the beach with a large milk can which he’d add some carbide and water, pound on the cap and ignite with a firecracker placed in a small hole in the bottom. BOOOOM!!!
Evidently, it’s a Dutch New Years tradition. We always thought it was Gerry’s idea!
Yep. Calcium carbide + water = Acetylene. Acetylene + fire = boom
Interesting…
Used to use calcium carbonate + water for lighting up caves…back in my spelunking days…
29 more to go! I can fit 4 on the build plate and takes 5 hours. Each bin weighs 1.1oz so will add 2lbs to the car.
Decals were easy. 
will you be putting them on thingverse, or a different site?
Another fantastic modeling job, in both design, making, and detailing!
Like Bruce, my main exposure to calcium carbide was with miner’s lanterns – spelunking & mine hunting.
My favorite alternate use was, when a friend was over, to put some in a paper bag (on the driveway), light it with a match, hand him a cup of water and tell him to slowly put the fire out…
