In the early 1970’s, I built and launched model rockets. Rockets gave way to college, career, and family pursuits. Then… one day in 1997, I was walking through Wal Mart and an Estes Ionizer starter set was heard calling my name.  I was instantly hooked.   The common term for people that re-enter the field of rocketry after a lapse of twenty-some years is BAR (Born Again Rocketeer).

The Past

The Centuri Hummingbird was my favorite rocket. It was a boost glider powered by a 1/2A6-2 motor. While my original kit was discarded some years ago, a few visits to an on-line auction house netted a Centuri Hummingbird kit.  Directions and plans to build a clone can be found here.

Rebirth

My re-entry into rocketry came with the purchase of an Estes Ionizer. After spending an entire Saturday launching it repeatedly, my thoughts started wandering back to 1972 and a rocket known as the  Camroc .  I've always been intrigued by the prospect of aerial photography, but at $6.75, the Camroc was just out of reach for a boy that made a living delivering newspapers.

Estes Astrocam

A trip to the local hobby shop in 1997 resulted in the purchase of an Estes Astrocam kit. The Astrocam takes one picture per launch using 110 film. The Astrocam is currently sold as an RTF (Ready To Fly) starter set. I’ve posted some  modifications that will increase the service life of the rocket, as well as some tips  for launching, and finally some aerial  photos  from my collection.

R/C Aircraft

While the Astrocam is enjoyable, the aerial photos produced by it are random in nature. In other words, it’s almost impossible to take an aerial picture of a specific location with any degree of certainty. Using a radio controlled plane produces better results.  Something like a Sig Kadet Senior is ideal.  Here's a method of mounting a camera on a Kadet Senior, along with details of the camera itself. Another method of doing this is with a glider or sail plane such as the Sig Riser 100.
 
Here are some aerial shots taken with the Kadet Senior using the mounting shown above.

I created this site to provide some information about getting started in aerial photography and promote the educational aspects of model rocketry and aero modeling.  Your  comments  or questions are welcome.

Use this information at your own risk.

This site was updated October 15, 2007.