Interesting, as always Cliff! A vertical fin a least, to stop the side-to-side wandering, perhaps. A wide skewer horizontally, to attach the ribbons, less likely to rotate? She flew mostly low too, wrt the aircraft. Possibly reverse the 'funnel', like a wind-sock? More stable? More drag needed, so that the camera doesn't have a tendency to 'catch up' in the turns, maybe attach a Streamer? Just firing random thoughts. Thinking like my old Gliding Instructor days. You have much more experience in model flying than I do. Ignore any rubbish! Fun stuff. Keep that going!
It's all about having fun, trying new ideas, etc. And that sir, you most definitely achieved! I have to say, that bottle tracked a bit better than I ever thought it would. I do think longer strings would only make the "bottle" fly even lower and have a harder time tracking behind the plane. Perhaps a small glider so that it would actually have lift. Maybe even add rc and let a buddy "fly" the camera?
A great idea Cliff. As a by the by, you started by saying that you have "many weird conversations with nick" I have to suffer weird conversations with him all the time, if that makes you feel better! I love the mobius camera, but sheeesh, they are not cheap. Looking forward to the next attempt. How about using a fishing line as that might be less visible?
I love this kind of thing. Mind you, I still use homemade kites to make videos, so fiddling around with mechanisms and weird camera mounts is definitely my idea of entertainment. There'll be a lot of people scoffing and saying, "Huh. I could do better with my camera-quad..." True, but they're missing the point. The whole idea of stuff like this is to overcome a specific challenge. Anyone can buy a quad or wing, a camera, an FPV rig, and have a flight-control doobrie and gimbal mount sort out all the hard work, producing perfect, auto-stabilised, high-def images. Press button A. Edit video. Upload to TH-cam. Job done. The end. [Yawn...] Right, what shall we do next? Where's the fun in that? That's not satisfying at all! Quad-guys: it's not meant to be easy. It's meant to test your ingenuity. Bring on more tests, I say! 🙂
I guess the Shuttlecock idea stems from the design of the Inflight Refueling Drogue, which has to be very stable. I wonder if a shorter line would be better to reduce the line weight and stop the towed camera dropping well below the tow plane. Also inducing more lift, looking at a Refueling Drogue it looks like it's design helps in that way.
Great work. I think if the bottle had wings, heavily dihedral and swept, rather like some air to air refuelling drogues, it might both stabilise the bottle and allow it to fly up more level with the tow plane. Worth a try?
Cliff great first effort. Are using empty Scotch bottles? I’m sure the guys in the club really anticipate seeing what you have brought out to fly. Jeff in IA USA
Interesting experiment Cliff. I wonder how the chase cam disturb the original CG of the plane. Maybe point the cam at a high angle will get better shots, i can´t wait for the MK II version! 😃 good luck!
@@CliffHarveyRCPlanes ouch, that happen sometimes! and even more with the Mobius...i hope the 3rd try gets the job done! thanks for take the time to answer! :)
For a first try, that’s not too bad. I think you need something like professor Zarkov`s spaceship to stabilise the camera. What might work is a kite tail. You did not say how Long the string was. I am guessing 10 feet. May be having the string shorter may help, less slack. Also, paint it a bright colour so you can see what its doing.
That plane did not have enough speed to keep the bottle flying directly behind the RC plane. There are times when what works on full sized planes will not work on our models. I believe nothing short of towing a small 3 channel glider with a gyro inside of it will work for this IMHO. Trim the towed glider to fly where you want it to behind the plane you're filming. Simplicity will need to take a backseat with such an approach. I have always been happy with the video I get by mounting a camera to my vertical stabilizer and adding some weight to the nose for balance. I prefer to fly FPV like this.
Hi Paul, definitely more speed required from the tow plane I agree. I towed behind my large vintage model and it was pretty smooth but my camera malfunctioned unfortunately. What I'm looking for is a distance shot of the model in front, I'm going to try a single line as well which will be interesting 😁
I'm thinking single line too but I'm not sure how it'll effect the tow plane with regards flight stability, do you have personal experience Tony that it would be better?
No personal experience but I think of combat airplane towing a streamer or even a glider tow, both single line. A kite tail adds stability to the kite.
Maybe shorter lines, so the camera is up nearer to the aircraft. Also maybe try a model with undercarriage so you can just take of with the camera pulling along behind? Not done anything like this so I'm not sure. Great idea though. I'm sure you'll crack it
Hi Mike, shorter lines would help but I wanted more of a long distance shot but you may ultimately be right ... not considered an undercarriage for the camera 'plane' either, cheers
My MkII chase cam is ready to go, hopefully today behind a much bigger model 😮
Cliff it was better than i thought it would be...looking forward to seeing how you develop and improve this!
Thanks Adam, loads more 'fun' to come 👍🏼
I’m going to try that , ? What make is that powered glider that you are using it looks perfect .
Any powered model will do really, this is an old E-Fair rtf I use for 'stuff' 🙂
could you put a rigid line from rear wings and put one of my very small HD spy cameras on the end.
@@CliffHarveyRCPlanes great , hopefully I’ll find one here in Ontario
Interesting, as always Cliff! A vertical fin a least, to stop the side-to-side wandering, perhaps. A wide skewer horizontally, to attach the ribbons, less likely to rotate? She flew mostly low too, wrt the aircraft. Possibly reverse the 'funnel', like a wind-sock? More stable? More drag needed, so that the camera doesn't have a tendency to 'catch up' in the turns, maybe attach a Streamer? Just firing random thoughts. Thinking like my old Gliding Instructor days. You have much more experience in model flying than I do. Ignore any rubbish! Fun stuff. Keep that going!
All good ideas Len, watch out for the next attempt soon 👍🏼
It's all about having fun, trying new ideas, etc. And that sir, you most definitely achieved! I have to say, that bottle tracked a bit better than I ever thought it would. I do think longer strings would only make the "bottle" fly even lower and have a harder time tracking behind the plane. Perhaps a small glider so that it would actually have lift. Maybe even add rc and let a buddy "fly" the camera?
Hi Dan, yep fun all the way, I'm having another go today 👍🏼
With my friday morning totally destroyed by your chase cam footage im returning to the damp dark under my rock to recuperate. Nice one Cliff
@@barrywood5357 - "Look into my eyes... 😶You are feeling queasy... Very, very queasy..." 🤢
@EleanorPeterson look into my eyes , look into my eyes. Little Britton! 😂😂😂😂😂
Sorry BRITAIN 😮
Sorry to hear that Barry ... are you out yet!
@@CliffHarveyRCPlanes yes on good behaviour
Interesting experiment! I think it did work and looking forward to follow ups on this one!
That was fun, look forward to Mk2 version. 👍🏻
Coming soon Chris, and loads more fun!
Wow. That was an aerotow with a difference. Perhaps a std Lidl glider might be a more stable alternative. That's a new theme for you. 'Will it tow'. 😂
I wondered if I got it sorted Rob I could have a chase camera behind my glider as I was being aerotowed up 😁
A great idea Cliff. As a by the by, you started by saying that you have "many weird conversations with nick" I have to suffer weird conversations with him all the time, if that makes you feel better! I love the mobius camera, but sheeesh, they are not cheap. Looking forward to the next attempt. How about using a fishing line as that might be less visible?
Hi George, I may try the fishing line idea out, the lines are ugly 👍🏼
From a viewer's point of view, that was quite an experience, especially the landing!
Yes Indeed Marc, you definately wouldn't have wanted to be a passenger!
Yep. I'd suggest short fins or wings & a fixed stabilizer.....
I'm starting to think along the same lines, thanks for the comment, cheers
I love this kind of thing. Mind you, I still use homemade kites to make videos, so fiddling around with mechanisms and weird camera mounts is definitely my idea of entertainment.
There'll be a lot of people scoffing and saying, "Huh. I could do better with my camera-quad..." True, but they're missing the point. The whole idea of stuff like this is to overcome a specific challenge. Anyone can buy a quad or wing, a camera, an FPV rig, and have a flight-control doobrie and gimbal mount sort out all the hard work, producing perfect, auto-stabilised, high-def images.
Press button A. Edit video. Upload to TH-cam. Job done. The end. [Yawn...] Right, what shall we do next?
Where's the fun in that? That's not satisfying at all! Quad-guys: it's not meant to be easy. It's meant to test your ingenuity.
Bring on more tests, I say! 🙂
I couldn't have put it better myself Eleanor, thank you 🙂👍🏼
That looked like a great dogfight, just can’t tell who won!
I think it may have been a draw Angus lol
I guess the Shuttlecock idea stems from the design of the Inflight Refueling Drogue, which has to be very stable. I wonder if a shorter line would be better to reduce the line weight and stop the towed camera dropping well below the tow plane. Also inducing more lift, looking at a Refueling Drogue it looks like it's design helps in that way.
I wonder if the RAF have an old drogue they've finished with Paul, shorter line needed definately, cheers
Great work. I think if the bottle had wings, heavily dihedral and swept, rather like some air to air refuelling drogues, it might both stabilise the bottle and allow it to fly up more level with the tow plane. Worth a try?
Hi Mike, you could very well be right, I have a plan for a redesign which I'm testing today 👍🏼
@@CliffHarveyRCPlanes Looking forward to watching the youtube video of that, and maybe even copying it 😉👍😆
@@mikeonb4cGone back to refine plan A today 😅
@@CliffHarveyRCPlanes Oh the suspense 👍😆
Cliff great first effort. Are using empty Scotch bottles? I’m sure the guys in the club really anticipate seeing what you have brought out to fly. Jeff in IA USA
Yes Jeff, they're all behind me ... about a mile!
Interesting experiment Cliff. I wonder how the chase cam disturb the original CG of the plane. Maybe point the cam at a high angle will get better shots, i can´t wait for the MK II version! 😃 good luck!
Mk II was filmed today but the camera decided not to work, shame because it was behind a much slower model in gentler winds!
@@CliffHarveyRCPlanes ouch, that happen sometimes! and even more with the Mobius...i hope the 3rd try gets the job done! thanks for take the time to answer! :)
I was expecting better results, Maybe try again with a Lidl glider the very small ones.
🤩🤩🤩
Keep watching Stephen, more to come... Lidl to the rescue 😁
Had to reach for the sick bag on that flight 😢. Severe turbulence.
It was brutal 😁
Nice concept cliff.. why not make movable surfaces with ax3s stabilization... Or a second chase pilot.. read guided Camara.
Hi Rob, I did think onboard gyros would help but I got another plan in place, watch this space 🙂
For a first try, that’s not too bad. I think you need something like professor Zarkov`s spaceship to stabilise the camera.
What might work is a kite tail.
You did not say how Long the string was.
I am guessing 10 feet.
May be having the string shorter may help, less slack.
Also, paint it a bright colour so you can see what its doing.
Kite tail is a good idea, the string is 15ft, and yes, she's bright yellow now (as seen on my Community tab two days ago) 🙂
If the camera was angled 20deg. Up it would look awesome
@@thereal-stl_slim The obvious solution, cheers 👍🏼
That plane did not have enough speed to keep the bottle flying directly behind the RC plane. There are times when what works on full sized planes will not work on our models. I believe nothing short of towing a small 3 channel glider with a gyro inside of it will work for this IMHO. Trim the towed glider to fly where you want it to behind the plane you're filming. Simplicity will need to take a backseat with such an approach.
I have always been happy with the video I get by mounting a camera to my vertical stabilizer and adding some weight to the nose for balance. I prefer to fly FPV like this.
Hi Paul, definitely more speed required from the tow plane I agree. I towed behind my large vintage model and it was pretty smooth but my camera malfunctioned unfortunately. What I'm looking for is a distance shot of the model in front, I'm going to try a single line as well which will be interesting 😁
A shorter single line, wing and fin on bottle.
I'm thinking single line too but I'm not sure how it'll effect the tow plane with regards flight stability, do you have personal experience Tony that it would be better?
No personal experience but I think of combat airplane towing a streamer or even a glider tow, both single line. A kite tail adds stability to the kite.
@@tonytek1 Glider tow I can relate, it could be my next experiment
Maybe shorter lines, so the camera is up nearer to the aircraft. Also maybe try a model with undercarriage so you can just take of with the camera pulling along behind? Not done anything like this so I'm not sure. Great idea though. I'm sure you'll crack it
Hi Mike, shorter lines would help but I wanted more of a long distance shot but you may ultimately be right ... not considered an undercarriage for the camera 'plane' either, cheers
Why not just make a small all-wing aircraft and mount the camera in the front and pull it with a line?
Your idea has merit but I'm not sure one line would do, worried about it spinning uncontrollably, more experiments needed I think
@@CliffHarveyRCPlanes Yes, I was actually thinking about that, when I wrote the comment.
2-3 lines would maybe do it, but it would be a mess I think.