We did a double take when we saw this one, as it appeared slightly bigger than our old Best Buy, the Blockbuster Candle. So, we put a few next to each other and indeed it was as you'll see in the picture. You know the score. It's a Blockbuster with a different label, well sort of. We're talking a candle with eight shots, it stands waist high and will be 28-30mm bore, the maximum allowed in cat 3. New readers will wonder why the hell we keep mentioning the Blockbuster all the time. Simple. In 1997 when the idea of UKFR was conceived and right through its launch in 1999 and into 2000, the Blockbuster was the BEST big bore candle without exception. Not only that, but importantly no other firework on the market could create such good effects for £12. Hell, pro displayers used them. That was then and this is now and in under two years things have changed by a long way. Gone is the need to buy a Blockbuster to get 28/30mm effects, a good cake will do it cheaper per shot (and easier to set up). Gone is the need to arrange these in fans, a fan cake will do it safer, easier and also cheaper per shot (and the timing is guaranteed). It could be argued that gone is the need, also, to pay £12 for an eight shot candle. This is true and with so many good cakes on the market now it is hard to justify what you'd use a £12 candle for. But, candles like this have a "feel" of their own. We were expecting this one to be around the £12-£15 range. "£5.99" said Warren at WOF. "Pardon?" replied me and Pete B. Yep, no mistakes, this HUGE candle costs £5.99! Now is the time to start rubbing your hands together with excitement. OK there must be a catch? Nope. Over to the launch pad and each of the eight shots went off like a shotgun. Just like a Blockbuster. Each shell broke with a superb colour effect (silver, blue or red stars) just like a Blockbuster. In fact, it was just like a Blockbuster but HALF THE PRICE! Oh yes. We therefore rate this one an easy Best Buy. All that was missing was a comet tail or colour star on ascent. This is an imposing candle and like the Blockbuster will be a talking point before the display. It has superb effects as expected for the bore. However, before you rush out and buy loads, we need to talk about the timing. Eight shot candles like this fire shots one after the other. The pause between each shot here was pregnant to the point where the baby was poking its head out - at around 3-4 seconds, giving this a duration of over 40 seconds. Don't be fooled into thinking this is 40 seconds of action, it is not. In the late nineties this kind of firework thrilled audiences, now it has a kind of lonely feel to it. You do, therefore, need to work something else at the same time, maybe another cake or candle. Our Best Buy reflects the fact that for big bore candles, this is stunningly good value and half the price of the original market leader. But taken as a whole and looking at components for a display, you need to carefully consider how you would use a candle like this. For informal displays, this is a thrilling firework and amazing value. For more structured displays, this needs some back-up to fill the gaps.