Report from the field
I am sad to report that Tactical Tennis Ball Launcher met an untimely demise. Had my nephew over (first mistake, right?) and he witnessed it in action. Trouble was, this time it only shot about 15 feet. He set about to make it shoot further. He noticed that the seams where the Pringles cans met had separated. Easily remedied with duct tape. He then noticed that there was a a bit of space around the ball and the pringles can. And he correctly figured that was causing the gasses to escape around the ball. So, he used some old wrapping paper to make wadding (smart kid).
Then, we got to work. There was an earth shattering kaboom and we all watched in amazement as the tennis ball traveled about 150 yards. It was pretty sweet. But the force of the blast destroyed the Tactical Tennis Ball Launcher, as it separated into three pieces. Of which my nephew said “well, it’s a proof of concept”.
Man, I wish I had that on video.
January 3rd, 2016 at 7:36 pm
BTW, back 20 years ago when I was in college, I absolutely didn’t shoot fluorescent light tubes out of my potato gun, with a little styrofoam wadding. I certainly didn’t shoot them in the attic of the dorm I lived in at the time. Only an idiot would do something like that.
January 3rd, 2016 at 8:39 pm
Inclination angle 46 degrees?
January 3rd, 2016 at 8:58 pm
Try dipping the tennis ball in gasoline for an “illuminating” nighttime launch.
January 3rd, 2016 at 9:52 pm
Back during the ‘Nam war, some of we flyboys formed an assault squad with tennis ball cannons. We used the cans the balls came in then. Propellant was naptha lighter fluid and air. Typical cannon was 4 cans taped with Scotch fiber tape or USAF 500 MPH tape. Snubby version used only 3 cans. Tactic was to sneak up on the enemy’s hootch, crack the door just enough to put 3 or 4 muzzles thru, and fire. Velocity was sufficient to get a carom off 3 walls, of course knocking shit over in the process.
There was usually retribution, such as paying off our visiting ladies to not visit. Any laundry on a clothesline was a fair target. Usual retribution there was grass burrs in the jockies.
January 3rd, 2016 at 10:57 pm
“Easily remedied with duct tape”
Ah yes, man’s second best friend.
January 3rd, 2016 at 11:23 pm
Wish we had those on base. Had to make do with fire missions against the bachelors officers’ quarters with a waterballoon slingshot.
Being within the statute of limitations, I admit to nothing.
January 4th, 2016 at 1:44 am
Just so long as his obit isn’t along the lines of “Hold my beer. Now Y’all watch this.”
Schedule 40 PCB. Schedule 80 if you can find it. Galvanized conduit works good, but gets really heavy fast. Much better than a Pringles can or 2.
January 4th, 2016 at 9:42 am
Use metal soup, fruit, or vegetable cans.
January 4th, 2016 at 1:08 pm
Whatta buncha friggin’ pussies. If you’re gonna do it, do it right:
http://tinyurl.com/4gp9m
}:-]
January 4th, 2016 at 3:06 pm
That is great fun. Yup, heavier barrel.