Nitromethane safe for cameras?

**7samurai** · 01-16-2014, 04:28 PM

Originally posted by hks_kansei

Nitro can burn in the absense of air can't it?

My understanding is that it's carries it's own oxygen molecule in the fuel. Which allows them to run a higher air to fuel mixture since it contains oxygen already.

**7samurai** · 01-16-2014, 04:33 PM

Originally posted by hks_kansei

As others have said, I imagine it's quite an efficient solvent, so maybe use a rain cover as suggested, and consider a filter to help prevent any marks to the lens coating.

Good point. I'll definitely place a filter on the front element. Don't thin a rain cover will work since the fuel is atomized and will get into everything.

**ak_kiwi** · 01-17-2014, 12:59 AM

Originally posted by 7samurai

Which allows them to run a higher air to fuel mixture since it contains oxygen already

Well they tend to run rich (excess fuel) to cool the engine but yes Nitro is a way of getting a lot of oxygen into the engine.
But (and these could be a good photo op for you) running an engine rich drops the hp a little.
So come the finals the engineer may (read that as WILL) tweek the mixture to lean the engine at the top end to get a bit more power which of course raises combustion temps.
The photo op I talk about is at the end of the run, during finals, when engines can hand grenade quite spectacularly

**7samurai** · 01-17-2014, 05:58 PM

Originally posted by ak_kiwi

Well they tend to run rich (excess fuel) to cool the engine but yes Nitro is a way of getting a lot of oxygen into the engine.
But (and these could be a good photo op for you) running an engine rich drops the hp a little.
So come the finals the engineer may (read that as WILL) tweek the mixture to lean the engine at the top end to get a bit more power which of course raises combustion temps.
The photo op I talk about is at the end of the run, during finals, when engines can hand grenade quite spectacularly

And here I was thinking of the last few runs at night when the night sky is illuminated by the 10 foot columns of burning nitro methane fuel being pushed through the exhaust...

**ak_kiwi** · 01-18-2014, 01:36 AM

Originally posted by 7samurai

And here I was thinking of the last few runs at night when the night sky is illuminated by the 10 foot columns of burning nitro methane fuel being pushed through the exhaust...

Even better when they are topped off with glowing bits of metal shooting out like fireworks

Here is some inspiration for you!

**7samurai** · 01-20-2014, 02:36 PM

Those are great images. Book marking the page for reference. Absolutely loved the spark plug flying through the air.

**ak_kiwi** · 01-20-2014, 08:14 PM

The fifth one down in the 2013 series shows what happens.
Man this guy does some nice photographs and this set is great!

**ak_kiwi** · 01-20-2014, 08:24 PM

But it looks like he goes through some gear :(

**7samurai** · 01-22-2014, 04:40 PM

I would expect so if he's mounting it on the walls. It would have been interesting to see what it looked like as the dragster sweep within inches of it. To bad the parachute caught the mount.
I guess no pain no gain. I would love to have that kind of access to the strip.

Glad no one was injured.

**Kerrowdown** · 01-23-2014, 02:20 AM

Originally posted by ak_kiwi

Yeah standing by a nitro engine cranking up is certainly an experience

It's one of the few times I can actually say, that you can feel the engine through the ground, awesome.

This was in my film days before SR was invented too.

**Kerrowdown** · 01-23-2014, 02:22 AM

Originally posted by 7samurai

I always double up on ear protection at the races. In ear and over the ear protection

A big +1 on that, still pretty exciting though...

**Kerrowdown** · 01-23-2014, 02:32 AM

A good few years ago now, I was privileged to see Sammy Millers "Vanishing Point" Rocket Drag Car at the Santa Pod Raceway in UK.

0-386 MPH in 3.58 Seconds, now that's what I call rapid.

P.S. Just found a reference in Wikipedia for that event "a time of 3.58 seconds at 386.26 mph (621.61 km/h) was set by Sammy Miller in his Vanishing Point rocket-propelled funny car in July 1984". I was right about it being "A good few years ago now".

**7samurai** · 02-13-2014, 07:22 PM

Here's a shot from this past Sunday's NHRA Winter Nationals. I thought we were going to get rained out but it never rained on the track. It only rained near the foothills.
Don't usually do panning shots, but here's the only one in focus...

Just couldn't capture a panning shot of the Top Fuel Dragsters doing 320mph...

**ak_kiwi** · 02-15-2014, 04:25 PM

Nice shot. And you got the drivers attention by the looks.
Hmm Val Torres - Did you ask whether they needed a photographer for the team?

AquaDome · 02-15-2014, 05:47 PM

Liquid nitromethane will dissolve acrylic plastics on contact.
Vaporized nitromethane can ignite spontaneously at the right vapor density.
Statistically, damage to your camera should be the least of your worries.
Sounds like fun.

01-18-2014, 01:36 AM	#20
ak_kiwi Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Auckland, New Zealand. Posts: 328	Originally posted by 7samurai And here I was thinking of the last few runs at night when the night sky is illuminated by the 10 foot columns of burning nitro methane fuel being pushed through the exhaust... Even better when they are topped off with glowing bits of metal shooting out like fireworks Here is some inspiration for you! Last edited by ak_kiwi; 01-18-2014 at 01:42 AM.

01-23-2014, 02:32 AM	#27
Kerrowdown PEG Moderator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Highlands of Scotland... "Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand" - William Blake Photos: Gallery Posts: 57,818	A good few years ago now, I was privileged to see Sammy Millers "Vanishing Point" Rocket Drag Car at the Santa Pod Raceway in UK. 0-386 MPH in 3.58 Seconds, now that's what I call rapid. P.S. Just found a reference in Wikipedia for that event "a time of 3.58 seconds at 386.26 mph (621.61 km/h) was set by Sammy Miller in his Vanishing Point rocket-propelled funny car in July 1984". I was right about it being "A good few years ago now". Last edited by Kerrowdown; 01-23-2014 at 02:41 AM.

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01-16-2014, 04:28 PM	#16
7samurai Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Rancho Cucamonga, CA Photos: Albums Posts: 474 Original Poster	Originally posted by hks_kansei Nitro can burn in the absense of air can't it? My understanding is that it's carries it's own oxygen molecule in the fuel. Which allows them to run a higher air to fuel mixture since it contains oxygen already.

01-16-2014, 04:33 PM	#17
7samurai Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Rancho Cucamonga, CA Photos: Albums Posts: 474 Original Poster	Originally posted by hks_kansei As others have said, I imagine it's quite an efficient solvent, so maybe use a rain cover as suggested, and consider a filter to help prevent any marks to the lens coating. Good point. I'll definitely place a filter on the front element. Don't thin a rain cover will work since the fuel is atomized and will get into everything.

01-17-2014, 12:59 AM	#18
ak_kiwi Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Auckland, New Zealand. Posts: 328	Originally posted by 7samurai Which allows them to run a higher air to fuel mixture since it contains oxygen already Well they tend to run rich (excess fuel) to cool the engine but yes Nitro is a way of getting a lot of oxygen into the engine. But (and these could be a good photo op for you) running an engine rich drops the hp a little. So come the finals the engineer may (read that as WILL) tweek the mixture to lean the engine at the top end to get a bit more power which of course raises combustion temps. The photo op I talk about is at the end of the run, during finals, when engines can hand grenade quite spectacularly

01-17-2014, 05:58 PM	#19
7samurai Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Rancho Cucamonga, CA Photos: Albums Posts: 474 Original Poster	Originally posted by ak_kiwi Well they tend to run rich (excess fuel) to cool the engine but yes Nitro is a way of getting a lot of oxygen into the engine. But (and these could be a good photo op for you) running an engine rich drops the hp a little. So come the finals the engineer may (read that as WILL) tweek the mixture to lean the engine at the top end to get a bit more power which of course raises combustion temps. The photo op I talk about is at the end of the run, during finals, when engines can hand grenade quite spectacularly And here I was thinking of the last few runs at night when the night sky is illuminated by the 10 foot columns of burning nitro methane fuel being pushed through the exhaust...

01-20-2014, 02:36 PM	#21
7samurai Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Rancho Cucamonga, CA Photos: Albums Posts: 474 Original Poster	Those are great images. Book marking the page for reference. Absolutely loved the spark plug flying through the air.

01-20-2014, 08:14 PM	#22
ak_kiwi Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Auckland, New Zealand. Posts: 328	The fifth one down in the 2013 series shows what happens. Man this guy does some nice photographs and this set is great!

01-20-2014, 08:24 PM	#23
ak_kiwi Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Auckland, New Zealand. Posts: 328	But it looks like he goes through some gear :(

01-22-2014, 04:40 PM	#24
7samurai Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Rancho Cucamonga, CA Photos: Albums Posts: 474 Original Poster	I would expect so if he's mounting it on the walls. It would have been interesting to see what it looked like as the dragster sweep within inches of it. To bad the parachute caught the mount. I guess no pain no gain. I would love to have that kind of access to the strip. Glad no one was injured.

01-23-2014, 02:20 AM	#25
Kerrowdown PEG Moderator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Highlands of Scotland... "Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand" - William Blake Photos: Gallery Posts: 57,818	Originally posted by ak_kiwi Yeah standing by a nitro engine cranking up is certainly an experience It's one of the few times I can actually say, that you can feel the engine through the ground, awesome. This was in my film days before SR was invented too.

01-23-2014, 02:22 AM	#26
Kerrowdown PEG Moderator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Highlands of Scotland... "Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand" - William Blake Photos: Gallery Posts: 57,818	Originally posted by 7samurai I always double up on ear protection at the races. In ear and over the ear protection A big +1 on that, still pretty exciting though...

02-13-2014, 07:22 PM	#28
7samurai Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Rancho Cucamonga, CA Photos: Albums Posts: 474 Original Poster	Here's a shot from this past Sunday's NHRA Winter Nationals. I thought we were going to get rained out but it never rained on the track. It only rained near the foothills. Don't usually do panning shots, but here's the only one in focus... Just couldn't capture a panning shot of the Top Fuel Dragsters doing 320mph...

02-15-2014, 04:25 PM	#29
ak_kiwi Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Auckland, New Zealand. Posts: 328	Nice shot. And you got the drivers attention by the looks. Hmm Val Torres - Did you ask whether they needed a photographer for the team?

02-15-2014, 05:47 PM	#30
AquaDome Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: New Carlisle, IN Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,475	Liquid nitromethane will dissolve acrylic plastics on contact. Vaporized nitromethane can ignite spontaneously at the right vapor density. Statistically, damage to your camera should be the least of your worries. Sounds like fun.