It's usually flash powder in a plastic containder under some concoction made up of diesel or petrol (for the bang) and naptha (for the smoke) plus other add-ins, like titanium or magnesium (for brightness). It's all electrically fired and waterproof so, no, we don't bother with tarpaulins except for covering the firing board and the timing/music system. What we do very closely resembles (so we're told) an air attack on a WWII airfield. It's not pretty explosions with stars and crackling sparklers!


The idiot also known as Capfka ...