GGoodrum
07-11-2006, 06:48 PM
I finally got my new "neighborhood" camera rig done. It is based on a Quick Japan EP-8 that has been stretched to run 420mm blades, and uses the new "SE" frames we just started selling for these. This one is using the smaller Askman mount, which is a perfect fit for this size, and the camera is an 8 MP Pentax Optio A10.
For power, it uses a Hacker A30-8XL and a 5s eMoli pack. Normally, this would be a very good 3D setup, with a h/s around 2600, but for this application I've geared ot down more so that the h/s is around 2000-2100, which seems about optimum. It still has gobs of power, even with the extra weight. The AUW, with the camera, the video d/l and a separate receiver 2-cell pack/UBEC is 4 lb 15 ounces. A good 1-1/4 lb of that the 5-cell eMoli pack.
I'm not sure on the durations yet, until I recharge the pack from today's test flight, which only lasted about 5 minutes. It should be around 10 minutes, or so. It is amazingly stable in flight, although I'm going ot put some heavier paddles on it I think, as the cyclic is still a bit quick. In any case, even the standard ep-8 is very smooth, and flies like a bigger model. Very little vibration, especially with this new frameset.
Here's a couple of pics, plus a few test shots from the A10:
http://www.tppacks.com/photos/EP-8SE-AP-01.jpg
http://www.tppacks.com/photos/EP-8SE-AP-02.jpg
http://www.tppacks.com/photos/Coto-Park-01.jpg
http://www.tppacks.com/photos/Coto-Park-02.jpg
http://www.tppacks.com/photos/Coto-Park-03.jpg
Next up for this will be te addition of another AP-2000i stabilizer system. Since this will end up being used a lot for regular neighborhood work, having the stabilizer will let me go higher, and farther out than I would normally feel comfortable doing with something this size. :)
-- Gary
For power, it uses a Hacker A30-8XL and a 5s eMoli pack. Normally, this would be a very good 3D setup, with a h/s around 2600, but for this application I've geared ot down more so that the h/s is around 2000-2100, which seems about optimum. It still has gobs of power, even with the extra weight. The AUW, with the camera, the video d/l and a separate receiver 2-cell pack/UBEC is 4 lb 15 ounces. A good 1-1/4 lb of that the 5-cell eMoli pack.
I'm not sure on the durations yet, until I recharge the pack from today's test flight, which only lasted about 5 minutes. It should be around 10 minutes, or so. It is amazingly stable in flight, although I'm going ot put some heavier paddles on it I think, as the cyclic is still a bit quick. In any case, even the standard ep-8 is very smooth, and flies like a bigger model. Very little vibration, especially with this new frameset.
Here's a couple of pics, plus a few test shots from the A10:
http://www.tppacks.com/photos/EP-8SE-AP-01.jpg
http://www.tppacks.com/photos/EP-8SE-AP-02.jpg
http://www.tppacks.com/photos/Coto-Park-01.jpg
http://www.tppacks.com/photos/Coto-Park-02.jpg
http://www.tppacks.com/photos/Coto-Park-03.jpg
Next up for this will be te addition of another AP-2000i stabilizer system. Since this will end up being used a lot for regular neighborhood work, having the stabilizer will let me go higher, and farther out than I would normally feel comfortable doing with something this size. :)
-- Gary