pencam payload bays...clear?

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Craig - 27 Oct 2006 01:19 GMT

Hello, I've recently purchased a couple of pencams (Pencam SD & 1.3) and
am now planning on launch vehicles for them. I've read of some who claim
that they've flown them in rockets that have clear plastic payload bays.
This would be ideal at reducing drag, but wouldn't the clear (and or course
curved) plastic cause too much distortion to the image? Eventally, I may
build a custom booster, but for the time being I'm looking at "off the
shelf" kits that can be readily adapted to carrying these cams. One I'm
considering is Apogee's Rising Star. It has a clear payload bay, so it
could also do double duty as a "night launch" rocket by filling the bay with
light sticks.
Are there any other kits that the group feels worthy of consideration?
I need a tube with an I.D. of about 2 inches (based upon the camera
specs....I don't yet have the cameras in hand). For engines, I would like
one kit to have a 24mm engine mount (to fly with BP or RMS engines) and the
other would be nice if it used a cluster of 18mm engines. Any good
payloaders that would fit the bill? I considered maybe a LOC Isis kit and
then adding a payload bay, but it seems like an awfully heavy booster for
such a light payload! :-)
Craig

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Bob Kaplow - 27 Oct 2006 18:29 GMT

> Hello, I've recently purchased a couple of pencams (Pencam SD & 1.3) and
> am now planning on launch vehicles for them. I've read of some who claim
> that they've flown them in rockets that have clear plastic payload bays.

I've used the clear flourescent light protector tubes for mine, but I also
cut a hole in the tube where the lens looks out. So the clear tube is really
only so I can see the LCD display, and in the case of the original, the
AYUCR status led and switch.

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Roy Green - 28 Oct 2006 04:14 GMT

If you go to http://www.soar571.com, look down the page four or five
articles, you'll find a link to a video I made with a Multipod 5-in-1 pen
cam, stuffed inside the payload section of an Estes Hi-Jax, a 1" diameter
rocket flown on a B6-4. There is a minor amount of diffusion, but not
enough to notice unless you'd seen the inside/outside portions.

Roy
nar12605

> I've read of some who claim that they've flown them in rockets that
> have clear plastic payload bays. This would be ideal at reducing drag, but
> wouldn't the clear (and or course curved) plastic cause too much
> distortion to the image? Eventally, I may build a custom booster, but for
> the time being I'm looking at "off the shelf" kits that can be readily
> adapted to carrying these cams. One I'm

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Model Forum / General / Rockets / October 2006

pencam payload bays...clear?