British serial tinkerer and inventor Colin Furze just built what is the closest thing to having a real Fallout Fat Man and he has posted on YouTube to show you that it works. And damn it works great. For those who love pyros and explosions, The Thermite Launcher is a work of art.

While not exactly the Fat Man Launcher (it is a mini nuke launcher)  as the design is more a Victorian-inspired steam punk pneumatic launcher, it is something that I would not recommend to anyone who does not have the proper skill to build one. As for the projectile, thermite is a pyro made of metal oxide and metal powder fuel. While it does not exactly give an explosive effect, it burns at a high temperature over 4,000 degrees F in a small area that it can burn through many objects such as the disabling artillery pieces with thermite grenades.  If not handled properly, just imagine that gaping hole on your table, or might just ignite combustible materials inside your house or workshop.

Colin Furze’s design has safety features to prevent any prevent any premature ignition of the thermite canister payload through the use of switches that need are activated in a sequence. Furthermore, it is a polished design rather than a haphazard contraption of pipes and metal bits.

Lobbing the thermite canister at a farther distance is the best thing to keep one away from the hot burning material. And the effect of the materials hit by the thermite shows how hot it is, with the fireworks giving a more dramatic effect to what his Thermite Launcher can do.

For educational purposes, he included videos on how he made the thermite shells and the launcher. Again, please do remember not to do this at home or make one without professional supervision and safety precautions.

Too bad we can’t use this for airsoft. We don’t want seeing milsimers lying around with big burn holes in them.