New mount for my E-Raptor

[MLaBoyteaux]

While I'm waiting on a new main gear, I figured I'd show you what my latest mount looks like.

I've built on the same framework, but moved the camera gimbal down under the heli and added retracts. The total weight for the mount is 2lb 8 ounces. That is with the two Hitec HS-225 servos for pan and tilt and an HS-81 for the retract valve. This weight does not include the battery and downlink. The original landing gear weighed 6 ounces, so this gives a net gain of 34 ounces for the mount.

I think I could shave a few more ounces off if I used carbon fiber instead of G-10 for the battery trays and camera tray.

The gear should show up today, but now it's raining :(

Oh yeah, the cart is also my newest mast. 25' and pnuematic. Silent, but deadly.

[GJestico]

Hows the CofG with that rig ?

[MLaBoyteaux]

Spot on. That's one of the reasons I wanted to get the camera under the heli. I'm using a Canon Rebel XT with a 17~85 EFIS lens. The camera weighs 36 ounces. With the front mount, I had to move the FlightPower 11S5000 packs back behind the main frame to balance.

The camera gimbal is hanging just forward of the center shaft of the motor. Without the camera, I can move the batteries forward enough to balance. With the camera, I can slide them back a little and it balances.

[AZ ChopperCam]

nice.... flown video with this rig yet?

[MLaBoyteaux]

No, I'm waiting for a new main gear to arrive and it's going to be raining through Thursday. Should get some air time with it this weekend! Hopefully I'll leave it alone for now. I've been continuously modifying it since I got the Raptor converted. I'm ready to settle on a design and go fly!

I've decided that I must've inadvertantly reset the ESC to it's defaults last weekend when re-programming the radio. I'll know next time.......

[AZ ChopperCam]

I've been continuously modifying it since I got the Raptor converted. I'm ready to settle on a design and go fly!

I don't have to tell ya how much I know that story!! I'm still modifying and tweaking. I'm back to a playing with a revised version of my older aluminum tube swing arm design. I think I'm gonna stick with it for a while. It's lighter cause there is no pan. I never used pan much anyhow since I fly solo 98% of the time.

I'm anxious to see some video! let us see it when you have some.

[MLaBoyteaux]

I've got this idea for a video, I can see it in my head, I just need to get out and get the shots before winter sets in.

Last spring I was working on a mount for the Condor that had a Kenyon KS-2 AND the 401 stabilized 3 axis gimbal. Weighs 12.5 lbs. Now I'm thinking, for video, simpler is better.

What causes most of the "wiggles" in the video?
THE PILOT.

I believe that a well setup (and balanced) heli and minimal pilot inputs will result in smooth video. The 401 gyros and Kenyon KS-2 are being used to overcome pilot induced movement.

I decided to add retracts so it would be setup the same as the gasser for stills. Plus, I just wanted to see if I could make it work.

But I think for video, it's best shot as a one man show. My style for hand-held video is more like painting the subject with the camera. I think the aerials should be shot the same way. Point the camera with the heli. Fly smooth, make minimal inputs. The keeper shots are going to be the smooth, fluid, forward flying shots anyway, so this is what I'm going to focus on this fall.

If it doesn't work, I've still got the Kenyon KS-2..........

[AZ ChopperCam]

What causes most of the "wiggles" in the video?
THE PILOT

yup... I used to think the KS-2 was a must. I was told so by several people. So I bought all that crap.

Now I realize I can get video as smooth or smoother by de-tuning the rotor system, dialing in a crapload of expo and flying smooth. I also run my sticks out to as long as they will go for more resolution.

whoever says you need a Kenyon is smoking crack. just become a better pilot and all is good.

I let the heli go where it wants to and I merely "suggest" to it where I would like it to be.

[Tonystott]

Mark, that cart has plenty of room for signage!

[iflynething]

That's really nice. I like the way you cut off the front end and how you mounted the servos for the swash. Are they mounted to CF plates or what. That looks very interesting

~Michael~

[AZ ChopperCam]

Michael that is the eCCPM kit from www.tppacks.com. gets rid of all the servo mess up front and saves about half a pound as well.

[iflynething]

That is really sweet. The pound you save in the helicopter you can get out of the mount and video equipment.

Cool

Thanks

~Michael~

[MLaBoyteaux]

Managed to get some test footage today. Not bad, I'm going to put some thicker oil in the shocks and dial in a little more expo. It was kinda breezy today, but mostly, I just need to get out and practice with it now.

4:00 and 40MB.
http://www.hawkeyemedia.com/videos/2006-10-26.wmv

[Tonystott]

Gees Mark, that flight, especially with the FF at low altitude, gives me goosebumps! I reckon you are way too modest. And you reckon it can get even better???

BTW, when you were hovering up high, was that the AP2000i in action? It really seemed to be locked in nicely.

Tony (who definitely >won't< be posting any video of his own pathetic efforts for years, if ever :))

[dreslism]

Nice Mark,

Was this the HC1 with wide angle?

Any ap2000i action in there?

I see your mount has roll stabilization.

Do you lock this out for video?

How are the retracts working?

Are those still the 660 semi's?

[MLaBoyteaux]

Yeah, it's the HC1 with the Raynox .5X lens. This was the second flight testing the AP-2000 and new mount setup (first one had lead ballast).

I'm still using the Funkey 660's, the AUW was 14lb 2oz, but I don't have the downlink installed or the 2S1500 lipo to power the camera mount installed. Should come out to 14.5lbs for the final weight.

The retracts are working, but for shooting video, they don't need to be up, except when flying down low......

The calibration feature on the AP-2000 is awesome. I didn't even try to tilt the sensor, I just double-sticky taped it to the top of the tailboom strut support. The calibration routine compensates for it :D

I'm using one shock on each axis for dampening, with no springs. Right now, they're too soft. They let the mount oscillate too much when the system is excited. I'm not getting any vibrations, which is a good thing, but I'm getting WAY too much wiggling (mostly pilot induced).

When I had the camera hard mounted in a front mount configuration, the only movement was if the heli moved. With the dampened self leveling, the camera has a tendancy to "swing" whenever the heli moves in any direction and then oscillate a little. For a pure video ship, I think the front mount has the advantage, but for our current business model, we're more comfortable shooting stills with the underslung design.

It's all about trade-offs. I wanted the self leveling feature when panning the camera for stills, so the horizon would always be level, but it degrades the video quality. I think a 60 wieght oil will tighten the system up and reduce or eliminate the wiggling.

I also fly with my thumbs. I think I would be more precise if I would start practicing using the two finger "pinch" method. I've tried it, but if feels foreign.

Now I need more battery packs and another charger. Only being able to make two flights and then go home is frustrating :arggg:

[dreslism]

Thanks for the info.

I was wondering if the ap2000i would be good for video or not. i.e. you let off the stick, it snaps the heli back to level inducing some jerk in the video.

What gain were you running at?

I fly with thumbs also. I tried the pinch thing and its a no go for me also. Never will be.

Just dial in some more expo... :wink:

[MLaBoyteaux]

I tried the AP-2000 at several settings, and on the Raptor, it's about the same as the gassers. Just turning it on around 15% or a little less makes it much easier to fly the heli farther out and higher, but not enough so the heli snaps back level or fights you for control.

Just a little soft leveling really makes a difference. Then up high I turned the gain up so the heli would remain level. I think this is going to be a sweet setup for stills.

We're going to take it out for some speculative shots tomorrow.

We've got winds 30 gusting to 35 today.

[miami6]

Mark I Like the mount great work -- the Cart and mast system is interesting what gimbal do you use on the mast ?



How much flight time with the Evo packs and the 14 lbs RTF ?


i notice you are using the red tail gear from and R30 Kit is there a special reason why you are using that instead of the r50 white gear for the tail belt ?


the gimbal could also get lighter if you remove the HPDE Camera mounting plate supports for G10 or CF material


I wish i could buid my own underslung mount like yours -- do you sell the plans or the kit ? or just the retracts ?


great stuff

I think Rain and windy days inspire more work in the workshop

[AZ ChopperCam]

We've got winds 30 gusting to 35 today.

well geeeeez... what's stopping you???! there's a few guys who post "elsewhere" who say they fly in that much wind all the time ;) :roll:

[MLaBoyteaux]

Mark I Like the mount great work -- the Cart and mast system is interesting what gimbal do you use on the mast ?

I'm using a gimbal I built out of HDPE, except it's upside down. I want to make one out of CF, I'm going to see if I can outsource fabricating the frames, or buy one of Gary's frames.



How much flight time with the Evo packs and the 14 lbs RTF ?
I'm running an 11S 5000 setup (a 5S and 6S in series). Yesterday I flew for 10 minutes and the Eagle Tree data logger showed I used 3012 ma. The TP1010 put 3500 back in the batteries. I want to try a 10S setup and see how much more current it'll pull and how much it will shorten the duration.


i notice you are using the red tail gear from and R30 Kit is there a special reason why you are using that instead of the r50 white gear for the tail belt ?
Yeah, so in case I have to auto, I'm not syphoning energy away from the head to drive the tail. I want every bit of energy in the head available to flare at the bottom. Also, if I have a gyro or hardover servo failure, going to hold will disengage the tail.


the gimbal could also get lighter if you remove the HPDE Camera mounting plate supports for G10 or CF material
Yeah, I wish I had a CNC setup like Gary! The whole thing would be CF. There are several pieces which could be refined to trim some weight. It's a work in progress.


I wish i could buid my own underslung mount like yours -- do you sett the plans or the kit ? or just the retracts ?

Well, I contemplated trying to refine the mount and possibly sell them, but decided it wasn't worth the hassle. I want to shoot photos and video, not deal with other peoples heli problems. Plus the liability of someone crashing their heli and my mount and causing a lot of damage or injury just isn't worth it.

The retracts are from http://www.retracts.com, the gimbal I bought from DJ, the rest came from Ace Hardware and McMaster-Carr.

I've got a Delta bench top drill press and band saw and some hand tools. If you're into tinkering, it's not that hard to build one, just takes some spare time in the garage!



Approximate Time: Fri, 27 Oct 2006 15:17:28 UTC

METARs for kafw

KAFW 271453Z 32022G30KT 10SM BKN032 13/05 A2999 RMK AO2 PK WND
30034/1418 SLP150 T01330050 53036

TAFs for kafw

KAFW 271306Z 271312 30020G30KT P6SM SCT040
TEMPO 1316 BKN030
FM1600 33025G40KT P6SM SKC
FM0100 31015KT P6SM SKC

Yikes, forecast gusting to 40kts!

I think I could have the flying field to myself today, no more plankers whining about me overflying their precious little runway. :twisted:

[GGoodrum]

Nice stuff, Mark.:) Looks like you are getting things dialed in pretty well.

"My" mount is actually Andre's (Askman...) work. He's the one with the multiple CNC machines. I've been helping him refine and test things, but he does all the work. :) If the winds aren't too strong here today (we've been having thos pesky Santa Ana hot dry winds that have pushed the temps into the 90s...), I will do the first flight test of this new 360 Pan-LG mount on the Logo 10. It has a continuous turn "robot" servo for controlling the panning, which can turn continuously. The higher the output from the radio, the faster it turns. I have a separate receiver and 2-cell LiPo/UBEC combo on the mount so that everything is "self-contained". This allows continuous pans without worrying about wires getting tangled.

Anyway, I'm getting off-topic here, sorry. :) I think the underslung mount does work better for stills, especially trying to do panos, but I think it also can work quite well for video. The passive "self-leveling" dampening seems to work pretty well. There's also the option of using something like the $150 PicoTilt board from UNav for active stabilization. I have one of these that I will eventually try on the larger Raptor version of the 360 Pan-LG mount.

-- Gary

[dreslism]

Approximate Time: Fri, 27 Oct 2006 15:17:28 UTC

METARs for kafw

KAFW 271453Z 32022G30KT 10SM BKN032 13/05 A2999 RMK AO2 PK WND
30034/1418 SLP150 T01330050 53036

TAFs for kafw

KAFW 271306Z 271312 30020G30KT P6SM SCT040
TEMPO 1316 BKN030
FM1600 33025G40KT P6SM SKC
FM0100 31015KT P6SM SKC

Yikes, forecast gusting to 40kts!

I think I could have the flying field to myself today, no more plankers whining about me overflying their precious little runway. :twisted:

Dude. My secret decoder ring did not come yet. There should be some sort of babblefish translator for that. :D

I'm sure it's all good with you full scale guys, but for the rest of us it's like huh?

Ahh, found the magic decoder.

http://adds.aviationweather.gov/tafs/index.php

click the translate radio button for the human speak version.

This will help me to be able to read the TAF and METAR directly. :D

[AZ ChopperCam]

yikes! that's WINDY!!!!

[cainebean]

Great video Mark.... A long time ago everyone used to ask for Fast Moving Video and not too many people stepped up the the plate. I this is definately one of the best I've seen period.

Caine