Some really great photos! How's the film footage look? When's the premier showing? Thanks Doug!

How's the film footage look? When's the premier showing?

The film is being processed as we speak. (I had to wait until payday to get it processed). But it will be back early next week and the "premier" showing will be the evening it arrives. Everyone is invited but I suspect the audience will be myself and my cat. My wife stopped attending these events due to the paparazzi...

It should be shown at Oktoberfest at Friday Night at the movies. I will make the comment that two of the high speed cameras did not work due to not being hooked up (sigh) and of course the tracking cameras on Freeze Frame didn't due such a good job because the N wasn't up to pressure when the K's lifted it. However, the tracking cameras did a bang up job on Art's so I can't wait to see the film. I am working on new checks and counter checks for Odyssey flight. There will be 12 high speed cameras on the pad and ground (plus three on board) and another 6 still cameras.

Doug

Doug,

As always, utterly superb pictures.

Warren

Hi Joe,

I just thought I would post to let you know how the film turned out. Overall I was very please with the footage. That is not to say there wasn't problems. Most of the ground footage is good. I did have one problem with the camera that stares at the motor at ignition. It started a little too late for my taste so there is very little footage prior to the igniter going. Plus it has fiducial marks on the gate that I failed to file off. The make for a cross hair marking on the image. But it shows both K700's on Freeze Frame lighting nearly at the same time and yes, the N igniter did go first.

The horizontal camera on the top of the rail was a new mount to view both the top of the rail and the downward looking camera at the top (now about four feet from the top of the rail). I had the camera mount set to "Manly" and I doubt I'll ever go to "Daredevil" it was so close to the rocket. Let's put it this way, the camera is IN BETWEEN the fins as it passes. Unfortunately that is one of the cameras I failed to connect so no footage from the top of the rail as well as the pitching camera on the arm.

Of course the away tracking camera didn't do so hot with Freeze Frame due to the N lighting late. But Art's rocket was fantastic. It looks strange because of the delay. There is a 0.7 second delay from when the rocket takes off before the camera starts to move. And of course the rocket moves out of the frame during this time. But that is the way it is suppose to and after about 1 second (real time) the camera moves until The Dream Is Alive is right in the middle of the frame and stays there until apogee. It is a little overexposed like a few other shots but it is nice.

The pitching camera from the pole is also very nice. It is perhaps just a little fast because the rocket does go out of the frame for just a very short time. It does show the blast underneath the pad very well too.

The on board footage from Freeze Frame is also over exposed and when I first watched it, the opening scene was of the parachute. I thought it had ran after the chute came out. It turned out that they put it in backwards. So after seeing it "land" under full thrust, I put it in reverse and watched it again. Most notably is the huge amount of smoke. The pillow on the ground had to reach 30 feet to the camera controller. Then to see the rocket rise above the telescoping pole is also something I've never seen before. It really ads to the footage. The boosters dropped off but not like I expected. They did their own roll after leaving but they were stable and fell away gracefully. After motor burn out what when things really changed. It was at this point that the camera changed speed and so the exposure changed. It was already slightly overexposed so when it slowed down the scene really gets bright. That may be correctable, I'll check into that. For some unknown reason at this same time the rocket started rolling more than expected. It was not likely due to the change in camera speed, perhaps due to wind shear? It's not violent but definitely a greater roll rate that BDCR ever was. Then it reaches apogee the booster section falls away and the drogue pops out on cue and just as expected when the upper section reaches the end of the line, the nose cone comes out deploying the main. Great demonstration of drag separation. I guess the four 6-32's were not enough...

I also processed footage of an ejection charge test in surgical tubing going off at 500 frames per second. That too was disappointing because it still went so fast. You do get to see a big flame and smoke but it is still pretty quick. I guess I need to get the super high 10,000 fps camera going to film stuff exploding...

Doug

WOW! It 's probably time to buy stock in your movie company. Or start to pass the hat around for your showings. I'm anxious to see the new footage at Oktoberfest. I'd suggest a few warm up flights/tests before Odyssey flies so you're sure that everything is working but you've probably already figured that out. Thanks for sharing!!!!

I'd suggest a few warm up flights/tests before Odyssey flies so you're sure that everything is working but you've probably already figured that out.

Yea, I really miss Justin. He did an excellent job helping out. I'm sure he's doing well in the CG. I've been looking for a project to film on Saturday but the one's I've heard about are also flying on Sunday. But yes I am working on several ideas to avoid 'mistakes'. Thanks for the kind words,

Doug

Now that sounds like a thinly veiled challenge...that is, come up with a new project, and motor, in six weeks that is worthy of Doug's film.

Makes me want to head into the rocket shop.

I know there are worthy projects out there but they all seem to by flying on experimental motors and not commercial motors. However, if you have a big, impressive rocket flying on Saturday, let me know and we can talk.

Doug

Now that sounds like a thinly veiled challenge...that is, come up with a new project, and motor, in six weeks that is worthy of Doug's film.

Makes me want to head into the rocket shop.

A Rocket and a Motor???? How about 2 Motors, or 6 Motors, or 10 Motors, or maybe just more than 1. 😉 Ive diverted Corporate assets into financing a certain project that might require NASA approval for occupying
space with certain satilites. 🙂 OK SO MAY BE NOT!!!! But I am still trying figuring out how to wright it off!!! And it will still be cool shot!!! And if Saterday gets me more attention than Sunday, hey I could be right up there with Paris!
Wow the thought........ To be forever remebered in the movies...........

How about 2 Motors, or 6 Motors, or 10 Motors, or maybe just more than 1

Sure, but I do use the rule of thumb that you should spend as much burning propellant as I do shooting the film.

Doug

No, not true, I didn't spend a dime on my N motor. 😉

Art "I spent two months and hundred of dollars more then an N motor to get that free N motor" Hoag

PS- There are a few jokes in there, lets see who get them all.

How about 2 Motors, or 6 Motors, or 10 Motors, or maybe just more than 1

Sure, but I do use the rule of thumb that you should spend as much burning propellant as I do shooting the film.

Doug

Lets just say the propellant bill (if I can get it ready) will hurt!

"I buy, you fly" was the five floor stairway trek (each way) to the soda machine before AP became a staple of life and completely changed the meaning.

Scott, or anyone considering a large project, if you are seriously thinking about wanting to fly off of my pad and have me film it, please don't wait until OF to ask about it. I do a lot of preparation in advance and it is very unlikely I'll trow a rocket on and try to track it. There is some specific information I need to know about your project in order to do my analysis before the flight.

Doug