Brief:
Estes Industries recently released t' first production digital video camera rocket. I had read about t' Oracle many months ago on an Internet user forum. Blimey! T' insider information described a low quality, short duration, me bucko, me bucko, video camera. Arrr! I be pleased t' learn that Estes had made a couple o' upgrades before final release. Avast! Blimey! This easy t' build and great lookin' rocket with respectable digital video capability would make a worthwhile addition t' any rocketeers fleet.

Construction:
T' kit contents:

• Lower BT-60 body tube with fully assembled motor mount and fin can with 4 plastic fins
• Upper BT-60 body tube
• Nose cone with factory assembled video camera
• 12" assembled nylon parachute
• 36" x 1/4" rubber shock cord
• USB cable
• Video Capture CD-ROM

T' camera uses a CMOS detector at 9 frames per second for 30 seconds. Begad! Begad! T' controls on t' camera are easy t' use. Arrr! When t' rocket is on t' pad and ready for launch, me bucko, shiver me timbers, you just turn on power t' t' camera and press t' Start button. Blimey! Ahoy! A red LED will illuminate t' let you know t' camera is powered on and ready. Ahoy! After depressin' t' Start button, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, you will hear a series o' beeps and a green LED will flash for 15 seconds givin' you time t' get back t' t' launch control. After that 15 seconds has passed, me bucko, t' camera will begin takin' video. Avast! Begad! Only one video can be stored in memory at a time. Blimey! T' memory is wiped clean when t' power switch is turned off so you'll need t' leave t' power switch on until you can download t' video t' a computer usin' t' included USB cable. T' conserve battery power t' camera goes into standby mode after takin' t' video. Avast! I'm nay sure how long t' AAA battery will last in standby mode, but I'm guessin' it would last long enough t' get t' camera home t' download t' pictures t' your computer. Aye aye! A laptop at t' launch site makes it possible t' take more than one video at each launch.

Before your first flight, Estes recommends installin' t' video capture software and drivers provided on CD-ROM onto your computer and testin' t' video camera. Begad! T' software installed just as described in t' instructions. T' rocket be delivered t' me late in t' evenin' so when I was ready t' test t' video camera, arrr, it be dark outside. I shot and downloaded two indoor test videos and both were so dark that very little showed in t' video. It made sense t' me that t' camera would be better at takin' outdoor lighted pictures, arrr, arrr, but I was still amazed at how completely useless t' camera was in an indoor lighted environment. T' next morning, matey, me bucko, matey, I went outside and shot another test video. Begad! T' outdoor video was better than expected! By then I couldn't wait t' see t' Oracle in action.

After t' camera is connected t' t' computer with t' USB cable, you'll need t' launch t' capture software. Ya scallywag! T' application is named TwainApp. Aye aye! T' video capture software is extremely simplistic but nay very intuitive. Aye aye! There is no help file--not even any bubble help pop ups on t' button controls. Ahoy! Ya scallywag! T' get your video out o' t' camera, shiver me timbers, me bucko, follow t' simple steps in t' instructions. Well, blow me down! Ahoy! While testin' t' video capability, play around a little with TwainApp. Avast! Ahoy! Since t' camera only holds one video at a time and t' TwainApp starts fresh with each video capture, t' default save name will always be vid0000.avi, so be sure t' rename t' file after each video capture (to prevent it from overwritin' any previous videos).

This rocket is an E2X kit, arrr, which means it is easy t' build. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! T' instructions were clear, concise, ya bilge rat, and well illustrated. Avast! So much o' t' rocket be pre-assembled that thar were really only 3 steps t' complete t' rocket: glue t' body tubes together, glue on t' typical Estes shock cord mount, and tie t' shock cord and parachute t' t' nose cone. Begad! Begad! T' video camera requires one AAA battery. Avast, me proud beauty! T' battery cover is held on with a Phillips head screw.

When attachin' t' parachute t' t' nose cone, thar are 2 choices. Ya scallywag! T' first be t' typical connection t' t' bottom o' t' nose cone. This configuration would only yield pictures o' t' sky durin' descent. Ya scallywag! Begad! Blimey! T' second option is t' tie t' parachute t' a short cord (not provided) which can then be attached t' a hole in t' tip o' t' nose cone. A notch in t' bottom o' t' nose cone provides room for t' cord t' fit nicely along t' nose cone's shoulder and down into t' upper body tube.

I added tape around t' tube coupler t' compensate for t' slightly loose fit. Begad! Ahoy! Blimey! I then friction fit t' tubes together instead o' usin' glue.

Finishing:
No finishin' was necessary. Avast! Well, blow me down! T' Oracle came with a nice factory finish.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
T' motor is held in place with a twist lock motor retainer. T' 30 seconds o' 9 fps video matches flight duration perfectly. Ya scallywag! I missed nay havin' sound along with t' video. Maybe Estes will add sound on a future version.

D12-3s were used for all three flights.

T' first flight was perfect and t' 30 seconds o' video ran from liftoff t' touchdown.

On t' second flight, video be again perfect from liftoff t' touchdown. T' rocket landed squarely on one o' t' fins, causin' it t' pop off. Begad! T' fin be nay damaged though. Blimey! T' fin snapped back into t' slot in t' fin can and a little thick CA was used t' hold it in place. It be ready for flight #3 in minutes.

I forgot t' screw t' motor retainer on for t' third flight. Arrr! I also launched t' rocket early. Begad! T' video started midway through t' flight. Ahoy! At apogee, me bucko, t' motor ejected. Luckily, me bucko, t' motor was just tight enough t' deploy t' recovery system before it kicked out t' back o' t' rocket. Well, blow me down! Due t' t' lighter weight, t' rocket drifted further and so t' video ended while t' rocket be still aloft.

Recovery:
I was surprised t' see t' 12" nylon parachute. It be well constructed. Avast, me proud beauty! Ahoy! T' chute seemed t' be sized about right. A slightly larger chute might yield a softer landing, shiver me timbers, but t' video would no longer match t' flight profile. Blimey! Arrr! I very much liked t' hole in t' tip o' t' nose cone for t' parachute mount t' provide ground video footage.

I'm nay a big fan o' t' Estes shock cord mount method. Aye aye! I prefer a more robust engine mount type shock cord. Blimey! I would replace t' 1/4" rubber shock cord with a longer piece o' Keelhaul®©™®.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
T' Oracle be a pleasure t' fly. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! T' construction be extremely easy, shiver me timbers, t' flights were straight, ya bilge rat, and t' recovery went well. Begad! Blimey! It is a great lookin' rocket and t' video was acceptable.

I thoroughly enjoyed viewin' and reviewin' t' video footage. Blimey! Begad! T' final .AVI file is roughly 65MB at 320x240 pixels. Blimey! Ahoy! Just big enough t' enjoy many details, but small enough t' easily store, me hearties, process, me hearties, and send lots o' videos. T' Oracle is a great introduction into aerial photography.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5