Estes Universal Astrocam Review and Actual Launch Footage

[@KindCreature1]

I first built an Orbital Transport in 1969, dang, that makes me old!! Thanks for posting.

[@Dipperdap1]

Same here. those were the days....

[@eeeeee7766]

Whoever thought of putting a microphone on a camera that is right next to a rocket motor is an absolute genius.

[@mazegazer2753]

lol

[@livergen]

Brings back good memories, I used to live in Canyon city Colorado, and was constantly at the Estes factory store in Penrose Just down the road from where I lived. My dad was retired Air Force and gave me a binder full of sounding rocket designs they were shooting off in Florida back in the early 60s testing rocket motors along with sending up atmospheric Instruments. They were basically blue print designs with all the measurements, so I started building my own rockets and scaling down the dimensions, then all I had to buy was the rocket motors from Estes. Just like you my brother I had my wife with me (( and a set of binoculars )) to keep track of the rockets. I did make a lot of second stage designs, and would pretty consistently get them back on a calm day. I built a few three stage, but gave up on ever finding the top stage, pretty crazy, I even used streamers Instead of parachutes for those versions just so they would fall back down straight, but it didn't seem to help. I subscribed to your channel just because I thoroughly enjoyed listening to your excitement. Have you thought about putting the little camera in the glider? That would be pretty interesting to see it's perspective as it is slowly circling And possibly a little more stable. Maybe actually building a dedicated booster assembly to lift your glider to a good altitude, and then maybe inserting your camera inside the glider somewhere around the center of gravity inside it to get a angled down view as the Video is being taken. Anyway, God bless you guys, I know you're having fun & ((" keeping all your little crew members alive inside and well ")), that was pretty funny when you said everyone survived in the glider. That would be something I would say😎.... Stay safe, Danny in Texas..

[@modelrockets3215]

Thanks for sharing. 🚀🚀🚀

[@gilligancharliebrown399]

Nice! I remember when the first Estes Astrocams were just a one time snap at apogee with a 110 film camera! Out of sight bro! You kids have it all!

[@hawkman9333]

I still have mine!!!!

[@david9783]

Good thing the passegers were safe. It was touch and go for a moment.

[@hawkman9333]

Thank you posting this!!! I am going to drag out all my old rockets and see if I can get them to fly again. My oldest granddaughter should really like it.

[@RLProctor12]

I used to have the shuttle one in the background! Love launching that one!

[@jchobbies]

Definitely a cool view of the flight with the glider lifting away. I picked up some Astrocams during the Estes sale, better getvthem in the air. Seems like you and Kevin get lots of practice doing repairs! Glad there is grass where I launch. Looking forward to the next vid.

[@stephenfarrell4796]

Thoroughly enjoyed this

[@modelrockets3215]

@stephenfarrell4796 Thanks I'm glad!

[@CrazyCranker]

I had the same launch pad in 1976 or 77, :) Good stuff and great coverage!

[@charliemancuso5690]

I enjoyed your video. Brought back memories of Estes rockets. Thanks.

[@jamesn3513]

Great video. Thanks

[@shaunarcher9194]

Looks like fun, could be a good way to get my son interested in science.

[@jefferyfredericksen7760]

i gotta get one of those!!!! great video! sorry about the fins man!

[@KevinsModels]

Great video Keith! Looks like you got some great footage with the new camera. I loved how you could see the glider depart. It lurched forward and then lifted up. Great angle for that! Easy repairs on the fins. Looking forward to your next video. Marcy did a great job as well!

[@marktibbetts3799]

I used to put lots of talcum powder on my parachutes. Nice puff of smoke and it lessens the tangles too.

[@GreenJeepAdventures]

That Orbital Transport brings back memories of a rocket my father built for me. It was the Space Shuttle that also detached from the main body and glided back. I remember one day going into the garage to look for something, and hiding in the back corner was the model partially built. He was getting it ready for my birthday, and I have always felt kind of guilty for spoiling his surprise for me. None the less, once my birthday arrived, I was still filled with joy as if I never knew the secret. Somedays, rockets do not want to behave. I think we have all had these days where you are breaking fins left and right. I once had a buddy who loaded a delayed motor into my 2 stage rocket. Normally you are suppose to have no delay, so that the next stage can boost right away, however in this case, it just had enough of a delay, that when the 2nd ignited, it was pointing straight down!! It slammed right through a chainlink fence!

[@OIFEagle]

I would love to see Astrocam video from the Orbital Transport glider some time. Of course it would take some weight testing to ensure the flight was stable. I'm planning to paint the bottom of my glider black like the space shuttle tiles so that I can spot it better in the sky.

[@modelrockets3215]

Yes great ides on the bottom paint. This one detached and was far away before I spotted it.

[@neilmorgan6734]

Cool Stuff ! I enjoyed The Orbital Launch , Thanks

[@AZAce1064]

Have fun and be safe👍 It looks you are where I used to fly my rockets outside north Vegas. Where is that?

[@williamstevenson9057]

That is so cool

[@terryboehler5752]

Nice

[@billj5645]

My astrocam has a litle hole in the cap so you can see the blue light with the cap on. When mounted on the rocket the little hole is just above the button. If yours doesn't have the little hole you could add that if you have a small drill bit maybe 1/16" diameter.

[@stemmentor9700]

I always wanted the Mars Lander AND the AstroCam. I primarily flew Centuri, but classmates but Mars Lander to school once and i just loved it. I recall the cameras used 110 film in my days. Way I flew, and not having all the open space. i would have waved it by. Like the paint scheme on the BBX. So eager to get back into this hobby. first i need to retire and have time and then I have to find a place to launch. But the time is coming. Thanks again for the vids.

[@modelrockets3215]

Start now dont wait to retire. Live now as tomorrow is not guaranteed. The Mars Lander is still being produced by Semroc. Appreciate you watching my videos! Get building my friend!

[@stemmentor9700]

@@modelrockets3215 Honey Do List needs to get completed first. And some complex issues slowing things down but I will have a rocket by Christmas. Realized i have a bunch of old Centuri and Estes stuff sat home was gonna put on ebay from mint catalogs to misc stuff. never did find my old LJII nose cone, but see you can buy them. Do you know the site where you could buy the plans and many aftermarket parts for the older kits? Since retiring from Navy in 99, i moved 4 times and lost track of that site 20 years ago. You NEVER outgrow the best hobby there is. blessings

[@modelrockets3215]

@@stemmentor9700 For sure real life and responsibilities are definitely more important! Search Jim Z for free rocket plans, just print them out. Most rockets are up. www.erockets.biz apogeecomponents.com are 2 good sites for parts and kits. Apogee has a Apollo capsule for that Little Joe II. 1/30 scale I believe.

[@ridelikethawind8130]

Thanks for the video. I am hoping to get my daughter excited for our first launch.

[@robsee336]

Brutal terrain Keith. But big blue skies!

[@michaelmanriquez4965]

That was super cool! 😎👍

[@saturn5tony]

Awesome view of the Astrocam Keith. Cool fights as well ...cept for a bit of repair out there from the desert. Cool mini mars lander and OT stuff as well!

[@jameswilkinson259]

Hi Keith. I just got one of these cams, but will wait until summer before using it. It looks decent based on your video. By the way cool Mars Lander (I lost mine somewhere) and hi to Marcy!

[@iocat]

Great video!

[@caboodlebricks6930]

That was pretty cool. I have the astrocam 2 model

[@adeharris4457]

I know this is an old video I'm looking at getting into this hobby, I see etses sell a rocket with this camera fitted but this universal one appeals to me obviously as I can swap out the rockets as my hobby progresses. I'm just curious I notice in your newer vidoes you don't use this camera is it no good or is just because you don't want to? It's quite expensive here in the UK around $75 dollars equivalent I don't want to pay that much if it's no good, thanks & great vidoes BTW

[@modelrockets3215]

The camera is great. I actually lost it. It came loose during a flight. Totally my fault. I used a weak piece of tape and it came off.

[@kyqx]

I admire the space you have for launching but that is some unforgiving dirt to land on:)

[@garymartinez8182]

I have 2 of these cameras for the rocket club I mentor. Great video. My only question on the broken fin issues is: are you using fillets for your fins?

[@modelrockets3215]

Yes I do on my build. But many of these are old builds that weren't mine originally. I acquired them. They're like 70s and 80s builds and I launched them as they were.

[@thewaltbrownellchannel9318]

You would think the added drag and weight of the camera would throw the tracking of the rocket off,

[@urkindamid3317]

Would it be possible to put the Astro cam on the glider itself

[@modelrockets3215]

It may be too heavy for it. But the upscaled version may work out. Mine is the standard size

[@charliehustle9726]

I think that fin you broke might be the huckleberry fin

[@Allan_aka_RocKITEman]

@modelrockets3215 >>> _"crapperhead"_ 🤭 BTW, you could say after those launches those rockets were temporarily *_FIN-ished._* {I will see myself to the door now...😉}

[@nathannault2239]

Anyone know what app works to play these video files on a Mac?

[@modelrockets3215]

KZbin App or website should work