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View Full Version : 3-16-08 Launch Pictorial (not for dialup!)


tbzep
03-16-2008, 08:33 PM
We had a nice afternoon to launch rockets. The wind was almost non-existent and the temperature was pushing 60. The only negative was lots of clouds messing with my inability to get proper exposures. We've been hand feeding some of our cattle, one has twins and another is very young and has a calf so both mothers and sons are getting extra feed. We were greeted with a stampede toward us as we walked into the pasture with a box of rockets. I let them sniff around a while and they were finally convinced that I didn't have any food for them. The calves still wanted to snoop around so I had to coax them away from the pads.

First up was my daughter's Lady Bug.
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y283/tbzep/Rockets/3-16-08/DSC_0019.jpg
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y283/tbzep/Rockets/3-16-08/DSC_0020.jpg
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y283/tbzep/Rockets/3-16-08/DSC_0027.jpg

Next was my old Alien Space Probe. With those big foot pads, it's never had a vertical flight. It didn't today either, but it did have a successful recovery about six feet from the tree line.
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y283/tbzep/Rockets/3-16-08/DSC_0028.jpg
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y283/tbzep/Rockets/3-16-08/DSC_0032.jpg
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y283/tbzep/Rockets/3-16-08/DSC_0034.jpg
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y283/tbzep/Rockets/3-16-08/DSC_0041.jpg

tbzep
03-16-2008, 08:34 PM
My daughter's Quark with her special lime green paint. We didn't see or hear it land, so it took a while to find it.
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y283/tbzep/Rockets/3-16-08/DSC_0044.jpg
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y283/tbzep/Rockets/3-16-08/DSC_0045.jpg
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y283/tbzep/Rockets/3-16-08/DSC_0047.jpg

My son's new Bullpup
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y283/tbzep/Rockets/3-16-08/DSC_0051.jpg
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y283/tbzep/Rockets/3-16-08/DSC_0053.jpg
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y283/tbzep/Rockets/3-16-08/DSC_0055.jpg


My daughter's Code Red
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y283/tbzep/Rockets/3-16-08/DSC_0062.jpg

tbzep
03-16-2008, 08:35 PM
My new Cherokee Goon on an A10-3T. I usually get really blurry shots when something flies on the A10-3T, but this one's heavy enough that it didn't scream off the pad too fast.
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y283/tbzep/Rockets/3-16-08/DSC_0066.jpg
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y283/tbzep/Rockets/3-16-08/DSC_0068.jpg
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y283/tbzep/Rockets/3-16-08/DSC_0071.jpg
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y283/tbzep/Rockets/3-16-08/DSC_0073.jpg

My son's scratchbuilt Goblin
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y283/tbzep/Rockets/3-16-08/DSC_0075.jpg

My EAC Viper on an A10-3T. See, I told you I usually get blurry shots with A10-3T's...and that's with a 1/2000 shutter!
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y283/tbzep/Rockets/3-16-08/DSC_0078.jpg

My daughter's Skywriter.
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y283/tbzep/Rockets/3-16-08/DSC_0087.jpg

tbzep
03-16-2008, 08:35 PM
My son's Estes Patriot and his scratchbuilt 2.6" Patriot without the Army decals.
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y283/tbzep/Rockets/3-16-08/DSC_0094.jpg
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y283/tbzep/Rockets/3-16-08/DSC_0100.jpg
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y283/tbzep/Rockets/3-16-08/DSC_0104.jpg
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y283/tbzep/Rockets/3-16-08/DSC_0106.jpg

K.M.Knox
03-16-2008, 08:43 PM
As usual, stellar pics. Some nice looking rockets also :D

James Pierson
03-16-2008, 10:14 PM
Great pics and very nice looking rockets. Thanks tbzep, I forgot what blue skies looked like :rolleyes: .

James Pierson
NAR# 77907

Ltvscout
03-16-2008, 10:17 PM
I just don't know how you do it?! As always, an excellent pictorial.

dwmzmm
03-16-2008, 10:21 PM
I just don't know how you do it?! As always, an excellent pictorial.

Ditto from me; I think a number of those shots could become classics..... ;)

DaveR
03-17-2008, 08:52 AM
Wow, great photos..... as usual. Thanks for sharing. :)

Gus
03-17-2008, 11:26 AM
Great pics.

Love the Ladybug!

But why no pics of the cows? :confused:

cas2047
03-17-2008, 12:29 PM
Great pics as always!

Is the ammo box your launch battery compartment? I've got a few of those old boxes laying around the house myself.

tbzep
03-17-2008, 12:54 PM
I didn't have the camera out while fooling with the cows. Normally we have some bovine recovery services. Evidently the bovine recovery crew got mad that we weren't feeding them this time and left the recovery area. :p

The ammo box houses the gel cell and the relay electronics.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y283/tbzep/Rockets/DSC_0001.jpg

cas2047
03-17-2008, 01:04 PM
Very cool setup! Thanks for the pic of the box interior and launch control pad. :)

Rocket Doctor
03-17-2008, 07:55 PM
Excellent photos.......really great, Thanks

GIJoe
04-01-2008, 08:17 PM
Great pics, I was wondering what camera are you using and what settings? I take photos of my launches but realize I need a slightly better camera. I only get about a three picture burst, the newer Canon Rebel does significantly better.

tbzep
04-01-2008, 08:39 PM
Great pics, I was wondering what camera are you using and what settings? I take photos of my launches but realize I need a slightly better camera. I only get about a three picture burst, the newer Canon Rebel does significantly better.

Nikon D80 with a Nikkor 70-200 f/2.8 VR lens. I've been sitting around 1/1600 to 1/2000 shutter speed, but some of those little rockets kick off so quick they are still blurry. I've been using shutter priority so I can quickly jump from ground shots to air shots on the same flight. I don't shoot enough to really learn how to get good with it. The camera is more capable than I am. If I wanted to get the best possible shots, I'd need to go to full manual and do liftoff shots and recovery shots on different flights. I do use the burst mode, but I still try to time it and most of the liftoff shots I post are the first shot in the burst.

GIJoe
04-01-2008, 11:13 PM
Thanks for the info, I am going to try switching to shutter priority and see what I get. I know with fresh batteries and the right card I get better results. I have been using manual focus since at club launches there are to many objects and the lens shifts focus to much. I definately increase my odds at good launch photos with black powder motors over AP motors. Photography has been a hobby of mine since the 70's. I have only recently gone digital, I was deployed and had alot of extra money, coupled with a deal to good to pass up. I have an older Canon Rebel but I am thinking of upgrading to a newer one, but have resisted the spending. Again great shots and the Cherokee Goon is looking good.

tbzep
04-02-2008, 07:20 AM
Thanks for the info, I am going to try switching to shutter priority and see what I get. I know with fresh batteries and the right card I get better results. I have been using manual focus since at club launches there are to many objects and the lens shifts focus to much. I definately increase my odds at good launch photos with black powder motors over AP motors. Photography has been a hobby of mine since the 70's. I have only recently gone digital, I was deployed and had alot of extra money, coupled with a deal to good to pass up. I have an older Canon Rebel but I am thinking of upgrading to a newer one, but have resisted the spending. Again great shots and the Cherokee Goon is looking good.

I've started using manual focus for the liftoff shots too. The BP motors are a lot easier to time...no chuffing or building up to pressure. However, the larger AP powered birds are still a lot easier for me to shoot because you can get much farther away and still fill the frame with something useful. With the greater distance, you don't have to move the camera as much to keep the rocket in frame.

I'm like you on the digital stuff. My most recent SLR was a Minolta X-700. I just got the D80 a little over a year ago so the Minolta is packed away in a drawer. I didn't want to spend the money, but in hindsight, it's darn near paid for itself because I don't have to buy film or pay to have it processed.