using a blade 400 for ap/av

[hoverpunk]

i have been experimenting with a blade 400 (my first helicopter) and using a nikon coolpix s6 as a camera for capturing video and photography. i am using a simple high density foam block mount with some carbon fiber tubing, balsa wood, epoxy, and rubberbands. for video i just send it up with the camera running. for still photography i require a camera operator as i have a seperate servo/battery/receiver setup in the foam block camera mount to actuate the autofocus and shutter.

anyhow here are a couple videos and a few stills.... i have only been out to shoot stills once so far. looking forward to doing a lot more of it! i shot one of the videos this morning and it has some vibration due to tail issues i didnt realize i was having at the time. they made themselves apparent on the next flight, but thankfully i didnt crash!

anyhow, figured id share with the ap/av community here!

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here is a photo of the mission church next to mission san juan capistrano
http://www.helifreak.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=55736&d=1216606673


looking down at my camera operator and i...
http://www.helifreak.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=55737&d=1216606673


large group of people at the bottom of the field in this shot...
http://www.helifreak.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=55802&d=1216662151

looking towards rancho santa margarita...
http://www.helifreak.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=55809&d=1216662169

[franky92]

Nice work! The first pic is awesome!

[astroflyer]

Excellent Stills!! But man, standing on the side of a highway like that......some one driving along distracted by whatever in blazes he's seeing in the air might just wind up running you down.....

[trireme]

Need pics of your rig on here!

The courts shot IS excellent.

[Real Magoo]

great stuff - would like to see some pics of your setup if possible.

[hoverpunk]

first off thanks for the comments on the church shot! i knew when i got home and saw that one that all the effort i had put into getting a camera on my heli was worth it. i did do a quick crop, minor sharpen, and bumped up the saturation about 15% to make it look a little more alive. the original image horizon was pretty off kilter.

i will post some images of my setup in a little bit. it is very low tech, made of high density foam, balsa, epoxy, cable ties, and rubber bands. the shutter actuation is done with a seperate receiver/servo/battery system put into the foam block. the actual actuation of AF and then shutter release is done with fishing line. i came up with the design out of a need to keep costs down and to preferably use materials i had on hand.

Excellent Stills!! But man, standing on the side of a highway like that......some one driving along distracted by whatever in blazes he's seeing in the air might just wind up running you down.....

that is actually a road that goes to the san juan capistrano dump. i was there on a sunday when the dump was closed so there was no traffic coming in. i did notice a couple vehicles leaving, but they were behing a large cement barrier that seperated lanes.

honestly though, i would probably pull off the side of a road and fly even if there were traffic. :shock:

[hoverpunk]

here are some images of my setup.

http://www.helifreak.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=55494&d=1216510148

http://www.helifreak.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=55788&d=1216660586

http://www.helifreak.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=55789&d=1216660586

http://www.helifreak.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=55790&d=1216660586

http://www.helifreak.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=55791&d=1216660586

http://www.helifreak.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=55792&d=1216660647

http://www.helifreak.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=55793&d=1216660647

http://www.helifreak.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=55794&d=1216660647

http://www.helifreak.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=55795&d=1216660647

[Real Magoo]

thanks for those pics - simple and brilliant. I presume the foam cuts down on the vibration a fair bit?

[jhat]

Hoverpunk, where did you get the foam. Really great idea and your vid from your neighborhood is really clear and stable. I know the type of foam you used, just do not know where to get some.

[xpower180]

I know the type of foam you used

What is that material called?

[jhat]

I believe that is a polyethylene foam, just do not know how to purchase some locally.

[hoverpunk]

sorry for the lag time in responding. im always in the b400 forum, but forgot to come check my post here!

i got the foam from a friend who works in a warehouse. the foam is used for things like holding big screen tvs in place in their "new in box" box. i lucked out and got a few pieces from him to work with. i am hoping to get more. it works for lotsa things. i made a custom battery holder thing for my backpack so i can just slide batteries into a piece of foam. that way they arent just loose rolling around.

you might want to try asking at an electronics store, or places that install high end electronics like large screen tvs. im sure they would hold some for you for nothing but the sheer good will of it all.

i made a vid this morning at the beach.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=is84aeEfuZk
make sure to click on "watch in high quality" right under where it shows the views. it makes the vid quality MUCH better.