Joan

Role: Flame effects consultant

Skills: Gas plumbing design and assembly

Joan is an art car built on a retired humvee. She takes inspiration from hard shelled scorpions, science fiction space vehicles and her military past. I worked with the car's two architects and project manager to remotely design the flame cannon plumbing system and turret housing to match the car's aesthetic vision. The 4 pressurized flame cannons illuminated the car at night with an LPG gas system controlled by solenoid valves.

Solidworks model.

The cannon turret was designed to rotate left and right as well as move from an initial horizontal position upward before firing.

The flame effect was controlled by normally closed solenoid valves, which when powered released bursts of accumulated propane gas.

Plumbing assembly.

Full system fire test.

Flame cannons in action.