Die Hard Question

[Ash]

HBO showed Die Hard last night.
I hadn't seen that movie in at least two years.
No matter how many times I see it, it's always a good time.  

One question...
Remember the scene where McClane says, "Let's see you take this under advisement jerkweed!" and places that bag of C4 on a chair, sets a computer monitor on top of it, wraps the entire thing with a cord and shoves it down an elevator shaft?
He sets off an enormous explosion.



Would that really work?
Could a load of C4 be set off that way?

[Trevor]

I think something must have been added and that there was more than just C4 in that bag. In some movies and books, a detonator is put into C4 and it does nothing more than go "pow" other than totally kablooiey. 

A great scene nonetheless.

[Menard]

Well, I will just scratch the surface of explosives since the main intent is to enjoy a very enjoyable movie.

HE, or High Explosives, are categorized into three basic types by use: primary; secondary; and booster. Chemically, and according to how the explosive is packed, it could be used as more than one type of explosive. A primary explosive is one that is very sensitive to shock, heat, etc., and is used to set off a less sensitive but more powerful secondary explosive. The most recognizable example of this is blasting caps used as a primary (initial explosion) inserted into a stick (or more) of dynamite or into a block of C-4. A booster explosive is just that; a more powerful initiating explosion set off by a primary, but itself used to set off a more powerful, but less sensitive, secondary explosive.

I bring up the booster explosive because, in the scene, John McClane could have used the monitor as a primary (the picture tube could have a minor explosion upon being dropped) and have packed something else with the C-4 as a booster to be set off by the explosion of the picture tube. Of course, we could just look at the picture tube as a trigger to set off the primer. If he had a pack of C-4, he most likely had blasting caps as well since he took it from terrorists and they would have had blasting caps with their C-4. The use of the monitor as a trigger was actually well thought out as a way to set off the explosives; to say there is a potential it would not work is definitely true, but McClane is a hero and it must work.

The scene and the movie work for me.

*As a note to rules lawyers: I am using the popular term C-4 as most people will refer to plastique as such. I know that the term semtex is more commonly associated with terrorist explosives, and we can get into ridiculous namings of RDX compositions, but, dangit, let's just enjoy the movie.

[Bill C.]

Actually, in the scene we saw John actually inserting detonators (I think here we'd call them blasting caps) into the margarine-sized stick of plastic explosive before he stuck a CRT monitor on top of it and shoved it down the elevator shaft.  The scene opened with him sticking one cap into the explosive, then another, then "f**k it!" and a third cap.  (Yes, that was from memory.)

So, as Menard explained above, the apparent idea was for the monitor to somehow set off the caps and thus the explosive.  Damn shame about the chair...

[Menard]

Damn shame about the chair...

Yes, it was a nice chair.

It has been a while since I have seen it, so I could not remember if it showed the blasting caps or not. Thank you for pointing that out.

[trekgeezer]

They always have too much fire in explosions in the movies (mainly because they use gasoline to make them). You don't see this back in the 30's, they used real dynamite. The explosions were far more realistic back then .

[Ash]

The scene opened with him sticking one cap into the explosive, then another, then "f**k it!" and a third cap. 

When I was watching it, I was sitting at my computer and only halfway paying attention to certain scenes.
I'd forgot about where he stuck the extra blasting caps into the C4.

So yes, I suppose that would make a really big explosion.  

[Jim H]

I assumed the caps he stuck into it were set off by electricity.  Monitors, especially older ones, can hold VERY LARGE charges, and a massive drop would be enough to release it on impact.

[Yaddo 42]

Two of the things I liked about the new Miami Vice movie was that explosions were more realistic, and the effects of bullets and how they pentrate cars was done much better than most films.

I went target shooting with some friends one time and we used some old computer parts as improvised targets. Lots of discharge from one of those old, big monitors when you first shoot one. So I can see using it to set off the caps and then set off the explosives.

[Ash]

So the computer monitor was the ignition device.  (what's a better word for "ignition"?)
Without it, the whole thing probably wouldn't have gone off.

That'd be a great idea for the guys on the Mythbusters TV show to try out!  
I just may e-mail them with that suggestion.
You never know...maybe they could try it out on a much smaller scale.

By the way, CHECK OUT THIS AWESOME VIDEO DEDICATED TO McCLANE & DIE HARD

HERE'S THE VIDEO OF THE DETONATION SCENE I WAS TALKING ABOUT

[Viktorcrayon]

People really know something about weapons on this board. 

*mental note not to p**s anyone off

[Menard]

People really know something about weapons on this board. 

I've always maintained that it is not a good idea to let D&Ders play with matches.

*mental note not to p**s anyone off

All I have to do is post and I've accomplished p**sing someone off. Hell, I don't even have to post really; I lose karma whether I've posted or not.

[Viktorcrayon]

Hehe... But seriously... Everyone seems to know their weapons. I've never held a gun, and i think i've just SEEN one, 4 or less times.

[Jim H]

Hehe... But seriously... Everyone seems to know their weapons. I've never held a gun, and i think i've just SEEN one, 4 or less times.

Really?  Everytime I see a cop walking around, they're got a handgun on their belt...

Edit: I see you're in Denmark.  Beat cops don't carry there?  I know they don't in some countries in Europe...

[Andrew]

People really know something about weapons on this board. 

*mental note not to p**s anyone off

For certain weapons - yes.  It is an integral part of what I do.