How to Mount Action Cameras to Your Model


Written by Terry Dunn Give your aerial videography a new view How-to As seen in the July 2017 issue of Model Aviation.


Bonus video


RC airplanes and tiny cameras are a great combination. I’ve enjoyed putting digital video cameras on my models for several years. This is not an article about FPV flying (which is also fun). The cameras I’m referring to record the flight onto a memory card. I can then upload the files to my computer to watch, edit, and share. In the beginning, I was always careful to mount the camera so that none of the host model could be seen in the resulting footage. I only wanted to see the landscape below. I gradually began positioning the camera to include more and more of the model in the shot. These days, my favorite footage has the model itself as the focal point. My current fleet of airborne cameras has much improved image quality over those I used just a few years ago. They are much smaller and lighter. Good-quality cameras have become so small that it is not uncommon for me to carry two cameras at once, even on a park flyer. I will illustrate my techniques for mounting small cameras to foam airplanes. You can certainly use cameras on airplanes made of balsa, fiberglass, or nearly anything else. The only limitation I’ve found is models with internal combustion engines. The vibration of glow and gasoline engines almost always causes fuzzy, unsalvageable video footage. Electric-powered foam models are definitely the most receptive camera platforms, so they are an ideal starting point.
Many models are capable of carrying a small camera. It’s helpful to start out with an airplane that has at least a 40-inch wingspan, such as this Hacker Fun Master.


Choosing a Camera

There are many good, lightweight action cameras from which to choose. GoPro cameras are extremely popular, yet, as small and lightweight as they are, GoPro’s Hero series cameras are slightly heavy for my taste. The Session series cameras are smaller and lighter. They’re currently a popular choice for mounting to racing quadcopters. They might work well in this application too, but I’ve never used one. My current camera of choice is the RunCam 2. It is small, lightweight, inexpensive, and it performs well. The RunCam 2’s lens is on the smallest face of the camera. This helps cut down on the unavoidable aerodynamic drag that results from strapping a camera or two onto your airplane. I’ve used other cameras with a similar form factor, such as the Mobius Action Cam, and Foxeer Legend. Any of those three cameras will work well with the techniques presented here.
There are several small, high-definition video cameras on the market. The author’s current favorite is the RunCam 2.

One of the reasons that I prefer the RunCam2 is that it has a Wi-Fi interface. Using the RunCam app on my phone, I can see a real-time view through the camera lens while I’m setting up the camera (not during flight). This lets me aim the camera to frame my shots with no guesswork. I know exactly what parts of the airplane will be in the shot and I can make adjustments accordingly. There are several options for resolution, frame rate, and field of view (among others) that can be selected within the RunCam app. I typically choose to record video at 1080p resolution at 60 frames per second. I like to use the widest field of view. You can also shoot high-resolution still photos with the RunCam 2. When doing this, I set the camera’s time-lapse option to snap a photo every 3 seconds.

Choosing a Model

I’ve mounted cameras to countless different models throughout the years. There is a variety of applicable platforms. I suggest that you start out with a model having a wingspan of at least 40 inches. This will usually give you plenty of lifting capacity for one or two cameras without seriously affecting the flying qualities. It doesn’t seem to matter whether you choose a high-wing trainer, a low-wing sport airplane, or even a warbird. As long as it can carry roughly 2 to 4 ounces of extra weight (and most models of this size can), you’re good to go. With a little experience, you’ll soon figure out what types of models work best for you. The most significant factor when selecting or setting up a model for camera duty is vibration. If you’re running an unbalanced propeller or have a slightly bent motor shaft, the resulting video footage will probably end up distorted and unusable. There are tons of other benefits to having a vibration-free power system (better performance, longer equipment life, less airframe fatigue, etc.), but it’s a key requirement if you want to capture video worth watching. Make sure things are tuned up and running smoothly.

Mounting Options

There are infinite possibilities for mounting a camera on your model. I’ve used nothing more than hook-and-loop tape on many occasions. Most of the time, however, I utilize a few simple bits of hardware. The RunCam 2 includes a plastic cradle that tightly holds the camera. The cradle has an insert that can accept a 1/4-20 male fastener, which is the standard fastener for camera tripods. An optional mounting kit includes an alternate insert that mates with GoPro mounts. I prefer to use the GoPro insert because of the variety of GoPro-compatible mounts that are available.
The author’s preferred mount for the RunCam 2 includes the camera cradle, a GoPro tripod adapter, a disc of foam rubber, and a 1/4-20 nylon bolt with plastic washers.

The setup that I use most often consists of the RunCam 2 cradle with GoPro insert, and a plastic GoPro tripod adapter. The tripod adapter has the interlocking fingers of a GoPro mount on one end and female 1/4-20 threads on the other. This configuration has two advantages over using the cradle alone. It elevates the camera above the model by roughly an inch, which generally provides a better point of view. This system also allows you to adjust the pitch angle of the camera. That capability can be useful when framing your shots.
Using a tripod adapter elevates the lens above the model’s surface and gives you freedom to tilt the camera.

GoPro mounts use a 10-32 screw with a plastic handle to tighten the pitch joint. The screw threads into an acorn nut that is seated on the mount. I like to replace the stock screw with a 2-inch 10-32 nylon screw that has a 1-inch spacer threaded onto it. The spacer provides a gripping surface so that you don’t need tools to tighten the screw. I also replace the acorn nut with a standard 10-32 nut. Using the nylon hardware shaves approximately 1/4 ounce from the mount. It’s not a huge amount, but why carry around the extra weight? I use 1/4-20 nylon bolts to attach the mount to the airplane. This means that I have to drill a hole through the airframe. A sharpened 1/4-inch diameter brass tube works great for cutting clean holes into all types of foam. You simply push the tube into the foam with a slight twisting motion. If you’re worried that holes will scar your airplane, you might be surprised by how subtle a 1/4-inch diameter hole can be. I don’t usually bother to conceal the holes when they’re not being used, but you could always fill them or cover them with tape. The thickness of the foam determines the required length of the mounting screw. A handy feature of nylon screws is that they are easy to trim to shorter lengths by rolling them under a razor blade. I’ve amassed a collection of 1/4-20 nylon bolts in many lengths. I also have a number of foam and plastic spacers that I can use in lieu of cutting a screw to a specific length. When you tighten the screw into the mount, it will probably compress the foam slightly and might leave an indentation. To help alleviate this, I use large-diameter washers made from scrap pieces of sheet plastic. Product packaging is a great source for this plastic. I also like to add a 1/8-inch foam rubber disc between the plastic washer and tripod adapter.

Camera Placement

Different airframes require different camera mounting strategies. Some are definitely more versatile than others. One mounting position that seems to work well on most airplanes is the outer wing. Unless the airplane has an extremely short wing or very long fuselage, you can aim the camera inward and get the entire fuselage in the shot. It’s a fun perspective to watch.
A properly positioned wingtip camera can frame the entire airplane in the shot.

I often drill one mounting hole near the wingtip and another at roughly midspan. I then mirror those holes on the opposite wing. This gives me a lot of flexibility for different shooting angles. Simply make sure that there are no servo wires or internal spars in the way before you start drilling with the brass tube. Whenever you use a wing-mounted camera, you’ll also need to have a counterbalance on the opposite wing. The easiest solution is to use a second camera. If you only have one camera, however, you can simply use an equivalent weight.
The author glued lead to plywood to counterbalance the weight of a wing-mounted camera.

I made a counterbalance by gluing lead weights to a small piece of scrap 1/8-inch plywood with a 1/4-20 blind nut. The ballast assembly weighs the same as a mounted RunCam 2 and uses the same 1/4-20 nylon bolts for attachment. Fuselage-mounted cameras can sometimes be trickier. That’s because flat, easily accessible mounting spots are rare. Before drilling any mounting holes, you’ll want to make sure that you can get the 1/4-20 bolt into place and have access to tighten it. Areas near battery hatches are usually good spots. You can actually mount a camera directly to the hatch, but make sure that the hatch is mounted securely!
It is helpful to mount fuselage cameras near battery hatches for easy access to the mounting bolt.

Many fuselages have a rounded top surface, which can make it tough to secure the flat-bottomed tripod mount. Sometimes replacing the plastic washer with an extra layer of foam rubber is sufficient to stabilize the mount. In more extreme cases, I’ll make a hasty arch-shaped adapter out of scrap foam. The inside of the arch approximates the curvature of the fuselage while the top side of the arch is flat. Again, placing foam rubber between the fuselage and arch is helpful. I’ve also used a variant of foam arches in areas where it isn’t feasible to run a mounting bolt through the fuselage, such as the rear of a glider. I epoxy a short 1/4-20 bolt to the arch. This holds the camera to the arch. I then attach the arch to the airframe with rubber bands, hook-and-loop straps, and/or tape—whatever makes sense for each application.
The author fabricated a foam arch to adapt his camera mount to this sharply curved fuselage.

As with wing-mounted cameras, fuselage cameras often upset the airplane’s balance. Sometimes, there is sufficient flexibility in battery placement to achieve a center of gravity (CG) location. Other times, you’ll have to add weight or another camera to regain the CG. If you need to add more than an ounce or two of ballast, you should reconsider your camera location. Some of my airplanes don’t seem to fly any differently, even when carrying two cameras. Others have a significantly different feel with only one camera. It’s hard to predict what the effects will be. Of course, simply the additional mass of a camera and any ballast will change the model’s stall speed. With a camera on the wing, you can expect that the aircraft will start and stop rolls more slowly. Fuselage cameras might impact the pitch response or pitch trim of a model. My advice is to treat a newly equipped camera-carrying aircraft just like a new model. Feel it out with a conservative mindset.

Conclusion

Adding an action camera to a foam airplane is a fun way to see the RC hobby from a new perspective. The latest generation of small action cameras can give you great high-definition footage of your model. They are so small and lightweight that you might not even notice them tagging along. The mounting methods discussed here are only a few examples of the endless, creative possibilities they offer. Pick up one or two of these cameras, grab your favorite foamie, and channel your inner Spielberg. —Terry Dunn terrydunn74@gmail.com

Sources:

Foxeer info@foxeer.com www.foxeer.com” GoPro (855) 635-3578 www.gopro.com Mobius (315) 791-0221 www.mobius-actioncam.com RunCam (702) 997-2220 www.runcam.com


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9 comments

This well written feature is very helpful. The material is presented in a straightforward manner. As a 'science guy' I like being shown how to replicate success. Excellent job!

I have installed fpv cameras on my birds as well as mounted go pro session units on them. I can help if anyone needs it, I can setup a complete kit. I am an aircraft mechanic and now work as a drone engineer.

My sister has 2 C-17 Globemaster III RC 373mm wingspan Foam planes by Banggood. She's trying to find a very flat lightweight portable wireless camera that won't be too heavy. Someone on youtube tried a few cameras and he suggested to find on less than 5 grams. We cannot find one. Can you help?? thanks Jane

Very nicely done Terry. Very thorough and well-though out. Thanks for your contribution!

Article talked about several nice cameras, but they were all way too big for my application. I would like to find one about dime sized that I could insert into the nose of my ME262. That way the plane would remain scale looking without a big box the camera strap to it somewhere else. A small dime sized camera could be inserted in the nose and look like a landing light or even a gun.

I am looking for a Compact, lightweight wireless real-time camera to shove onto my cheap foam plane for a improvised first person and one on the bottom for a sort of a scout UAV type of view also. Is there a camera under 20 usd that can fit vertically in a 1/2 inch fuselage?

Very nice article Terry, Well thought out, organized and informative Thanks

So I really loved this article, I not only bought the camera you suggested, I also am currently working on a school report on articles and I selected this one. Thanks so much for the help you have given me!

Looking to get a camera to film model airplanes in flight from the ground. Using cell phone now. Would a GoPro be a good option?

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