My first video... using scotch tape and sony P10

[xStatiCa]

First time mounting a camera of any kind onto a heli. I was impatient so I just removed the canopy for the flight and scotch taped the sony P10 to the forward facing part of the main trex 600 battery up front for a one time flight video test :). I did use a few paper towels folded up on the back to tilt the camera down a bit and help dampen vibration at least a little. It worked better than I thought it would. Only cost about 5 cents worth of scotch tape :). The scotch tape held very well... I wouldn't do multiple flights though with it.

I didn't get too carried away with 3d stuff because I was shaking not being used to seeing the heli with the canopy off... it was a bit harder to see.

The video is unedited and the video setup I know is pathetic but it was fun! I want more :).

HZohCpCYnuI


Higher quality version seems to be available but I don't see much of a difference...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZohCpCYnuI&fmt=6

[mymax]

Awesome Scotch tape! ...I mean video/flying.
I was thinking... "he better not drop his bird in that pond!"

When I was a kid, I used masking tape for everything... and my folks STILL kid me about it.

Great flyin'

[ddierking]

Cool video. I was thinking floats when I saw the pond.

[xStatiCa]

Thanks for the comments. I don't use pool noodles or floats even though I should. I fly over that pond a lot (for the past 1.5 years). I have only crashed 2 helis in it so far and both were well over a year ago when I was within 3 - 6 months of learning to fly. I crashed a 450se and an mx400 pro in it learning to hover inverted. I am probably due again. I have had only 2 emergency landings since then and both were at the local flying field(WPMPA). I was able to auto them down(motor pinion came loose during a hard turn and battery came unplugged doing flips).

I want to hover upside down over the water next with a video camera installed. Then the next step would be a water blade scrape :). I want to practice the water blade scrape on a 3" pond of water first though because I don't know how much different the heli will react compared to ground blade scrapes in short grass (I am very confortable doing them).

I took some video with a Sharp video camera of the photo camera installed but I can't get Vista to see my Sharp video camera anymore to get the video off ot it (It uses IEEE1394). It might be a little while before I post that. I need to get the video off of it one way or another because I recorded Turtle flying the other day with the Sharp video camera and I want to get him that video.

I want to start videoing all of my flights as I couldn't even tell the camera was on the heli as far as the extra weight. I am trying to think of a way to make my own very light weight mount for the e trex 600 that would be permanent and up front just in front of the battery but not get in the way of battery installation and still allow the canopy to go on. Ideally I would want it mounted up front near the battery (not below the skids for vertical CG reasons). Ideally it would sit inside the canopy with a hole for the lens to peak out. The angle on the stock trex 600 canopy though would require almost the whole nose cut out I think because of how much angle is on the canopy near the nose. If I knew how to mold fiberglass I would make my own with a short stubby nose ideal for cutting out a camera lens hole. Still trying to brainstorm on ideas.

[Efliernz]

Great first-time results.
I started in a similar way18 months ago with a pencam - and now have a part-time AP business with 3 AP ships, two of which have custom diy mounts. Experimenting is so important here... and successes like this suck in you deeper!!!