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Message no. 1
From: mbroadwa@*******.glenayre.com (Mike Broadwater)
Subject: C-x series explosives
Date: Tue, 28 May 1996 11:27:53 -0500
I've got a couple questions about C-4 etc. I'm not a chemist and I don't
cook explosives, so if I could get a little help, it would be appreciated.

1). What type of material are plastic explosives. Are they actually
polymer based or are they something else entirely.

2). Whatever they are, is the material foamable. In other words, can you
aerate it instead of keeping it in the clay block that is usually seen?

If anyone wants to know my thinking, it goes like this:
Can you put plastic explosives in a shaving can under pressure that would
allow it to be released like normal shaving foam? I don't know, a friend of
mine talked about it, but I wasn't too sure, so I thought I'd ask you guys.



Mike Broadwater
"An object at rest cannot be stopped! Yeah, baby, yeah!" - The Evil
Midnight Bomber What Bombs at Midnight
http://www.olemiss.edu/~neon
Message no. 2
From: Peter David Boddy <pdboddy@****.carleton.ca>
Subject: Re: C-x series explosives
Date: Tue, 28 May 96 12:59:33 EDT
Mike Broadwater writes:
>
> I've got a couple questions about C-4 etc. I'm not a chemist and I don't
> cook explosives, so if I could get a little help, it would be appreciated.
>
> 1). What type of material are plastic explosives. Are they actually
> polymer based or are they something else entirely.
>
> 2). Whatever they are, is the material foamable. In other words, can you
> aerate it instead of keeping it in the clay block that is usually seen?
>
> If anyone wants to know my thinking, it goes like this:
> Can you put plastic explosives in a shaving can under pressure that would
> allow it to be released like normal shaving foam? I don't know, a friend of
> mine talked about it, but I wasn't too sure, so I thought I'd ask you guys.

Let me guess, you have seen (or your friend has) Barb Wire. I think it
can be done, at least in SRII. It might be possible now. The only
advantage that it would have over regular plastique, is that it could pass
a casual search. If it is scanned, it would be definately show up as
explosives. A better choice would be magnesium tape. I think this is
from Cyberpunk, but it can work in SHadowrun. It burns slowly through
things, not like plastique, which is faster and noisier.

Pete


Pete aka Spitfire
Test your might...
Classic Sub-Zero Scorpion Reptile Ermac Classic Smoke Noob Saibot
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Peter David Boddy
Carleton University
Email address: pdboddy@****.carleton.ca
Email address: bx955@*******.carleton.ca
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Message no. 3
From: mbroadwa@*******.glenayre.com (Mike Broadwater)
Subject: Re: C-x series explosives
Date: Tue, 28 May 1996 12:55:22 -0500
>Let me guess, you have seen (or your friend has) Barb Wire.
My friend might have. If he has, I'm gonna smack him for a) having bad
taste in movies and b) not telling me this is where he stole the idea from.

>I think it
>can be done, at least in SRII. It might be possible now. The only
>advantage that it would have over regular plastique, is that it could pass
>a casual search. If it is scanned, it would be definately show up as
>explosives. A better choice would be magnesium tape. I think this is
>from Cyberpunk, but it can work in SHadowrun. It burns slowly through
>things, not like plastique, which is faster and noisier.

Well, actually, the idea was to replace some guys shaving cream with foamed,
bleached plastic explosives that would go off with an electric discharge.
Then replace his razor with one rigged with contact sensitive batterys and
enough charge to set off the explosives. Boom, no face, no razor, still the
problem of the shaving cream canister though, but not everything is perfect.

Mike Broadwater
"An object at rest cannot be stopped! Yeah, baby, yeah!" - The Evil
Midnight Bomber What Bombs at Midnight
http://www.olemiss.edu/~neon
Message no. 4
From: "Paul J. Adam" <paul@********.demon.co.uk>
Subject: Re: C-x series explosives
Date: Tue, 28 May 1996 18:53:38 +0100
In message <199605281622.MAA28309@*****.itribe.net>, Mike Broadwater
<mbroadwa@*******.glenayre.com> writes
>I've got a couple questions about C-4 etc. I'm not a chemist and I don't
>cook explosives, so if I could get a little help, it would be appreciated.
>
>1). What type of material are plastic explosives. Are they actually
>polymer based or are they something else entirely.

Usually RDX and wax. Called "plastic" because it's formable and soft,
not because it's a polymer.

>2). Whatever they are, is the material foamable. In other words, can you
>aerate it instead of keeping it in the clay block that is usually seen?
>
>If anyone wants to know my thinking, it goes like this:
>Can you put plastic explosives in a shaving can under pressure that would
>allow it to be released like normal shaving foam? I don't know, a friend of
>mine talked about it, but I wasn't too sure, so I thought I'd ask you guys.

I don't think so, too thick and sticky. More like plasticine or clay
than shaving foam concentrate. Maybe you could put it in a toothpaste
tube or dispenser, though.

--
"There are four kinds of homicide: felonious, excusable, justifiable and
praiseworthy."
Ambrose Bierce, "The Devil's Dictionary"
Paul J. Adam paul@********.demon.co.uk
Message no. 5
From: Ken <kwhorner@*******.edu>
Subject: Re: C-x series explosives
Date: Tue, 28 May 1996 12:34:43 -0700 (PDT)
On Tue, 28 May 1996, Peter David Boddy wrote:

> Mike Broadwater writes:
> >
> > I've got a couple questions about C-4 etc. I'm not a chemist and I don't
> > cook explosives, so if I could get a little help, it would be appreciated.
> >
> > 1). What type of material are plastic explosives. Are they actually
> > polymer based or are they something else entirely.
> >
> > 2). Whatever they are, is the material foamable. In other words, can you
> > aerate it instead of keeping it in the clay block that is usually seen?
> >
> > If anyone wants to know my thinking, it goes like this:
> > Can you put plastic explosives in a shaving can under pressure that would
> > allow it to be released like normal shaving foam? I don't know, a friend of
> > mine talked about it, but I wasn't too sure, so I thought I'd ask you guys.
>
> Let me guess, you have seen (or your friend has) Barb Wire. I think it
> can be done, at least in SRII. It might be possible now. The only
> advantage that it would have over regular plastique, is that it could pass
> a casual search. If it is scanned, it would be definately show up as
> explosives. A better choice would be magnesium tape. I think this is
> from Cyberpunk, but it can work in SHadowrun. It burns slowly through
> things, not like plastique, which is faster and noisier.
>
There are also many inert materials that when paired up under the right
circumstances will go boom and get the effect you want. Can't think fo
any at the moment, but I'll check my books and get back to you. Also, as
Peter points out, alakali metals are very reactive and most 'expolsive'
detectors won't notice them.

Nutcracker
Message no. 6
From: Hairy Smurf <ab130f92@*******.adelphi.edu>
Subject: Re: C-x series explosives
Date: Tue, 28 May 1996 23:37:28 -0400 (EDT)
At 12:34 5/28/96 -0700, you wrote:

[SNIP]

One of my players just told me about a game when he used to GM Top Secret.
One of the characters wanted to kill an opponent. He decided to spike the
characters KY with nitrogicerin. (Long story about the KY. Seems this target
character was a PC who played with his GF so they roleplayed sex.) Needless
to say my friend had the nitro go off without considering whether it
actually could or not. He though it was to funny and didn't care if it could
happen or not. Any thoughts? Would it raect with the KY or would it not
react to the friction and pressures of sex?
:)


Sasquatch

---------------------------------------------------------------------
| |
| Psychiatrists say that one out of four people are mentally ill. |
| Check three friends. If they're OK, you're it. |
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---------------------------------------------------------------------
Message no. 7
From: Ken <kwhorner@*******.edu>
Subject: Re: C-x series explosives
Date: Tue, 28 May 1996 21:00:30 -0700 (PDT)
On Tue, 28 May 1996, Hairy Smurf wrote:

> At 12:34 5/28/96 -0700, you wrote:
>
> [SNIP]
>
> One of my players just told me about a game when he used to GM Top Secret.
> One of the characters wanted to kill an opponent. He decided to spike the
> characters KY with nitrogicerin. (Long story about the KY. Seems this target
> character was a PC who played with his GF so they roleplayed sex.) Needless
> to say my friend had the nitro go off without considering whether it
> actually could or not. He though it was to funny and didn't care if it could
> happen or not. Any thoughts? Would it raect with the KY or would it not
> react to the friction and pressures of sex?
> :)
>
>
Uhhhhhh, well Nitroglycerin (which is _not_ related to TNT) doesn't
explode until 218C, so your safe on the heat part. The KY (jelly I'll
assume) is primarily water based and shouldn't react with it, as it made
to _not_ react with anything, thus its use w/the human body. The
concusive effects, considering the small amount you would be able to
dissolve in the jelly, I doubt much of anything would happen as far as an
explosion, however, it is quite toxic to the human body. Some symptoms
caused by poisoning(get ready):nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps,
headache, mental confusion, delirium, paralysis, convulsions, circulatory
collapse, and the funnest of all, death. Alcohol aggrivates the symptoms
and it can be caused by injestion, injection or absorption through the
skin. Don't forget the skin rash. They ain't gonna like it.

Nutcracker
Message no. 8
From: Russ Myrick <rm91612@****.net>
Subject: Re: C-x series explosives
Date: Tue, 28 May 1996 18:28:41 -0700
Ken wrote:
>
> On Tue, 28 May 1996, Peter David Boddy wrote:
>
> > Mike Broadwater writes:
> > >
> > > I've got a couple questions about C-4 etc. I'm not a chemist and I
> > > don't cook explosives, so if I could get a little help, it would be
> > > appreciated.
> > >
> > > 1). What type of material are plastic explosives. Are they
> > > actually polymer based or are they something else entirely.

They are mouldable compound mixtures as opposed to castable compounds
like TNT or PETN. C4's primary explosive component is RDX it is mixed in
to a substrate of parafin along with a few other additives.
> > >
> > > 2). Whatever they are, is the material foamable. In other words,
> > > can you aerate it instead of keeping it in the clay block that is
> > > usually seen?

Some are and some aren't. C4 can be melted down mixed with your fav
bread mix and baked into loaves or muffins (works well even blackened).
C30e is often mistaken for poly urethane foam sealant when it gets over
90 deg F.(contact poison though).
> > >
> > > If anyone wants to know my thinking, it goes like this:
> > > Can you put plastic explosives in a shaving can under pressure that
> > > would allow it to be released like normal shaving foam? I don't
> > > know, a friend of mine talked about it, but I wasn't too sure, so I
> > > thought I'd ask you guys.
> >
> > Let me guess, you have seen (or your friend has) Barb Wire. I think
> > it can be done, at least in SRII. It might be possible now. The
> > only advantage that it would have over regular plastique, is that it
> > could pass a casual search. If it is scanned, it would be definately
> > show up as explosives. A better choice would be magnesium tape. I
> > think this is from Cyberpunk, but it can work in SHadowrun. It burns
> > slowly through things, not like plastique, which is faster and
> > noisier.

In all cases of what is currently available as plastique, the air bubbles
must be removed before detonation will occur otherwise they just burn.
Some of these can be dipped in water and worked like bread dow to remove
the air, others need light machine oil, others still must be melted down
in a double boiler.
> >
> There are also many inert materials that when paired up under the right
> circumstances will go boom and get the effect you want. Can't think fo
> any at the moment, but I'll check my books and get back to you. Also,
> as Peter points out, alakali metals are very reactive and most
> 'expolsive' detectors won't notice them.

Thermite is just fine steel wool and aluminum powder. Explosive
detectors all work on picking up the trace vapors from the organics/petro
chemicals in the plastiques, TNT etc.; there are some compounds that do
not give off these vapors and go by completely unnoticed (Example: the
suit case that was found at Heathrow last July -- the suit case it self
was made of explosives and not the contents -- it was found when a
baggage handler dropped a cigarette butt on it, igniting it.).
Message no. 9
From: "Sedah Drol" <ccrodrig@****.indstate.edu>
Subject: Re: C-x series explosives
Date: Wed, 29 May 1996 01:21:15 EST
> [SNIP]
>
> One of my players just told me about a game when he used to GM Top Secret.
> One of the characters wanted to kill an opponent. He decided to spike the
> characters KY with nitrogicerin. (Long story about the KY. Seems this target
> character was a PC who played with his GF so they roleplayed sex.) Needless
> to say my friend had the nitro go off without considering whether it
> actually could or not. He though it was to funny and didn't care if it could
> happen or not. Any thoughts? Would it raect with the KY or would it not
> react to the friction and pressures of sex?

Nitroglycerin is very unstable at normal temperatures. Generally
anytime it is expose to a temperature above 60 degrees Farhenheit, it is
rather dangerous. At 98.6 degrees fahrenheit the friction would
cause it do explode. I don't know what type of reaction it would
have with KY jelly cause I don't know what chemicals it contains. If
you know how to make it (btw, it is very easy but very dangerous to
make: some nitric acid+some sufferic acid+glycerin be sure to mix it
in a cold bath or else the wonderful exothermic reaction called
nitrofication that makes nitroglycerin will cause it to go boom) mix
it with KY and test it.

---Sedah Drol
This is a test.....
For the next several lines there will be a test signature.
If this were an actual .sig it would be proceeded with:
a Geek Code script
a Home Page
a quote
and any other information I wish to disclose.
Repeat this was only a test....
Message no. 10
From: "Gurth" <gurth@******.nl>
Subject: Re: C-x series explosives
Date: Wed, 29 May 1996 10:53:24 +0100
Mike Broadwater said on 12:55/28 May 96...

> Well, actually, the idea was to replace some guys shaving cream with foamed,
> bleached plastic explosives that would go off with an electric discharge.
> Then replace his razor with one rigged with contact sensitive batterys and
> enough charge to set off the explosives. Boom, no face, no razor, still the
> problem of the shaving cream canister though, but not everything is perfect.

Maybe it'd be easier to fill the cannister with a deadly poison that can
be absorbed through the skin. Sure, it's not so impressive, but it would
be easy enough to get into and out of the can -- you could probably even
mix it with the shaving foam that's supposed to be in there.

--
Gurth@******.nl - http://www.xs4all.nl/~gurth/index.html
Hele volksstammen laten zich verleiden om als een idioot met een vlaggetje
te gaan zitten zwaaien in een programma als De Vakantieman. Gezellig he!
-> NERPS Project Leader & Unofficial Shadowrun Guru <-
-> The Character Mortuary: http://huizen.dds.nl/~mortuary/mortuary.html <-

-----BEGIN GEEK CODE BLOCK-----
Version 3.1:
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Y PGP- t(+) 5+ X++ R+++>$ tv+(++) b++@ DI? D+ G(++) e h! !r(---) y?
------END GEEK CODE BLOCK------
Message no. 11
From: Russ Myrick <rm91612@****.net>
Subject: Re: C-x series explosives
Date: Wed, 29 May 1996 00:18:39 -0700
<Snip part about sex acts & humour>
Depending on the purity of the nitro, the most likely thing to happen is
a big boom during the mixing process. I know from my classes that this
combo is one of the ones that failed in Nobel's experiments.
Message no. 12
From: Russ Myrick <rm91612@****.net>
Subject: Re: C-x series explosives
Date: Wed, 29 May 1996 01:10:31 -0700
> Uhhhhhh, well Nitroglycerin (which is _not_ related to TNT) doesn't
> explode until 218C, so your safe on the heat part. The KY (jelly I'll
> assume) is primarily water based and shouldn't react with it, as it
> made to _not_ react with anything, thus its use w/the human body. The
> concusive effects, considering the small amount you would be able to
> dissolve in the jelly, I doubt much of anything would happen as far as
> an explosion, however, it is quite toxic to the human body. Some
> symptoms caused by poisoning(get ready):nausea, vomiting, abdominal
> cramps, headache, mental confusion, delirium, paralysis, convulsions,
> circulatory collapse, and the funnest of all, death. Alcohol
> aggrivates the symptoms and it can be caused by injestion, injection or
> absorption through the skin. Don't forget the skin rash. They ain't
> gonna like it.

One of the reasons behind giving nitro to heart patients is that it
causes the heart to intensify its contractions (convulse)similar to a
defribrilator. My dad is a cardiac patient and takes nitro pills on a
regular basis. His biggest complaint is that the stuff burns like hell
when his body does not need the boost to his heart. When he does need it
he says it's like swallowing an ice cube wrapped in oilly rags.

I agree very little will dissolve into the KY, most will get spilled.
Remember very pure nitro (98.3%+) is stable (not sensitive to shock).
However, as the purity drops the sensitivity rises dramatically.

Further Reading

If you enjoyed reading about C-x series explosives, you may also be interested in:

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