Bustin a Cap in the Mythos
Comments
Yeah, not to mention it mucks up any plans of measuring acceleration during takeoff with my GPS, or video taping takeoffs and landings to include as part of a vacation video.
I read an article recently that claimed that an electronic dictionary was responsible for a 100 meter sudden loss of altitude. The source claimed that any electronics always goof with jet electronics, and that pilots just deal with it at 8000 plus feet, but can’t when taking off and landing.
“Attention passengers, please turn off all pacemakers during takeoff.”
Caught the gas station/implants/CD episode yesterday and have to say I rather enjoyed it. Set up a Season Pass on TiVo, at least! :D
And, yeah, I think it would be good to bust the “airplane electronics” thing. Of course, unless the airlines also changed their policies it wouldn’t really make a difference…
Sure it would, the attendants are in their seats while the “no electronics devices” is in place. As long as your screen isn’t a glowing star, they should never notice. 
And for the record:
*shakes fist at Chris’s TiVo*
I have watched the show a couple of times now and they make models from gelatin. My wife is a sculptor and said that it looked like a cool substance to use so I was wandering if anyone out there knows where I can get it? Any information will be appreciated.
Thanks
Kevin Miller
Some quick links from a Google/Froogle search:
Address for a supposed supplier
“Poor Man’s” ballistics gel recipe
“10% Ballistics Gel” recipe
I’d also suggest contacting a local gun shop, shooting range, or even the police (it’s used in forensic tests) and they may be able to provide you more information.
Do you know where I can find Ballistics Gel? I’ve tried looking on the ‘net but no luck. Any info would help. Thanks!
Did you read my earlier comment? I posted some possible sources.
The Ballistic Gel is made by Kind & Knox it is called Pharmagel. Kind & Knox will sell it to you in 25lb. buckets for $242.75 plus freight. I was informed that 25lb. will make 4 cubic feet, phone number is
1-800-223-9244.
Kevin
Thank you for posting the ballistics gel doc. very much
Is there a way I can make the powder for the gel and is there an easier way to make it?
My science teacher even shows us the shows at school and I record them every day that they come on.Ballistics gell?
High! Found this thread on a search. Old news I guess, but here goes…
Ballistics gel is a very specific formulation of a very common product. Gelatins like this are commonly used in the SPFX industry to make static props of monsters, dead bodies, etc. Its one of the most realistic looking (and cheapest) ways of simulating flesh, but unfortunately is unsuitable for most makeup work because its surface doesn’t flex quite right.
The main ingredient is gelatin powder. That’s just plain, unflavored Jell-O ("Knox" is a common brand for this). You can get it at a supermarket or resteraunt/baking supply place dirt cheap. The reason proper ballistics gel (as posted by Kevin Miller above) is so expensive is because it is specially manufactured for forensic testing, and so it’s chemistry is very precise. If you just want something to work with in an artistic capacity, you don’t need to go so far.
2 *basic* recipes:
Recipe #1 (Credit Dick Smith)
1 part pectin powder (used in making jams & preserves, shoud be in the same supermarket isle as gelatin)
1 part gelatin powder
3 parts boiling water (double boiler reccomended)
Stirr untill disolved. Makeup powder or other dry pigments can be mixed in to color the gel. A few drops of oil of wintergreen (from baking supply store) can be used as a preservative.
Recipe #2 (Credit Tom Burman)
20 grams gelatin powder
12 cc distilled water
100 cc glycerin (sometimes available at drugstores, check first-aid isle)
Let the mixture soak for about 45 minutes, then heat to 140.F in a double boiler, and pour into ziplock bags and lay flat to cool. The gel can be remelted for use with a microwave. Oil of wintergreen works as a preservative here too.
The recipes posted by Chris Curtis above should work OK also, although I’ve not tried them myself. You shouldn’t need the kinds of molds they describe. Just strong plaster molds w/ petrolium jelly as a sealer. The two downsides of any gelatin recipe will be (1) it is perishable like food, and so will be succeptable to decay & mold, and (2) it is water soluable. There are addatives that will alleviate the water soluabilty issue, but I’m not up to date on sources, I apologize.
Had to split this post in two because of the forum’s character limitations…
If you want something similar in look and feel, but of a more permanent chemistry, there are other options: silicons (expen$ive, but better durability & flexion), and hot-melt vinyls (cheap, but they get the job done). [url=http://www.smooth-on.com]http://www.smooth-on.com[/url] makes silicons that are now widely used for this sort of work. The hot-melt vinyls I’ve used in the past I got through Douglas and Sturgess at [url=http://www.artstuf.com]http://www.artstuf.com[/url] . They also sell the silicons.
Hope this all helps!
PLEASE NOTE Chris Curtis ,
My name is Ren, from scifi horror productions, we are a independent film company curently working on a new horror movie, we thank you for your post, we are a baby company and even though we are good problem solver for things they dont teach you in class this one had us.please contact me at
thanks Ren
Fx-makeup artist
do you know where i can get some ballistic gel?
please try to get back to me as soon as possiable. many thyanks,
johnny/john.
If they ever came up with a station that played Good Eats and Mythbusters… I’d never change the channel… They are my two ALL TIME favourite shows. The station could be called Food Discovery :D
If anyone can and will find a recipe for Kind & Knox because i am not the richest person in town.
Thanks much
D. Davis
I need to know how to make Ballistics gel.
I want to shoot at it with with a 50 cal. my father has.
As they mentioned in a recent episode where they showed how to make it, they obtain their gel power from Gelita, the parent company of Knox. They say that it stinks though, so they recommend buying a bunch of boxes of strawberry Jell-o instead, heh.
Hey, Can anybody tell me how to make some fairly sturdy Ballistics gel? those recipes were helpful, but i need more specifics (amounts of each ingredient, etc.)
D. Davis
unless you are into smelting bone marrow from animals, your not going to get the recipes.
im 12 years old but i love myth busters they are awesome i like the exploding pants myth did you know adam made a commercial
I saw it last night for the first time. Good stuff. Even my wife who never watches shows like this was amused for about 15 minutes. The Discovery Channel seems to be developing a lot of these niche kinds of shows.
I want them to bust the “no electronic devices during takeoff on an airplane” myth. That’s my personal peeve. Where is the evidence that an iPod can bring down a 737? Pa-leeeze! What are they shielding the aircraft electronics with, Seran Wrap? Turning off my 3 watt cell phone won’t negate the billions of other radio, TV, cell and other much more powerful signals that engulf the aircraft at all times. Come on! Grrrrrrrr!
By Rick on October 4, 2003 at 11:26am link