WELCOME TO BLUE STAR
RANGS- HOME OF BOOMERANG TECHNOLOGY AND OVER 20 YEARS
OF MAKING AND DESIGNING COMPETITION BOOMERANGS
First off, thank you for visiting!
What is this site about?
For over 20 years now I have been committed to
1. making the best possible boomerangs for every level of thrower: - hardware (product catalogue)-
- the beginner: light, safe, forgiving and accurate boomerangs to get you started easily.
- the advanced thrower: composite models for all kinds of range and wind conditions: unmatched accuracy and fun!
- the competitor: advanced technical materials and designs to give you the edge in competition
2. Providing you with knowledge and tips about throwing, adjusting and tuning your boomerangs to help you get the best results with them.- software (boomerang resources)
I have always been trying to make competition boomerangs
better. By using new materials, applying different
airfoils etc. All of this knowledge and experience
also reflects in the plywood models which I offer
for beginner throwers. Airfoils that resist wind
better than before, with great accuracy, catchabilty
etc. I have always had three groups of throwers in
mind when I make and design boomerangs:
1. the competitor - get you better scores
2. the ambitions new guy who has tasted blood - double the fun
3. the beginner - get you started
For each of these groups I offer a wide variety
of boomerang models made from plywood, hardwoods,
technical composites- in hopes to make you a happy
thrower- whichever level you are on. If you browse
through my catalogue
you feel you may need some advice, don't hesitate
to mail me - that's what I'm here for.
Which boomerang should I buy? A
guide to using the catalogue
When you're through browsing the catalogue,
you'll probably ask yourself: which is the right
boomerang for you? And which type of Windeaters etc.
And there is more to this than just numbers.
Each boomerang model is different, either in its
aerofoil, material thickness or wing ratio. For example,
taking one of the many Windeater variations:
the properties of the boomerang depend not only on
the shape, but also the shaping (aerofoil
profile) and material . The Windeater 2 in
3mm paxolin may have a similar aerofoil, weight,
and an almost identical shape (outline) as the Windeater
2 from G12, BUT the latter is 30% thinner
- which makes it spin faster (i.e. it cuts through
wind better while offering less airofoil thickness
to get caught on) - and travel appr.
20-30% further WITHOUT extra weights on it(see the tuning
section for more information on this).
As a general help for your orientation I have put
together a table indicating the main qualities
for each boomerang ( 1 -5 star scores per
category), such as:
- throwing skill - what does it
take to master this model?
- Pleasure index - how much fun does it
give me?
- Competition potential - how much potential
in tournament?
- Wind tolerance - how much wind can it
handle?
- Accuracy - how accurate is the return?
- Forgivness to throwing mistakes -
how much do I get away with while learning?
| throwing skill |
pleasure index |
competition |
wind tolerance |
accuracy |
forgiving factor |
| *** |
**** |
** |
** |
**** |
*** |
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Paxolin vs. G12- some material information
You may get a little overwhelmed by the varieties
of model variations you find here, probably not knowing what Paxolin
and G12 are in the first place.
Paxolin- or phenolioc resin- is the material
Herb Smith first introduced to boomeranging as far back as 1986. Specific weight
and density seemed superior to plywood at the time, toughness being an
extra benefit. Pax is material of choice for winds and for longer range
boopmeranngs. It is not too expensive, easy to flex-tune. Downside is
that it tends to get brittle in low temperatures- so when you throw or
tune a pax boomerang in Winter be very careful!
G 12 epoxy laminate is an epoxy composite based on fiber
glass. It is appr. 30% heavier than paxolin, a lot more expensive, hard
on tools - and much harder on the lungs. The upside being that is is
virtually unbreakable, hard to beat in wind- and never to pass in long
distance. Being thinner at the same size they cut through wind better,
spin much better (so your throw gets a lot easier), go further (due to
less lift)- BUT: they need more wind for a complete return. There is
hardly a G 12 model in my catalogue that works in calm conditions.
Result for all boomerangs
in this section: advantages:
G 12 variations have 25-50% more range than Paxolin versions of the same
model, they are easier to get to spin, they fight the wind better and
they are unbreakable.
disadvantages: G 12 models need more
wind for a full return, the throwing window (tolerance) is smaller
than for Paxolin, and they are more expensive.
Hope this helps find your way to the boomerang
that will best suit your needs!
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I have just put together a BOOMERANG
BUYING GUIDE FOR YOU in order to
help you find your way throw the maze of all
these pages...
Another common question: "I have never thrown
long distance before, and I want a Challenger
3, because I heard it's great." Well,
this is so, but the throwing technique required for
this boomerang doesn't have much in common with the
way you throw a "normal"
boomerang. This boomerang needs to be tilted much
further out, to make it come back at all - not
to mention the extra wrist and arm power required
to put sufficient spin on it (see also Power
throwing)So, in this case, I'd recommend
a Straight Shooter, for example,
it's much more forgiving and easier to handle.
A new and complete throwing
instruction sheet for the beginner thrower can be found here- generously
provided my World class thrower and boom artist Michael
Girvin from California.
So, any questions concerning my range of boomerangs - what
to get, how to throw, tuning - don't hesitate
to email
me. I'll be glad to help you out best as I can.
Ultimate Throwing
(Tune, twist, add weight)
History- Herb Smith special!
 |
I have made scans of the special Boomerang News issue #12, which was written
and published by Ted Bailey-
the most valuable source for boom info in this World- in 1995, after my great
inspiration, friend and teacher Herb
A. Smith from Sussex,
England passed on. People keep asking for information about the man who changed
boomerangs forever - and this is a big piece of it, historical and personal
too. More
> |
Zen and Boomerangs
 |
What do boomerangs have in common with Zen
philosophy? How can you get more fun out
of your hobby? What's the major connection
between your breakfast eggs and the bacon? Have
a browse and find the answers to these
and other important questions ... |
Boomerang Links
Links to other boomerang
related sites: get essential info on anything and everything
boomeranging. |