My RC photo ship

[Jinker]

Just maidened her. She goes!

http://marshallgang.ca/gallery/albums/RCAirplanes/IMGP0473.sized.jpg

It's a Gentle Lady wing with a scratch built fuse.

Powered by an AXI 2212/20 with a 9x3.7 APC SF and a 3S etec 1250 Lipoly. (~100 watts by Motocalc's estimation)

AUW is 23 oz without camera. The camera's another 5 oz.

I'm pretty happy with how the camera bay (ground adjustable from vertical to straight out the right side) and electronics hatch worked out. Seems pretty usable.

http://marshallgang.ca/gallery/albums/RCAirplanes/IMGP0475.sized.jpg

More pictures up at my gallery:

http://marshallgang.ca/gallery/RCAirplanes

-Greg

[Jinker]

BTW, lead on the nose is awaiting a 2100 Mah battery pack for longer 'missions'...

It flys well, though it was too windy today to fly smoothly (very light wing loading), and climbs like a homesick angel. (around 45 degrees)

-Greg

[VanSheppard]

Yep, I can agree with you about the wind. A little more than I was looking for as well.

What kind of camera are you using? I am thinking that I'd like to put one in my trainer.....

Cheers,

Van.

[Rick Ramalho]

Looks good Greg.

-R

[Jinker]

Yep, I can agree with you about the wind. A little more than I was looking for as well.

What kind of camera are you using? I am thinking that I'd like to put one in my trainer.....

Cheers,

Van.

It's a Pentax Optio S4 (http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/specs/Pentax/pentax_optios4.asp). The Optio S line (in particular S4, S4i, S5n, S5i, S5z) have the right features for RC Aerial Photography.


Programmable user modes
Manually set focus to infinity
IR remote (for use with Prism switch)
Light weight (115g)


Even with the electric motor and a well balanced prop, I notice extra blur with the prop turning (even in shots up to 1/1000 sec). If you're going to mount a camera on a slimer you have to take extra care to isolate it from vibration carefully. This is a little fiddly as a mount which is either too soft or too hard will transmit engine vibration to the camera. It will take some trial and error if you want to get especially clear pictures.

On the other hand, if you're just messing around, and don't plan to print any large enlargements from your photos, just strap it to the plane with a little foam in between them.

-Greg