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Special Effects Services

Battlefield Simulation SFX

Military & First Responder Training

SFX Services for Military Battlefield & First Responder Training

Welcome to FilmSFX by BloodyStuff Ltd, one of the leading developers and suppliers of Props, Effects and SFX services in the UK to film/TV, military battlefield and first responder simulation.

With over 25 years in the Film and SFX industry, our experienced crews includes SFX Supervisors, Pyrotechnicians, Effects technicians & Engineering, practical prop builders and much more, who can provide the most competitive training and event services available. 

MILITARY SFX SERVICES
Specialising in military battlefield simulation for both fixed and mobile battlefield training, our teams start with designing solutions with our clients, developing and supplying the equipment and SFX services and operating and training use of the events.

EXPERIENCED CREWS
Our teams are insured and hold all the necessary licences, approvals and qualifications for the range of SFX services provided. Full risk assessments and our high levels of experience, mean that you get a flexible, first class professional service for both designing and implementing the effects you require.... all at the most competitive rates in the industry.

We have two main categories, the "Full Battlefield SFX" which includes pyrotechnic explosions and effects and our unique "Safe Battlefield SFX", which allow for a more immersive training experience, due to the close proximity that trainees can be to the effects.  These are popular in fixed training environments, but increasingly popular for scenarios in open battlefield simulation, where health and safety or proximity issues arise with the use of more traditional "Full" pyrotechnic solutions.  In many cases, a mix of close proximity AirSFX and PyroSFX are deployed.

Battlefield SAFE AirSFX

The Latest generation of AirFX simulators developed and adapted by FilmSFX for extremely realistic and powerful explosions, strafe and hits to be created, using inert powders, soft and light fill materials, enabling extremely close and safe proximity to trainees when fired.

Ideal for fixed or external training locations. demonstrations and exhibitions as the necessity for creating and marshalling large "safe no-go" areas is not necessary as even with our largest explosion simulations, just a meter or two of between device and trainee is perfectly safe and with smaller IED, boobytraps, suicide devices etc, trainees can be even closer

FilmSFX design, create and operate these devices for our clients but  can "train the Trainers" to operate courses themselves.

Battlefield FULL PyroSFX

Our qualified team of SFX Designers, Supervisors, and technicians can create and operate extremely impressive battlefield simulation creating anything from a bullet hit in a wall to very large explosions and fireballs, IED's etc..

Our extensive experience in the film and tv industry of creating big, but controlled SFX allowed us to port this experience successfully into the battlefield, military simulation scenarios to create impressive and realistic environments that military and first responders might encounter in real life.

FilmSFX design, create and operate the equipment and pyrotechnic and explosives  as a full service from initial design through to build and implementation and operating during live training, demonstrations and military exhibitions.

AirSFX-Mortars - Safe Explosions


The heart of our Safe AirSFX medium and large explosions are the AirSFX-Mortars, which can be used individually or combined to create a vast range of different explosion simulations
  • Medium & Large Explosions
  • Strafe
  • IED
  • Suicide Bomber
  • Booby Traps
We have developed a range of different safe fill materials based around the core dust (whites, greys, browns & blacks). Mixed with the dust we use various fillers, such as cork, peat, etc., providing visual debris projectiles for added realism.
The units are typically hidden behind props, such as vehicles, sand bags, rocks, building, fuel barrels etc., or can be dug into the ground. With the AirFX Mortars, concealing behind such items doesn't create any additional risk of injury by projecting external debris, as the air escaping is only sufficient to move our light dust and fills and cannot create a projectile or shrapnel from typical concealing props and sets.

Using our Air-Mortars with a special formulation of dust and debris, we can create powerful looking explosion effects, that are safe for Actors/Stunts to be right in the line of fire. By adding small pyrotechnics at the source of the explosion, we can further enhance the explosion visual effect. Perfect solution when actors require to be in close proximity, but safety to actors and crew is paramount..... 

The AirSFX-Mortar Info


Typically our Air Mortars are supplied in 3 sizes for different effects and power,  Various snoots or tube arrangement can also be customised to vary the effect or make concealment easier.


Air Bazooka

Available in a selection of sizes, these handheld debris cannons are perfect for fast setup times and flexibility of location for smaller blasts, IED"s etc.

Air-Mortar MIDI


Our Medium sized 38l Air Mortar, is perfect for easier concealment and medium sized dust/debris blasts.  Remote operation

Air-Mortar MAXI


The largest of our remotely fired Air-Mortar devices, this monster 100l tank can fire dust, debris over 20meters with various effects, depending upon the selection of dust/debris required
  • AirSFX-Mortar Size - 3+
  • 40% Fill - inert dust and cork broken into rock/debris sized pieces
  • Air Pressure - 4BAR (max 9BAR)
  • AirSFX-Mortar Size - 3+
  • 50% Fill - inert dust and cork, polystyrene - Separate stage Flash 
  • Air Pressure - 4BAR (max 9BAR)
  • AirSFX-Mortar Size - 3+
  • 30% Fill - inert dust and cork broken into rock/debris sized pieces
  • Air Pressure - 2BAR (max 9BAR)
  • AirSFX-Mortar Size 2+
  • 25% Fill - inert dust and cork broken into rock/debris sized pieces
  • Air Pressure - 2BAR (max 9BAR)
  • AirSFX-Mortar Size 4 - Qty 3
  • 100% Fill - inert black dust and cork, debris, paper, card
  • Air Pressure - 8BAR (max 9BAR)
  • AirSFX-Mortar Size 1+
  • 40% Fill - inert dust and cork broken into rock/debris sized pieces
  • Air Pressure - 2BAR (max 9BAR)

Smoke SFX Solutions

We can provide a range of pyrotechnic and machine based smoke effects, from spot smoke to large areas covered with smoke.
  • Pyrotechnic Smoke (black and white smoke)
  • High output external smoke machines
  • LayFlat Fog Tunnel Systems

Smoke Tunnel of Death

Our in-house developed "tunnel of Death" smoke generator, enables smoke to be created over distances up to 220m.   Ideal for battlefield atmospherics, covering wide external areas with dense smoke.   Our high power external smoke machine and single phase fan, can distribute smoke  effects through lay flat tubing over long distances and with 2 machines, most weather conditions can be overcome, using two machines to provide an "L" shape of tubing.

Electronic Smoke Machines

Depending upon the situation, we provide high-output continuous smoke machines for use indoors or confined locations, these are great for battlefield simulation or fire training exercises.

We can help with the supply of the correct smoke liquids to provide the specific effect required and the amount of time the smoke hangs in the air.

Pyrotechnic Smoke

Our Pyro Smoke solutions can be hand held or remotely fired, creating a thick black or white smoke.   Perfect for Battlefield simulation and creating ground cover, our largest devices can create an 8m high plume, covering large areas.  Non-toxic and one of the only black smoke solutions available anywhere.

Battlefield PyroSFX


Our highly experienced SFX supervisors can help consult and design exactly the right effect for your production...then our pyrotechnic technicians can create anything from small and large explosions (often combining Pyrotechnics, Air-Mortars & smoke effects) to Hits for masonry or blood bullet hits, ricochets, muzzle flash, welding/cutting/electrical sparks, ash etc.

We operate the very latest wired and wireless firing systems, allowing quickly repeatable or complex firing sequences to be triggered for as many camera takes/angles required.

Our full day rates include a range of additional SFX items, such as professional fog/smoke machines (including miniature and wireless fx machines), wind and SFX lighting, which we always have available to enhance the effects, regardless of whether they were specified or not and pyrotechnics/air mortars are charged on a usage basis.

"Clients repeatedly say we have some of the fastest setups and re-sets in the business". .... This doesn't happen by accident..... we not only consult with the clients to design the effects required according to the dynamics and budget, but we are well rehearsed and experienced with all the effects, services and equipment that we supply.
  • Pyro Explosions & Electrical Failure Simulation
  • Pyro Bullet, dust and blood hits
  • Safe Artem Air Mortar/Canon Explosions
  • Flame Bar Effects
  • SnowSticks - Ash or Snow Fall pyrotechnic simulation (licensed SnowStick operator)
  • Atmos - Professional Continuous Fog, Haze, Low Fog machines, wireless small and miniature machines
  • SnowBusiness Professional SB200 Snow Machines
  • Technician Accompanied Weapons - Pistols, Shotguns, Flame Artillery weapons
  • Co2 Effects
  • Advanced Firing Systems
  • Gun-Fired dust & spark hits
  • CGI Post Production explosion, muzzle flash/cartridge ejection, sparks & smoke VFX Services.  Ask for our per effect rates.

PyroSFX Explosions

Our qualified team of Pyro & Explosives technicians are able to provide pyrotechnic and hi-explosive effects.  Often combining the benefits of both, these effects can be large or small, depending on whether we are re-creating a huge battle scene or smaller action sequences.
Whatever size of explosion you require, our technicians and designers can provide a perfect effect and you can be sure the design and implementation are in the hands of trained and qualified experts.
Large Pyro Explosions
Our large explosions are normally a mix of pyrotechnics, explosives, dry/wet lift substances and debris materials
The following demonstrates, 6 pyro strafe simulations, followed by a huge 200ft, dynamite initiated kerosine fireball.
LycoLift (Lycopodium alternative)- Dry Lift Powder Explosion
The fireball explosion can be fired as close a 4 m to cast/crew. This fireball reached a hight of round about 7 m before disseminating in black smoke. This specially formulated LycoLift powder leaves no burning residue on the ground/in the mortar and no fallout, burning completely and at much lower temperature than Lycopodium.  Used on its own or combined with other debris explosion, creates a stunning large explosion simulation.

Propane-Popper 
A very controllable and repeatable explosion/fireball can be fired as close as a few meters from cast/crew. This fireball reached a hight of round about 3m to 4m before disseminating. Our custom "popper" device is loaded with a propane canister and then fired using a small pyrotechnic charge with a simultaneous igniting charge (which can be customised to create different spark types, smoke and other effects to occur in and around the propane fireball)
As with all our explosions, combining with other effects (AirSFX & PyroSFX) can create a unique looking explosion that is quick to setup and repeatable. Great for IED, missile or a petrol bomb type explosion.  

Squibs & Hits


With a reputation for achieving "One-take" complex pyrotechnic sequences, BloodyStuff SFX were commissioned to consult and provide 26 Squib hits on 3 actors in this fIlm themed celebrity panel show. Filmed in front of a live studio audience at Pinewood, Hollywood quality effects had to be setup by our technicians in just a few minutes between scenes, with NO option for a second-takes.
Using our "Hit-Kit" pyro squib system, multi-channel wireless firing system, combined with our highly experienced technicians, 26 perfectly synchronised blood hits with actors firing blank guns was achieved.
Hollywood A-lister and action movie star, Brendan Fraser (The Mummy etc.), when asked by presenter Alan Carr, "was it good, was it like Hollywood?" replied "Yeah, that was brilliant... I think I just witnessed a homicide!"

We provide Pyro hits with blood bags

Flame Effects

We combine multiple Flame Bars, Professional wireless smoke machines and FX lighting to safely and non-destructively simulate the illusion of flames engulfing a vehicle. Using this technique allows not just the use of valuable props and sets to be used, but for actors to appear to be in the"heat" of the action.. in total safety.   
We also use our Flame bars set in props, houses, oil drums, location sets, ships and many other places, where safe and controllable flames are required.  Combine with our smoke machines and effect lighting for even greater flexibility and effect

Firing Weapons SFX Service

A range of blank firing and Flame firing Guns are available with our technicians.  These provide extremely realistic visual effects and both our blank and flame firing weapons provide very authentic sound too.  A vast range of non-firing weapon props are also available from our BloodyStuff Film Props and SFX rentals site.  Click here for further information
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