Plane For Making Movie
 

I have a few years of R/C Trucks experience, but I am totally new to the plane scene. Here is my situation...

During the course of this year, a friend and I will be making a full-length mountain biking movie. We will be using cable cams, dollies, etc. to get some nice shots, but one thing I though would be completely different would be to mount a camera to an R/C plane and get some very nice overhead shots in the larger fields and mountains. I am looking for a plane that I could mount a camera and mount to, with the following criteria:

- Plane must be electric powered (nitro or petrol would be too much hassle and noise, even though I work with nitro R/C trucks)
- Plane must not be too big (i.e. easy to transport to remote locations, but must be able to accomodate camera and pod)
- Plane must have landing gear (I don't want to have to throw it, and a plane without gear would destroy the camera when it lands)
- Plane must be stable but relatively fast (the shots have to turn out good but the plane has to keep up with the mountain bikers)

The plane must be able to carry EITHER a 650g (1lb 6oz) handheld camcorder, or a professional 1.6kg (3lbs 10oz) camera. In both cases the camera will be mounted to a pod with servos controlling camera pan and tilt. The servos will be powered by the plane's on-board battery. The pan and tilt functions will either be controlled by the same radio used to control the plane (although this might make it hard to fly the plane and control the camera at the same time), or to a seperate radio for a second person to control. A wireless video sender will send the video from the camera down to a screen on the ground so that we can see what the camera is filming and then control the camera accordingly. I was thinking that the plane should be made of balsa to make it easier to mount the camera pod, as foam would not work very well.

I was looking at the Telemaster range of planes, as they are known for their stability and ability to lift weight...

So does anyone have any suggestions on a plane I could use, and any other tips, comments, or criticism? Thanks,

SpikeX

RE: Plane For Making Movie
 

Are you going to be flying the plane?

RE: Plane For Making Movie
 

Yes, I will be flying the plane.

RE: Plane For Making Movie
 

So to carry 3lbs+ of gear AND fly very slowly for filming you are looking at a - BIG - 28lb+ plane... and I'm being optimistic.

It doesn't sound like you want a fast plane, you want a plane capable of slow flight to get the shots and the be able to keep a camera aimed at a spot, or a moving target.

Unless you are zooming around at way over 60mph, a plane capable of flying over 50mph should suffice.

I'll bet that the slow flight characteristics are what will be most important to you... as we've found with our attempts.

Slow, vibration free, etc.

Too bad you couldn't use something like a FlyCamOne version 2 mounted on a servo controlled gimbal, as this would give you a wide range of small planes to use...

As it is, to me it seems that your criteria is going to dicate a BIG plane...

RE: Plane For Making Movie
 

Buy lots of spare planes and cameras. This is not an easy task for an experienced pilot. With a newbie, it will be very expensive.
2 planes that MIGHT fill the bill:
http://www.hobby-lobby.com/srtele-arf.htm
http://www.hobby-lobby.com/telemaster12.htm

RE: Plane For Making Movie
 

That "Balsa Overcast" may be the ticket for the 1lb camera, as he will need to add the weight of the gimbal, batteries for the camera, and every thing else.

RE: Plane For Making Movie
 

Buy a glow heli! 60 to 90 size. very stable abd camera mount are ready made. Oh, and no large glow heli's aren't easy to fly but their eaiser than something smaller. Just a thought. S

RE: Plane For Making Movie
 

What size servos would I need for the 12 ft telemaster?

Also, what size engine. Would prefer to stay away from gas.

RE: Plane For Making Movie
 

I had thought about a helicopter, skippy7399, but I heard that they are expensive to set up and very hard to fly, and I dont't really want the hassle of nitro. Could a helicopter keep up with a bunch of 50mph mountain bikers though?

RE: Plane For Making Movie
 

Guys ... how about the World Models Super Frontier Senior? Its huge for a 60 sized plane with tons of wing, I am pretty sure it cna carry a 2lbs payload. Also you can try the Super Stunt 60, that is huge too. If you are not too concerned about windy conditions then the Clancy Lazy Bee 40 is another plane you can work with. That has about a 6' wingspan and its like a big elongated coffee table.

For the abovementioned planes its got a wide enough fuse for EP, get something like an AXI 4120 on a 4S/5S set up. :) One thing though, flying at 50 mph bikers will not be easy when the plane is laden with a 2 lbs payload, again I say this on the basis that you want a managable sized plane and not a 12' Telemaster.

RE: Plane For Making Movie
 

This is a VERY costly project.

So far it seems like your only option is the gigantic Telemaster. and none of the conventional size planes will be able to lift your camera.

But at a minimum of around $1500 for the Telemaster, It might be a little heavy on the wallet.

Plus is there any way for you to see what you're recording? because you might be missing half your shots otherwise.



You say you've never flown before so I suggest you think REALLY REALLY hard about this because you may end up with a few thousand dollars down to little itsy bitsy pieces.

RE: Plane For Making Movie
 

Okay ... one of my pals says he has carried a SLR in the Super Frontier Senior. :) That is not an expensive plane ...

RE: Plane For Making Movie
 

Personally I think everbody's missing the point here, the guy's never flown before !!!!!!!!!!

Go get a trainer, learn to fly for a few months before you put your expensive camera onto any plane and about the same time you're a competant pilot you'll have enough experience to know what'll do the job you want it to.

Correct me if I'm wrong but the way it reads at the moment we're going to have a complete newbie that's never flown taking off the fat end of $1500 worth of 12 ft wingspan plane weighing 23 lbs with an expensive camera strapped to it flying at 50mph very precisely to be able to follow the bikers and "get the best shot" whilst watching a screen on the ground to see where the camera's facing and adjust acoordingly - don't know about you but I wouldn't fancy being one of the guys riding the bikes underneath !!!!!!!!!!!!

Sorry but some of the experienced people on here actually recommending planes for this situation I just can't believe the irresponsibilty of it !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If you really do want to do this project, put an article on here looking for a very experienced pilot to fly it for you and maybe let them have the plane when it's done as payment.

RE: Plane For Making Movie
 

I think Wittering's on the right track here.

Here's another observation that's worth making. This is the Beginners forum. There is a whole forum of threads on airborne photo/video equipment.

Follow Wittering's advice, learn to fly. And, check the airborne video/photo forum and get some recommendations on airborne photo/video equipment - and the planes to use with them.

Good luck,
Dave Olson

RE: Plane For Making Movie
 

Eeerrrrr ... the planes I suggested are perfect trainers ... the WM Super Stunt 60, WM Super Frontier Senior and Clancy Lazy Bee ... :) Also the forumer is saying he is going to do this project later in the year, maybe is safe to assume he will learn to fly properly first, as a RC car enthusiast I am sure he understands the danger of RC and how difficult it was to try to run around the track with a car when he first tried it. Chill guys ... let's not jump and be quick to call people irresponsible. :)

RE: Plane For Making Movie
 

Not only is there the problem of a new RC'er trying to fly this thing, but a novice flying an electric with a limited power capability (as in all electrics, and as with all novice pilots, throttle management is usually the last thing they learn and is an absolute must for electric duration) we're talking about perhaps maybe 8 minutes of flying time.. and that may be optimistic. So, this guy has to learn to fly, then find a sutable field near where the biking is going to take place, then launch the plane, find the guys on the bikes, somehow orient the plane (he will need some sort of method of transmitting to the ground so he can "see what the plane sees" in order to position the camera while flying the plane..

This is very agressive. Can it be done? Sure it can. But it is difficult for an experienced pilot let alone a beginner.

RC Cars don't relate that well to flying RC planes. There are similarities, and I know of a couple of guys that were able to merge the two hobbies together nicely, but even they would probably agree that this is a tad much to ask of a beginner.

If you intend to go ahead and try this, then start now, get the right equipment, remember that you have to have some sort of telemetry so that you can see what the camera sees, and stay in range of the transmitter on the plane.. another battery to worry about becasue now you need to power up the telemetry..

The list goes on. Just be prepared for what is needed here, and focus on that. Sure it can be done. But it will take a lot of preparation, care, training, and determination.

CGr.

RE: Plane For Making Movie
 

Actually, I'll tell you what, please igonore my initial reaction and 1st post in reply to this, if instead you could let me know date, time and where it's gonna happen - - - - - this I've just gotta see !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Don't mind if I bring my camcorder do you ??????????????

RE: Plane For Making Movie
 

Wittering ... you are BAD! Hahahahaaa ... a one hour flight over to the continent, enjoy some good German beer and sausage lunch then off to the flying field huh? :)

CG - it would be utterly foolish to try to follow the bikes! Anyways, the plane will not be under powered. My WM Skyraider Mach II has more power than a 46 2C and I can literally pull unlimited verticals. Its easy to get 9 lbs thrust out of a power system into a plane of no more than 7.5 lbs. So with the payload you have a power to weight ratio of about 0.85:1

What I meant about the RC car thing is that the guy should know not to try it on his own without learning to fly under the supervision of a tutor. My first outing with a car was nuts, I realised driving a RC car was not easy at all. :)

RE: Plane For Making Movie
 

I think your best bet to accomplish your needs is to rent a full scale plane or helicopter and pilot and send a camera crew up with it. Considering the money involved in just getting setup with a r/c plane that will perform your requirments, this would be a cheap way out. My guess would be that for not much more than $150-$200/hour this could be done. I am not sure the exact amount it will cost you to build a capable plane, but seems like $1000 isn't out of the question. Also, considering what others have said above, you will first have to learn how to fly. This could be accomplished in a few months, so if your time is worth money take the easy way out. best of luck!

RE: Plane For Making Movie
 

The more I think this through the better it gets - it might be easiest to strap the camera to the side of the fuselage pointing outwards, with a nice knife edge pass should be able to get some excellent pics without any undercarriage or anything to obstruct the view :D and if wanted to give it a swirling circling effect which would be really cool how about climb high and do a blender filming on the way down - gosh think I've missed my vocation as an artisitic film director - maybe this is my calling ???????????

RE: Plane For Making Movie
 

Witterings - I tried to do some aerial photography using a small cam on a Multiplex Easy Star ... its not easy getting the angle right and flying her corectly, takes practise. The plane needs to be flown smoothly, every twitch is so darn obvious, turns need to be slow. Anyways, your idea is right for sure ...

RE: Plane For Making Movie
 

I think you all missed the most important part of my original post above:"Buy lots of spare planes and cameras. This is not an easy task for an experienced pilot. With a newbie, it will be very expensive." This guy doesn't stand a prayer in all actuality unless he hires an EXTREMELY good pilot. This is no beginner undertaking. Trying to fly any model up in the mountains with the inherent tricky winds is a challenge in itself. Now he is also going to need a video downlink so he'll know what is being filmed at any given time or all he's going to get is trees and rocks as he crashes. IMO the entire project (the plane or heli part) should be scrapped. Sorry.[&o]

RE: Plane For Making Movie
 

bruce88123

Don't be a killjoy and where's your sense of fun ???????

Can't you see the newbie adjusting the pan and tilt of the camera from the same TX as he's flying the plane with whilst doing the knife edge pass to get the best shot ???????????????
If the knife edge prove a bit tricky maybe mount the camera on top of the wings facing skyward and try inverted instead ???? ;)

RE: Plane For Making Movie
 

My two cents..... aside from the current arguments. You might try putting the camera's tilt and pan on a seperate radio. Nothing fancy, a bargain 4ch Futaba with analog trims will do. Y'know the radios everyone is trying to get rid of? You'll have a pilot and a camera man, each on his own transmitter. I think it'll improve the shot too.

Also, a good idea already stated was hire a seasoned pilot for the filming. Give him credit in the film and the plane when you're done. I'd do it for the plane!

If you won't mind the noise, a nitro or gas motor will be cheaper, better and longer flight times. The vibration can be isolated. Balance the prop, bushings on the motor/mount and isolate the camera from the airframe through bushings. I'd think all vibration could be removed.

RE: Plane For Making Movie
 

Wittering ... is this English humour? Hehehehe ... this video shows the potential of the project. Watch it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgM0xPnWt4Y