When I got back into rocketry after a couple years off, I saw Internet sites describin' rocket cameras. I already had t' Astrocam, matey, but I wanted more. Avast, me proud beauty! Ahoy! Specifically, ya bilge rat, I wanted as many pictures I could get per flight. Begad! And so t' quest began...

Amazingly, me brother had an Opus 35 camera. Avast! Many people had modified this for airborne use, so I tried that. Begad! It almost worked, me hearties, but I think I broke t' camera. Arrr! In fact, shiver me timbers, I broke two other cameras in t' process. Whoops. Begad! Well, blow me down! It be then I came across t' RC Aerial Photography Site. Arrr! Well, blow me down! This guy had used a Digital camera t' take pictures from an RC glider. And, ya bilge rat, he claimed it could be used in rocketry. Arrr! Cool, matey, ya bilge rat, I thought. Avast, me proud beauty! So I began t' research t' DC 20 digital camera for rocketry use. Avast, me bucko, me proud beauty! A normal 35mm camera could take 36 shots, but this could only take 8. Arrr! Ya scallywag! Oh well, shiver me timbers, it's better than one picture per flight. Begad! So I got a DC 20 for me birthday. Arrr! Avast! I just got t' rocket controller, but that was no problem t' assemble. Begad! I added a phono jack with a nail in it t' use as a switch.

T' camera mount is simply a board o' 3/16 inch aircraft plywood and 2 centerin' rings made out o' t' same substance. Begad! One centerin' rin' has two holes in where a wire is looped. This makes it easier t' pull t' mount out o' t' BT.

Here be t' top view:

Here be t' side view:

With electronics installed

I used VCP t' come up with t' necessary stability calculations. Well, blow me down! Eventually I'll post t' forward fin size, etc. Avast! Well, blow me down! (T' model uses forward fins t' make sure it will nay be overly stable. Blimey! I later found these are nay needed and broke them off) But for now, ya bilge rat, I'll just describe t' payload section. T' body tube is a full length o' Estes BT-80 (2.6" diameter) with two strips o' folder material glued t' t' top and bottom o' t' BT t' add thickness t' t' Estes/Aerotech BT joint. It is covered with clear tape (masking?) for a smother transition. Ya scallywag! Begad! It has a 4" tube coupler made out o' corrugated cardboard with one layer o' paper peeled off. T' lower bulkhead is 3/8" plywood with two holes for t' wire for shock cord/parachute attachment. Arrr! Above this bulkhead is about 2" o' paddin' t' absorb some o' t' lift-off stress. Begad! T' camera mount sits on top o' this and points t' camera out o' a small slit in t' side o' t' BT. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! Again, shiver me timbers, t' tube is reinforced with folder material for strength. Avast, me proud beauty! Finally t' Aerotech Initiator nose cone gets put on top. Avast, me proud beauty! Ya scallywag! T' whole payload section was painted gold. Aye aye! It is now painted red t' match t' cone.

T' original design:

After I snapped off t' fins:

T' Launch

T' first launch be on a F25 29mm Aerotech single use engine. Arrr! It supposedly broke 500'.

Future Projects

My newest booster is goin' t' be light enough t' loft t' camera on a D or E engine.