My RC aerial photography... from 30 years ago

[pk-surfing]

I know all you kids think this FPV is cool but I made up a custom built RC plane over 30 years ago to try taking aerial photos.

All I had was a manual wind-on roll film 35mm camera so I modified a meccano clockwork motor (weighed as much as a brick) and used metal gears to wind the film on after each photo, the shutter release was via a servo.

No digital cameras around then !




Here's some piccys of the plane












Once the flight was over I had to take the B&W film to the Chemist shop and leave it for a week to get it developed and back, I've stood the photos up and photographed them..... here's the results,















Here's some photos of me flying the plane and launching a different one, check out the haircut and bell bottom jeans  ;D







And one of me down the pub at work, I'm the good looking one in the middle  :)


So, anyone got a claim to doing r/c aerial photos before about 1980 ?

PK

[Teamftp]

LOVE IT!!! Simply fantastic!!!

[FPVSteve]

Brilliant stuff Paul :) A lifelong hobby for sure.

Amazing how far tech (and hair styles!) have come in a mere 30 years.

[Gav]

Innovative stuff for the time, matey.  Good for you and thanks for sharing.  Very interesting.

[Asomaro]

A true pioneer - thanks for posting!

Cheers,

[pk-surfing]

Technology has come a long way since then...

(but the weather was better  :) )

PK

[cortex]

 looks like a lot of hassle. Awesome Mullett and flares by the way  ;D

[DaveyLC]

Sod the plane check out that EPIC lip weasel! Well grown sir!

Must have been a real pain for you guys that were born back when the world was black and white.. Just think naza would have only had one flight mode back then!

[Flyn]

That is so cool!! ;)

[FPVSteve]

Bet you back then Paul you would have given your right arm for the setup you have now :) Bet you thought it was impossible hehe.

By the way, I was 4 in 1983 :D

[Charliewalker]

I'm another one Paul,I started flying mid 70's & round about 1980 I built a 100" high winger to take a 35mm camera & even followed up with a movie camera as well!,I've got some photo's somewhere & some movie's which I seem to remember putting onto VHS, as soon as I can find them I'll post em up. Oh & by the way I've still got the plane in the loft as well & being designed to fly slow might have other uses...........eeemmmm!!!!     

[skyscraper]

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Great looking plane too !

regards
Andy

[FPVSteve]

I like the undercarriage on that last pic, looks great! Love the sprung hinge :D

Do you still have any of these planes Paul?

[pk-surfing]

Think that one gave up on me, it got so soaked with fuel after maybe a couple of years flying it that all the wood softened and joints came apart so binned it.

My next one had a super 6 hand size cine camera in it (borrowed from John who I still fly with now) poking out the side, had a good flight with that flying from the Croft racing circuit.

The plane was called a 'Surveyor' I think, had a big plastic fuselage, borrowed a projector to show the film at the flying club and it went down a treat, somebody borrowed the roll of film and I don't think I ever got it back  :(

PK

[Devonian]

Bell bottoms AND and an anorak  ;D

I'd love the Meccano clockwork motor to go with my large Meccano set I have in the attic from around the early 60's :D

Great stuff though Paul.

Nigel.