BUILDING A WIRELESS VIDEO SYSTEM - UNDERWATER HOUSING

[anonymous]

A RenShape (a Pattern Maker’s

A RenShape (a Pattern Maker’s master and tool making plastic) mandrel was cut on the lathe – its outer diameter sized to be a moderate interference fit to the inside diameter of the Acrylic tube; friction between the two was enough to prevent the friction of the cutting tool from dragging the rotating work to a stop over its rotating holding fixture. As a precaution I made the mandrel about a half-inch shorter in length than the tube – this insured that the inside face of the WTC’s disc would not be in contact with the mandrel, avoiding scratching that would obliterate the utility of the WTC’s window once the camera was installed. Such lessons are hard learned!

[anonymous]

A special ‘live-center’ pressure-plate was

A special ‘live-center’ pressure-plate was made from a ball bearing mounted on a tight fitting shaft. The live-center in turn was secured within the chuck of the lathe tailstock. The live-center serving to both steady the working end of the cylinder/disc from wobble and pushed the cylinder hard against the flange end of the mandrel as the work was set turning, increasing the friction between mandrel and cylinder, preventing radial slipping as I applied the cutting bits, files and sandpaper. Here I’m making the initial cuts onto the disc, starting to impart the semi-hemispherical shape to the WTC’s window. I then shifted to files of descending coarseness, and then went to abrasives till I finally had the semi-hemispherical window polished to a near optically clear state.

[anonymous]

Removing the tailstock I set

Removing the tailstock I set the work spinning again and wet sanded the front of the cylinder-window with descending grits of sandpaper. First #100 grit, then 240, 400, 600, 2400, then a very fine jeweler’s rouge. Note that a small disc of the original adhesive backed paper mask still covers the center of the semi-hemispherical window - where the camera will later peer through the clear plastic. This mask is not removed till all machining, sanding, and polishing chores are completed.

[anonymous]

On the milling machine I

On the milling machine I cut out the openings into the top of the cylinders (I made a whole bunch of WTC’s). The hole atop the cylinder passes the coaxial cable from the camera-transmitter up through the cylinder, antenna foundation, and into the antenna fairing. Here I’m roughing up the surface of the matting area of the cylinder with sandpaper to insure a good tight CA adhesive seal between foundation and cylinder.

[anonymous]

It’s important to maintain a

It’s important to maintain a protective mask over the clear window of the cylinder. I make mine by simply pushing a beveled end of a brass tube into masking tape secured to a scrap piece of plastic. The discs formed are perfect for protecting the WTC’s window.

[anonymous]

Here you see three means

Here you see three means of securing the camera WTC to specific model submarines]http://sneill.com/merrimans/21.jpg[/img]

[anonymous]

Ellie holding our Teskey Productions

Ellie holding our Teskey Productions kit of the FLYING-SUBMARINE. The excellent maneuverability of this r/c submarine makes it a candidate for an on-board wireless video camera system. We’ve had a lot of fun using this to chase and play tag with other r/c boats and submarines.

It’s a special thrill to steer using only the monitor; just like you’re right there in the water, directly interacting with the other vehicles. I’m on the lookout for a set of ‘virtual goggle’ – a head worn gadget that presents the view image right to your eyes and shielding your sight from all but the image being projected from the on-board mini camera.

Though the FLYING-SUBMARINE is a very challenging build (and therefore is only recommended for the most advanced kit-assembler), I find this model submarine to be just about the most fun member of my fleet to operate at the pool or lake. The FS-1 draws a crowd wherever it operates.






Edited By U812 on 1109119535

[anonymous]

Another look at the wireless

Another look at the wireless video WTC equipped FLYING-SUBMARINE, this time from the stern. The special mount for this model insures that I don’t mare the paintwork nor need to punch holes for mechanical fasteners. Obviously, it would be impossible to make a simple rubber band attachment work on this very uniquely shaped vehicle. Able to yaw around dead in the water, the FS-1 is the perfect platform for a camera if the intent is to watch the other model ships and submarines go by. Hovering just beneath the surface, this model has the ability to quickly swing around to hold or get an object in line with the camera.

[anonymous]

Though this 1/96 Atomic Subs

Though this 1/96 Atomic Subs kit of the THRESHER/PERMIT is still in primer gray, it is, nonetheless, fully operational. I’ve already given the camera system a piggyback ride on this hull and those shots are featured in a video Ellie and I recorded at a local diver’s shop training pool. Watching the water rushing up onto the deck as I command a vent of the ballast tank, then watching the water proceed up over the window of the WTC, then you’re looking out, underwater, at the foredeck and sail as the model cruises along beneath the surface. What a thrill!

Remarkably these little video cameras produce 380 lines of resolution – that’s equivalent to VHS quality! And the depth of field under daylight conditions is fantastic]http://sneill.com/merrimans/24.jpg[/img]

[anonymous]

Getting back to the initial

Getting back to the initial reason for development of the parasitic camera WTC system]http://sneill.com/merrimans/25.jpg[/img]

[anonymous]

This 1/12 scratch-built model of

This 1/12 scratch-built model of the Civil War era submarine, USS ALLIGATOR, was built as an effects miniature and was filmed in support of a Science Channel special to be aired this October fifth. Though the camera WTC has come on the scene too late for that production, it would be neat to observe deployment and retrieval of the ‘buoyancy chambers’ – floats used to control the depth below the surface this submarine would assume during submerged operations.

The possible applications of the underwater wireless video system are many. Now that I have working units in hand I expect to enjoy many more years of r/c submarine operation – this time, from a NEW perspective!

[anonymous]

SOURCES

Wireless video system – Radio

SOURCES

Wireless video system – Radio Shack www.radioshack.com
Swann, Wireless 2.4 GHz Color MicroCam ll


Antenna Fairing (streamlined tube) – K&S Engineering, 2917 West 49th St., Chicago, Ill 60638 www.ksmetals.com Phone, 773-586-8503
No. 122, ‘brass streamline’


Mold Making Rubber and Casting Resin – Alumilite, 315 E. North Ste., Kalamazoo, MI 49007 www.alumilite.com Phone, 1-800-447-9344
Resin – RC-3 (three minute pot life)
Rubber – 3110, general purpose


Pattern Maker’s plastic board – Freeman Manufacturing & Supply Co., 1101 Moore Road, Avon, OH 44011 www.freemansupply.com Phone, 1-800-321-8511
RenShape 450 (41 lbs. per cubic foot)


Coaxial Cable – Radio-Ware, http://www.radio-ware.com/products/rg174.htm
RG-174 50 Ohm, micro-coax




end

[wingtip]

I’m on the lookout for

I’m on the lookout for a set of ‘virtual goggle’ – a head worn gadget that presents the view image right to your eyes and shielding your sight from all but the image being projected from the on-board mini camera.

i just happen to have a set i can acquire if your interested? they used to be mine as i did aerial photography from one of my model helicopters awhile back but sold it all to a buddy. These are mint condition and are color... they were acquired from wirelessvideocamera.com 2 years ago for around 800 bucks... make me an offer....these have huge lcd screens and not the little pinhole screens of the cheaper glasses

[Guest]

I have had a lot

I have had a lot of fun the last few years with the similar wireless video camera I installed in the sail of my L.A. The most fun was seeing the video clips from my L.A. video camera featured on the lead-in, and throughout the program, on the TV episode of 'Inside R/C.', taken at SubRegatta '04.
I have a photo of the camera on my homepage.

[raalst]

Seems to me there is

Seems to me there is a reasonably practical way to
solve the original problem which was "torpedo
veers off course because the end of the muzzle is
oval, causing gas to escape to the side, interfering with
the torp when it leaves the tube"

if this was indeed the problem, then the solution is to
cut the launch tubes square, not oval, add one servo
and just before launch push the whole launching mechanism forward,
causing the tubes to stick out of the hull (during launch only).
should be compensated by moving some weight to the tail
to counter the shift forward of the Center of Gravity.

But hey, more easily said than done. hats off for a craftsman
like Merriman. Pity he's left us.