Title: 3rd in the series o' SIMPLE explosives. Date: 2/7/88 Time: 11:52 am File number 3 in the "Simple devices" series, written by R. J. MacReady. Mortar: Basically, that's exactly what this is. It shoots out projectiles that explode on contact. Useful for small scale war. Materials: 4 or 5 cans. Strong tape (or a welder if you can get your hands on one) Matches (MUST be "eddy lights" (the ones with the different coloured tip)) Squashball or dogball, as long as it's holow (a tennis ball can be used, but you need cans wide enough to house it) Ronson's lighter fluid Will to blow something up. Basically, this device is quite easily made, you just need some good tools to do it properly. First, take one of the cans, and cut the entire top of of it (this might be hard with pop cans, since they have a high edge which gets in the way of using a can opener). Then, on the bottom of the can, cut about 3/4 of it out, so you have a semi-circle of tin missing on the bottom, like in this diagram. ______ /}*****\ / }******\ * = amount of tin left on bottom [ }*******] of can. [ }*******] \ }******/ \}*****/ ~~~~~ Do exactly the same thing to all the rest of the cans as explained above (NOT the last one though), making sure that the open part in the bottom of each can alternates with the one below it. In other words, if you looked down the barrel of the thing, you'd see a semi-circle missing on the left, then the right (directly opposite) then the left etc. It must look this way. When you get to your last can, leave the bottom on and still cut the whole top off. Now you must tape/weld all these cans together (with the one with the bottom on the bottom, naturally). This might be hard if you used pop-cans since the edges would be very rough (because you'd need to actually CUT off the top, not use a can opener). Anyway, now that's done. Last, make a small hole in the side of the bottom can (as close as you can get to the bottom). It just has to be big enough to squirt the Ronson's inside. Next, you need to make "Roly Poly Match Heads" (tm)*. You must find a ball that is hollow, and will fit as best as possible in the cans, so it doesn't wobble too much, but doesn't have trouble coming out the end. Make a small slice in the ball (not a hole), and start pouring in cut off match heads (eddy lights, remember) until it's quite tightly packed. Put this down the barrel of the mortar, tilt it upright at about a 45 degree angle. Squirt some ronsons into the small hole at the bottom (and a bit around the hole, in case it doesn't catch right away), light it, and BOOM. The ball should go VERY far if the cannon is made well, and it will explode when it lands to boot! *Roly Poly Match Heads are a trademark of Night Crawler (also (tm) but I won't mention why). And a full explanation is found it "The Anarchy Files Volume III" A.O.A. radio productions, Christmas day 1987 (what a guy). Look for more files dealing with SIMPLE devices, written by R. J. MacReady. Next issue a simple ROCKET LAUNCHER.