Aerial Photography

[tdswan]

Anyone around doing this at all? I recently got browsing the net for businesses specializing in Aerial RC Photography. I guess issue 3 put the bug in my ear about it. What a neat job this would be! I got so excited about it that I built a camera mount to strap to my Raptor. Once it's finished, I'm going to mount my video cam to it and see what "develops" Pun Intended. I'll post some pics once it's completed.

I probably won't test it until it warms up around here, though.

[axis]

Go to runryder forums and check out their section dedicated to it. There are some very beautiful pics in there too.

[tdswan]

Nice info on there, thanks. Anyone on here doing any aerial photography?

[cruzzinchop]

I am gearing up to try some AP and AV out soon. I got a Venture 50 for the heli and I am building my mount system. Should be lots of fun to do.

Mounts cost so darn much and there really is not nearly that in materials. Just gonna build it up.


What are you planning to do?

[tdswan]

I'm saving for my next addition to the fleet. A Predator Gasser!!! Going gas for the cleanliness. Don't want a bunch of glow fuel all over my cameras, plus it should have ample lift & stability. I've made a mod for my Raptor to route the exhaust all the way back to the tail, but I've only tested it once. It worked alright, but i'm afraid of getting a pool of oil into my muffler because of the hose routing...its got to go uphilll along the boom, then down the tail stabilizer.

I've got the beginning stages done in making my frame for the camera mount. Made it of PVC pipe and only took me about an hour to put together from start to finish. Gotta make a camera tray for it now. Hoping to have some sort of pan & tilt. Pretty excited about this new aspect of my beloved hobby.

[Motions]

I was doing video with my BCP but I sold it. I'm waiting on my Rex to come in so I can mount my wireless video to it. I would use my Rap50 but I don't want to take video of the field all the time. With the Trex, I can use it anywhere.

[SENECA]

Click Here (http://www.rchelispot.com/album_cat.php?cat_id=19) for some pics I have done recently.

[tdswan]

Very nice. What equipment are you using?

[SENECA]

http://www.rchelispot.com/album_pic.php?pic_id=5004

This is my AP fleet.All the pics that I did in the AP gallery were done with the ION-X in the above pic, and the Olympus C-505Zoom 5mp camera.

[tdswan]

Nice, thank you for the reply. Are all of those camera mounts from Helicam Solutions? or is the far left one a home-built? I'm kindof trying to make a home-built mount with 1/2" PVC. DOn't have any ideas for a camera tray, though.

[cyclic fever]

I've got some pics of my PVC homemade mount. I'll try to email them to ya. Mike

[axis]

Has anybody tried hacking a disposable camera and using it on their heli?
They are a cheap alternative. They can be had for as little as $11 and can hold a ton of pics. There are various websites that have instructions as well as free software to make them reuseable. I am going to try the camera from Wolf. If I am not mistaken it will hold 145 pics or so as well as video and the ROM inside is programmable.. Just a thought. If I have time this weekend I am going to do the hack, mount it up and see what I come up with. The cool part is, at that price if you dump it and break the camera, it isn't a big deal.

[cruzzinchop]

Sounds like an awesome idea Axis. Let us know how it goes I may just get one myself and try that out. Got the link to the software and hack info?

Thanks,
Jason

[cyclic fever]

Shoot! just figured out I can post them here.....

[cruzzinchop]

cyclic,

Looks sharp dude!!!! I am building my own setup to. The cost of these camera mounts is up there. I guess I like the satifaction (headache) of making my also. But wont it be great when it is done!

Have you had the chance to take any pics with it yet? Show us some if you can. Even if you think they are not good that way we get an idea what we are in for and the challenges to get a perfect framed shot.


Thanks,
Jason

[cyclic fever]

Well I've taken a lot of pics out at the feild to just figure out all it would take to get it working. I only have one pic that could be concidered "on the job". This year I have a Bergen Observer and hope to make a real go at it from here on out. This photo is from the Cali rig....and also one of the Observer.....

[cyclic fever]

The gas main for the whole freak'n city broke Thursday night due to heavy rain and flooding. The wife and I havent been able to get out and test the Observer in working conditions since I finished building it so todays flight was the maiden flight test and photo shoot for the newspaper, talk about pins and needles. Flight went perfect but I have vibration issues to work out in the camera gimbal. Thankfully, the local newspaper didnt care and at the size they are printing them at, it would be hard to see the shakey image. Mike