Camera Platforms

CMAC members have made several attempts at putting cameras in model aircraft. This page provides details and some 'war stories' from members who have tried this out.

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Acrostar: Allan Whitby (built by Peter Hughes)

The Acrostar has proved to be a much better camera platform than Allan's previous attempt. This aircraft has taken some stunning photographs of the CMAC field, and is sure to produce many more.

Click here to see the aerial photographs, and here to see details of the aircraft.
Photo by Allan Whitby The Acrostar with the camera mounted.

Note the aerodynamically efficient counterbalance just in front of the fin...
Photo by Allan Whitby The camera is a Canon point-and-shoot 35mm that has a broken film door latch. Not a good thing for ease of use, but a bit of duct tape holds it shut and, best of all, it has a motor drive, so many shots can be taken on each flight.
Photo by Allan Whitby Closeup of the camera installation. Note the servo mounted over the shutter button.
Photo by Allan Whitby Say 'cheese'! Using the camera is simply a matter of pointing the aircraft in the right direction, and flipping the undercarriage toggle on the transmitter.

Modifly: Allan Whitby

Allan has trialled cameras on two of his aircraft: the Modifly pictured below and a Chipmunk (deceased) that was much more aerodynamically stable with the camera in place. The Modify was only ever flown once with the camera, and that flight was a real heart-stopper!

Click here to see details of this aircraft
Photo by Allan Whitby The camera is a disposable unit in a styrene foam cradle mounted to the aircraft with rubber bands. A servo pushes the shutter button to take one shot each flight.
Photo by Allan Whitby Side view of the Modifly's camera installation. Allan's previous camera platform had the camera pointing along the port wing. This one was intended to take dramatic through-the-prop photos.
Photo by Allan Whitby Close-up of camera installation. This installation caused such a large amount of aerodynamic instability that the aircraft was nearly crashed on the first flight with the camera. The fates have not been tempted by another flight!

Text by Allan Whitby
Photos by Allan Whitby
Last modified: January 14, 2004