
Well, I got the sound working, but unfortunately my wireless data link was too weak and I did not get a decent video feed. It had been a while since I used this setup, and I forgot to use fresh batteries. I also forget to use the high-res MPEG2 encoder, so this is just a frame grab from MPEG4 (video camera near nose cone is facing straight down the orange rocket tube).
Given the requests for video on the prior photo, you can see a low-res video here from an overpowered Oracle rocket launch. No microphone to capture the sound there.
For anyone interested in doing this at home, Estes sells a beginner video rocket kit (the Oracle). It is pre-assembled to take a D size engine. I discovered that the body tube is the exact same size as the Estes Blue Ninja. So I build the Blue Ninja, sliding back the motor retainer so it can take E size engines (2x the power of a D). From there, you can double the power again by using an Aerotech composite F21 that fits into the space of an Estes E engine, or you can use a D12-0 booster stage from an Estes CC Express to ignite the E9-8 in the Blue Ninja.

Leave a Reply