tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33954356450055635982024-03-13T09:49:22.038-05:00My Nerd JournalAll Things Nerd! From RC to programming projects.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger51125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3395435645005563598.post-37925993844287370862013-06-08T21:03:00.001-05:002013-06-08T21:03:18.370-05:00SmartThings to ThingSpeak Python ScriptSo, I have been meaning to do this for a really long time. In fact, I purchased all the XBee radios, temperature sensors, and various breakout boards to be able to do this project and have yet to get around to it!<br />
To make things a little easier, back in August, I backed a project on Kickstarter that would give me a base for measuring temperature throughout the house. It was the <a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/smartthings/smartthings-make-your-world-smarter">SmartThings</a> project.<br />
It's a great home automation setup and although I'm basically using only motion sensors and temperatures sensors for most things, it still got the basic network set up in the house. Their app for iOS works really well and I'm beta testing their Android app, which works well for a beta.<br />
The only gripe is that I can't really see the history of the data, just the real-time information, which is good at a glance, but I want to be able to log and see what's going on. Their developer website allows me to see that information but it's just a bunch of numbers. Not only that, I have to log in each time, go to each device, and then do a few more clicks to see what I want.<br />
I finally decided I had had enough and jumped in and learned how to write a script in Python that would allow me to grab that information. Not only could I grab it, I could also post it to a website that will track it all for me at <a href="https://www.thingspeak.com/">ThingSpeak</a>!<br />
I'm not sure the best way to post the file so I made my first git repository! It's probably way overkill but I didn't want to put something in my DropBox, make it public, and then post it up.<br />
<a href="https://github.com/3dpinta/smartthingspeak.git">Here's the link</a>.<br />
I also made a video showing a little bit of the information. The YouTube video is <a href="http://youtu.be/6it_Hp3b744">here</a>.<br />
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Enjoy and let me know what you think for those 1 or 2 people that may actually read this!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3395435645005563598.post-63804256188546452392012-08-14T20:35:00.000-05:002012-08-27T19:07:20.893-05:00My Own Thermal CameraOkay, here's a fun project I just finished up. I still have a little bit of testing and minor calibration to do but it's an extremely fun project.<br />
I always wondered what it would be like to have my own Flir IR imaging camera to see where we have hot/cold leaks around the doors and also to see what the heat signature of things look like.<br />
Here's an example I took from Flir's website showing weather stripping issues around a door.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyQsD5y1QYxl2QrBi8gkFaiYJZlQIKeEn_TihEjtIHQbj1QwXoYprTKAmwK6OW8x0DATAmkXdD4NNawPc6jhRTVq-r1c9XvUM7UT9vGyhsrQ5dmrAbNt4CreFgFOjlxel0g9r1ileKPao3/s1600/weather-stripping-issue.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyQsD5y1QYxl2QrBi8gkFaiYJZlQIKeEn_TihEjtIHQbj1QwXoYprTKAmwK6OW8x0DATAmkXdD4NNawPc6jhRTVq-r1c9XvUM7UT9vGyhsrQ5dmrAbNt4CreFgFOjlxel0g9r1ileKPao3/s1600/weather-stripping-issue.jpeg" /></a></div>
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See how awesome that is? The problem is, the cheapest camera, even at closeout, is $1100. That's a lot of money. Maybe if I sold the imaging services to friends, it would eventually pay for itself but then who wants to charge their friends money for helping them out?<br />
Anyway, I was poking around the internet when I saw an article about a DIY project that could do something similar for much less. They pointed me to <a href="http://www.cheap-thermocam.tk/">this website</a> where a few teenagers took a nice sensor and created a thermal camera on the cheap. I was determined to make my own! One problem though, I didn't have time or the money to put down $60 on a sensor so it sat on the backburner for a year or so.<br />
As some of you may know, we bought a house recently and we really like it. However, for whatever reason, our basement is like an oven. It's unfinished and should be in the 65-70 F range for temperature (according to our plumber who just unclogged our stubborn bathroom drain that I tried hard to clear myself). Anyway, last summer and this summer, the basement has been a balmy 75-78 F and because of it, it's hard to keep the rest of the house cool, especially with no central air. We can have fans blowing the cool air from the one a/c unit we have downstairs but even if we can get it to 75 F, the basement is warmer so it's a battle that has frustrated me. Is it the dryer? Dehumidifier? Maybe it's the gas furnace that heats our water? Thinking it might be the furnace, I put insulation around all the hot water pipes, the water tank, and everything I could. However, it's still a balmy 77 as I write this AND IT'S ONLY 74 OUTSIDE!!! ARE YOU KIDDING ME???<br />
Okay, so you can see it's quite frustrating as I can't figure out what's causing our hot basement issue.<br />
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Seeing that I was really frustrated, I remembered that I had wanted to make this cheap thermal camera. Over the last year, I had amassed enough parts that all I had to do was buy the sensor so I bit the bullet and finally bought one.<br />
You'll remember in my <a href="http://amazingrcvideos.blogspot.com/2012/06/tonka-summit-build.html">Tonka Summit post</a> that I used something called <a href="http://www.servocity.com/html/servoblocks.html">ServoBlocks</a> for the pan on my camera. Well, my project was chosen as one of the monthly winners so I won two more sets! As they are incredible to work with to make simple pan/tilt setups, I decided to use what I won for this project! Except for one problem, I only had one servo that would fit so I had to improvise a little.<br />
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I present to you my own thermal camera!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic45hHkS7K4Hcp_C31ZlzDrf0DTf-4NEXGscCpNh_MtQA9vyakCBaL1nvI-FJJ2tU8I4gtoMtjR2kvdvXaCK0RNgc-0lAaLouTuBQYLn1jLPLh8fR-_8zxxawv7MZmJbGrnUCLRBdGkjf1/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic45hHkS7K4Hcp_C31ZlzDrf0DTf-4NEXGscCpNh_MtQA9vyakCBaL1nvI-FJJ2tU8I4gtoMtjR2kvdvXaCK0RNgc-0lAaLouTuBQYLn1jLPLh8fR-_8zxxawv7MZmJbGrnUCLRBdGkjf1/s320/photo+1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Front view</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBdjbgMnHMUAwUheeB-0BkBRpMWqQZsgDMXF20U0emh-oCqy1bnOIbw5pJCk4-ggsaVPRCCJ90f6qHHJ9tdRrKKGpYqqKCfs-5fyO3unew8VBml2sIupPaXjGZri_-837mz1D7tH2mByJ_/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBdjbgMnHMUAwUheeB-0BkBRpMWqQZsgDMXF20U0emh-oCqy1bnOIbw5pJCk4-ggsaVPRCCJ90f6qHHJ9tdRrKKGpYqqKCfs-5fyO3unew8VBml2sIupPaXjGZri_-837mz1D7tH2mByJ_/s320/photo+2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Side view</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIj6bXFHNOQr6vZs9jdGWoTCFqLnwR94U1IglS_SeeV_Me_tDRZjb-GvTZz4WaqP99CJ4sDL6ZSJAdv_r_UBB4BJmbEb6sT94xTb0yzGdRC8YV6I2WLJKqfMcrWjIHF-skizAS3iU4yJXG/s1600/photo+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIj6bXFHNOQr6vZs9jdGWoTCFqLnwR94U1IglS_SeeV_Me_tDRZjb-GvTZz4WaqP99CJ4sDL6ZSJAdv_r_UBB4BJmbEb6sT94xTb0yzGdRC8YV6I2WLJKqfMcrWjIHF-skizAS3iU4yJXG/s320/photo+3.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Back view</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKz_SEl-tJoeQBXccu8NLZ0ApEJmXCve2i5sWbLwfZ14KoAe4g7qc_UN5U1HAZr7IxYOGdgvsfvx5YhYtvRPMzCvftDmyUQfU87dEzDifWU7aNfd1Wrfvwe7iQvVvLC9CeH4pfQGty6Z5h/s1600/photo+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKz_SEl-tJoeQBXccu8NLZ0ApEJmXCve2i5sWbLwfZ14KoAe4g7qc_UN5U1HAZr7IxYOGdgvsfvx5YhYtvRPMzCvftDmyUQfU87dEzDifWU7aNfd1Wrfvwe7iQvVvLC9CeH4pfQGty6Z5h/s320/photo+4.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Inside</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqTV0aORTpJ1JLM9Bfmq4JjJNJmt_OWOedzevVhd9WxBDjKgDjidcp51yeOJD8x4U7E4OEfU9MSX5MnHzOU9nsFI78Rqz1d1V0XDkQBVD36ID9WCuoqU-R5P6FzUNfiM8_1hXZek0FZffP/s1600/photo+5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqTV0aORTpJ1JLM9Bfmq4JjJNJmt_OWOedzevVhd9WxBDjKgDjidcp51yeOJD8x4U7E4OEfU9MSX5MnHzOU9nsFI78Rqz1d1V0XDkQBVD36ID9WCuoqU-R5P6FzUNfiM8_1hXZek0FZffP/s320/photo+5.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Kind of a rats nest but not that bad</div>
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I wanted to keep it small and portable so I could easily transport it with a laptop to take images. Seeing I had several SparkFun boxes, I found one that would fit just right. I took the bulky casing off the webcam and hot glued it into the hole I made for it on the side of the box. I made openings just big enough for the USB connector on the Arduino UNO and for the webcam cable as well as the servo and sensor cables. Oh, I guess I did cut out a hole for the pan servo too. It looks kind of crazy but it works! The documentation from Max's website were great and really helped get everything together.<br />
For those interested in making one, just know you'll need to be able to solder and do a little programming. I had to change some of the servo parameters to make sure it panned from left to right and would tilt from bottom to top. Once I got that working, then it was a matter of making sure all the connections showed up properly in the computer. I still struggle with that part as sometimes it recognizes the camera or Arduino but for whatever reason, it doesn't sometimes.<br />
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So, does it work? Well, I'm not exactly sure how accurate it is but it seems to be pretty good. I only have one image from it so far and it's of the wall and front door. Here's the image.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhD7s_X4fSTSDssD82MxXHg0bsdLedhVDavQswLsG0PybqYwOc6rc53JfKp0xI1k3-rM_2Bk54sMvV6HLnYlzQfesU6pcnlhPTNRQ4bKFx8lzVt8tc3YFc8uDonUHXjbywcm5F6YEt_1ee/s1600/ThermalImageCombined.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhD7s_X4fSTSDssD82MxXHg0bsdLedhVDavQswLsG0PybqYwOc6rc53JfKp0xI1k3-rM_2Bk54sMvV6HLnYlzQfesU6pcnlhPTNRQ4bKFx8lzVt8tc3YFc8uDonUHXjbywcm5F6YEt_1ee/s640/ThermalImageCombined.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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What I'm not quite sure of yet are if the corners of the thermal image correspond to the corners of the webcam image. I have an old laser pointer from a college project that I'll soon mount onto it to see where it's pointing while it scans and I can report back then. As for accuracy of the data points, I don't know yet. You can see where the sun shines through the door is the warmest. The wall at the lower left is cool because the fan is blowing cool air from the a/c in another room into the living room. While the general values look good, I don't know if it's really accurate. My plan is to remove the servo cables, have it point in one spot for the "scan" and put an ice pack in front of it to see if it registers around 32 F. The sensor is supposed to be accurate to about 1 F or so so I would assume it's close but being the engineer that I am, I want to know better and thats probably the best way I can check.<br />
If you want 64x48 resolution as shown above, it takes about 8 minutes for it to scan and make the image. For a 32x24 image, it takes about 2 minutes. Apparently, there's another project in the works by Max that will take the 64x48 images in about 3 seconds and display it on a portable LCD screen so as soon as that is out, I'll look into making that to have an even better camera for analyzing things.<br />
Stay tuned for some interesting shots. Kind of like my "Will it dry" posts on our family blog, I'll be doing some interesting pictures.<br />
Now, to find that heating gremlin in the basement...<br />
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UPDATE 8/27/12<br />
So I finally figured out the problem with the sensor. Apparently, you don't want to change the filter settings using the EEPROM code given at www.cheap-thermocam.tk. Leave those stock and only change the max/min temperature settings and you should be good to go. It sounds like Melexis changed something in their sensor processor and that fixed it.<br />
Here are a couple of pictures for you that I have taken.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-DTyNRW4q-yTWyA_YWR1bVqCFDL1jDJbTz4fqz8ONpE-Vd8WsH6r97IkjHs6dzv_BiFdhl387-v-z4IoQCqm7wRZwNoNOmxBgA4hsRz8zT1on9tDk7WvSScJjUUwZpF3EEcDmni8cR6xU/s1600/Dryer+On.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-DTyNRW4q-yTWyA_YWR1bVqCFDL1jDJbTz4fqz8ONpE-Vd8WsH6r97IkjHs6dzv_BiFdhl387-v-z4IoQCqm7wRZwNoNOmxBgA4hsRz8zT1on9tDk7WvSScJjUUwZpF3EEcDmni8cR6xU/s640/Dryer+On.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The dryer while it was on</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDXdQGYG4pVIedMJ1dMG2AMfi0NhOgb7pKZ5xnfTYaRqUEcUF-pzLpJ5dfKgYu_ldk2-6O4rtF-rhXVxEWj8Q7yLOIBLt41K1W2U2HgS6063dGrwnFo83MmFJYo-I5dE8xT2kCCiAtYmDU/s1600/Furance.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDXdQGYG4pVIedMJ1dMG2AMfi0NhOgb7pKZ5xnfTYaRqUEcUF-pzLpJ5dfKgYu_ldk2-6O4rtF-rhXVxEWj8Q7yLOIBLt41K1W2U2HgS6063dGrwnFo83MmFJYo-I5dE8xT2kCCiAtYmDU/s640/Furance.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The furnace, which I think is the culprit</td></tr>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3395435645005563598.post-35532777579568141102012-08-11T11:45:00.001-05:002012-08-18T13:05:39.223-05:00My Review of The Manga Guide to Linear Algebra<div class="hreview">
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Moved to <a href="http://mynerdybookreviews.blogspot.com/2012/08/my-review-of-manga-guide-to-linear.html">here</a></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3395435645005563598.post-44771802651618524482012-07-24T18:47:00.001-05:002012-08-18T13:05:25.266-05:00My Review of Safe C++<div class="hreview">
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Moved to <a href="http://mynerdybookreviews.blogspot.com/2012/08/my-review-of-safe-c.html">here</a></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3395435645005563598.post-82526714589016583542012-06-23T20:48:00.001-05:002012-08-18T13:04:58.502-05:00My Review of Make: School's Out Summer Fun Guide<div class="hreview">
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Moved to <a href="http://mynerdybookreviews.blogspot.com/2012/08/my-review-of-make-schools-out-summer.html">here</a></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3395435645005563598.post-28097842077630159902012-06-14T19:10:00.001-05:002012-08-18T13:07:42.797-05:00My Review of Make: Technology on Your Time Volume 30<div class="hreview">
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Moved to <a href="http://mynerdybookreviews.blogspot.com/2012/08/my-review-of-make-technology-on-your_18.html">here</a></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3395435645005563598.post-57942109845931977822012-06-14T18:43:00.001-05:002012-08-18T13:04:12.925-05:00My Review of Android Cookbook<div class="hreview">
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Moved to <a href="http://mynerdybookreviews.blogspot.com/2012/08/my-review-of-android-cookbook.html">here</a></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3395435645005563598.post-75363822214897825422012-06-04T20:30:00.000-05:002012-06-04T20:30:12.657-05:00Tonka Summit Build<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This has been a long time coming but I'm finally getting around to putting the Tonka body on a Traxxas Summit so I can do some scale FPV with it. I'll be posting the details of how to build one and trying to put dimensions to it as well to make it easier for anyone interested. I know that was a barrier to me starting because I wanted it to be exact. Be prepared for a LONG post!</div>
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To start off, you'll need to buy a 1970's style Tonka Jeep from e-Bay. Good condition ones are pricey. The more affordable ones typically have rust. If you're lucky/unlucky, you can find an unwanted pink one for cheap like I did. I started the build on a pink one, then bought a black one as a spare, and started a build for another person so the pictures will be from all three trucks as I have pictures from each at various points that illustrate the build quite well.</div>
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Once you get the truck, you'll need to drill some holes into the front end and back end. After the holes are drilled, you need to square the holes out with a square file so they match the body posts of the Summit. This is done so you can quickly and easily change the body out if needed. The Summit posts are made of excellent plastic that just doesn't break so they are perfect for the job.</div>
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If you have a Dremel, they have a nice bit that can speed up the process. I finally figured that out the third time around. Until then, I used a square file and it was the most work of the whole build. It took time but make sure the holes are just big enough for the posts to fit through. You don't want any play in there.</div>
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When you drill the holes and square the holes out, make sure it's the first thing you do and keep everything else on the truck intact as it helps keep everything from warping. The pictures from the pink truck show the work done after I had taken the top off and cut out the undercarriage. Don't do that as the plastic inner shell won't quite be in place and you could have alignment issues later on.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihJgYlzJd1Fx27SG_E5nlF-byEN2p3ha-sdehSRKBHPOBICButL6q-AKivMtC3lUzantypPRXWyfxHxHJUHPzfmVrWE_PPBF4aEwPfm-xuolwN-atoHiSXFCKSWmcDg38dYimQOWKRQIq3/s1600/IMG_0650.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihJgYlzJd1Fx27SG_E5nlF-byEN2p3ha-sdehSRKBHPOBICButL6q-AKivMtC3lUzantypPRXWyfxHxHJUHPzfmVrWE_PPBF4aEwPfm-xuolwN-atoHiSXFCKSWmcDg38dYimQOWKRQIq3/s320/IMG_0650.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Close up of the rear holes with measurements</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrF5I9Cs-koy70EZZI4DWhFGmjxpjRQVdnzswF682qSUX2V39JKxEiMnpNoC0flKcbHMAQZjgKQ_00iiIb9lq1kpoen2wvs2Qro4_Hq8KMGD7g13tm85kFrQ8WhzMuoSiObYBVAR2S2Obi/s1600/IMG_0651.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrF5I9Cs-koy70EZZI4DWhFGmjxpjRQVdnzswF682qSUX2V39JKxEiMnpNoC0flKcbHMAQZjgKQ_00iiIb9lq1kpoen2wvs2Qro4_Hq8KMGD7g13tm85kFrQ8WhzMuoSiObYBVAR2S2Obi/s320/IMG_0651.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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More measurements of the holes at the back</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY5WNxMx-ekUoKZnprwLi9ERHUONOpPTUJnB9II10nUOrFB4AdSXCSpG0LzzJR8pJbL8pAw99PlR0cQ3SxAeD-IwVTfm3-C2reOCoCx_-TcuwHHtrz7lcx8WMZNPSohotn5CfKNx-0-qac/s1600/IMG_0653.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY5WNxMx-ekUoKZnprwLi9ERHUONOpPTUJnB9II10nUOrFB4AdSXCSpG0LzzJR8pJbL8pAw99PlR0cQ3SxAeD-IwVTfm3-C2reOCoCx_-TcuwHHtrz7lcx8WMZNPSohotn5CfKNx-0-qac/s320/IMG_0653.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
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Dimensions for the holes up front</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJCGAQ1RWWWsxrLEp6sILmDWCKxrMggQAzI1rgDUGouhgaRguKWaed0Y16n0_-0xbEmJHuFjjA78mDL-z5-NKB1_AzQcNV88wtaT5VwGt4OSEE6m2RrMyVDT6N3Z7OHZmBKenQWeaWH0Id/s1600/IMG_0661.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJCGAQ1RWWWsxrLEp6sILmDWCKxrMggQAzI1rgDUGouhgaRguKWaed0Y16n0_-0xbEmJHuFjjA78mDL-z5-NKB1_AzQcNV88wtaT5VwGt4OSEE6m2RrMyVDT6N3Z7OHZmBKenQWeaWH0Id/s320/IMG_0661.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Top view of stock body posts with cuts made to make it easier to install</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibX4WPpMlQE3oEvFZ3g8TnSyL2nGsEC9eQlXFSBLYUcSmgkqH09kchAiXy9Gl_uF5vg08z527-HC7_Xi0ektPV8058ejluRG-3FGZNW4W3cMxcj2Ge9t56z5BpUM_RUUz5kpWlYHH8oB41/s1600/IMG_0662.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibX4WPpMlQE3oEvFZ3g8TnSyL2nGsEC9eQlXFSBLYUcSmgkqH09kchAiXy9Gl_uF5vg08z527-HC7_Xi0ektPV8058ejluRG-3FGZNW4W3cMxcj2Ge9t56z5BpUM_RUUz5kpWlYHH8oB41/s320/IMG_0662.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Only the rear body posts need to be shortened. You can make them longer if you want the body a little higher on the truck. You might hold off on cutting until you get it on the truck.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhARagvuH2kHEwnPkx7CpqCOSm67g5Hd_NV7PXm-KqZHQvcu0DJ5esai8lmT23ZjgRjTkuafYQ6PySsl6jzbcWb7FcIlmB_JfRJuJOxSkUP_ZjOkjgtm4wlnzXE4mfsPeL4EJGZ_pPaHYHr/s1600/IMG_2746.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhARagvuH2kHEwnPkx7CpqCOSm67g5Hd_NV7PXm-KqZHQvcu0DJ5esai8lmT23ZjgRjTkuafYQ6PySsl6jzbcWb7FcIlmB_JfRJuJOxSkUP_ZjOkjgtm4wlnzXE4mfsPeL4EJGZ_pPaHYHr/s320/IMG_2746.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Another view of the holes drilled on the back in relation to the Tonka</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS6JwOpD4E3-jysIHWqryaEk4W38G-wcOcdEJ8YQ7oM0z_rffpK2UhpA9RcPuyDQqGUkynxxd4NBM_JbbVBz_ic2IIqZTHkBvdzw7JaPlrkzmO64npwlkjyYBhjcXg_KAXHGqedcrh3_o1/s1600/IMG_2745.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS6JwOpD4E3-jysIHWqryaEk4W38G-wcOcdEJ8YQ7oM0z_rffpK2UhpA9RcPuyDQqGUkynxxd4NBM_JbbVBz_ic2IIqZTHkBvdzw7JaPlrkzmO64npwlkjyYBhjcXg_KAXHGqedcrh3_o1/s320/IMG_2745.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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The hole location at the front</div>
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Once the holes are squared out, you'll need to get the hood of the truck off. This was the hardest part for me. There are holes at the front truck where you can see a small tab. You have to straighten that out however you can. I tried with pliers and that worked out but was a lot of work. You'll have to do what you can to get it straight enough so the hood comes out. It hinges up like a normal vehicle hood when you finally get it open.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis2xaY6EdBomGSmf6e4ysoqrYIcTMTfTIIwa0ZIPeNNNsRZ6FdrJpdZv5kxwg1KtipN8Y2uUU8ypcEriwtxzI-85lfrDaeelO-2ntRXvhspqNEj9vOy7gribj6QnUj5WEbI2ZtgTrOFXF8/s1600/IMG_2739.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis2xaY6EdBomGSmf6e4ysoqrYIcTMTfTIIwa0ZIPeNNNsRZ6FdrJpdZv5kxwg1KtipN8Y2uUU8ypcEriwtxzI-85lfrDaeelO-2ntRXvhspqNEj9vOy7gribj6QnUj5WEbI2ZtgTrOFXF8/s320/IMG_2739.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Have fun!</div>
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Once you get the holes drilled and squared out (arguably the most annoying part), you need to cut out the undercarriage. I used a $20 high-speed cut-off wheel from Harbor Freight for the job. Be sure to remove the top of the truck and the inner, plastic liner before you make the cut. Once you make the cut, the bottom will still be connected on the sides. You don't need to cut the sides. The six tabs on the side can be lifted up. Then you'll need to drill out the two rivets and then the bottom will drop right out.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHx2n_jCBwazZgW3G4AAVP7ulGqSnmkm631W1Z_8FiMEJuKIqHVXy_TkRydq69gTo0OhaoYYsE9hI1s582RjdeD7FKzvlQojWPLVszYt4KdtqRd9lsOwtigI5PqZheShA6vhLwd1SX-2Sx/s1600/IMG_0621.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHx2n_jCBwazZgW3G4AAVP7ulGqSnmkm631W1Z_8FiMEJuKIqHVXy_TkRydq69gTo0OhaoYYsE9hI1s582RjdeD7FKzvlQojWPLVszYt4KdtqRd9lsOwtigI5PqZheShA6vhLwd1SX-2Sx/s320/IMG_0621.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Here's what the frame looks like after cutting it out. Be sure to keep the piece that falls off on the back. You'll need it to keep the rear bottom stiff.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5OYQ_HBidLlfHp3L8PFlhBvD4W5yCj7YgfGcZbdNoE-EPCu9jHjPuNGlGz-6UEYGHhOg4le9CZ3S0A9M4sU9E4_hM49K0lXPVPV43HKA-HMWIFGeHtHpQYb84HN6iuASVaisASqr8N0M7/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5OYQ_HBidLlfHp3L8PFlhBvD4W5yCj7YgfGcZbdNoE-EPCu9jHjPuNGlGz-6UEYGHhOg4le9CZ3S0A9M4sU9E4_hM49K0lXPVPV43HKA-HMWIFGeHtHpQYb84HN6iuASVaisASqr8N0M7/s320/photo.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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It was awesome using the cut-off wheel. Just be sure to wear eye protection, ear protection, and long sleeves.</div>
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Once the cuts are done, flip the truck over, install the plastic interior, and put the body posts in. Be sure to put the top back on so it holds everything together. You'll need it in this state so you can do a test fit after the next step.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKDcS6PrW8U_RCr2rYm-L_WiHZqGuuLKtvcq-eT8xeMuSXAC1ULdaJYpRb2K4oc_nXcZk5o7ZNcOcTGz9jRAQPJAX4KwtEwPHSBoSTzyjhrLOemeOaBVhyphenhyphenboXXVWT7-sNRlCximWE0p-0p/s1600/TS.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKDcS6PrW8U_RCr2rYm-L_WiHZqGuuLKtvcq-eT8xeMuSXAC1ULdaJYpRb2K4oc_nXcZk5o7ZNcOcTGz9jRAQPJAX4KwtEwPHSBoSTzyjhrLOemeOaBVhyphenhyphenboXXVWT7-sNRlCximWE0p-0p/s320/TS.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div>
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This was taken after the fact. As you can see, the hole in the interior has already been cut out as we'll see how to do next.</div>
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If you don't have a Dremel, you can just have the truck on top of the motor and gearbox of the Summit but you're going to have a very high center of gravity and it won't look very good. Find a way to get a hold of a tool to do this part.</div>
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In the pictures below, I put the tape measure up to the holes after making the cuts. Just use that as a guide, draw your lines, and then do the cuts. There is one change I would make but I'll make a note of it in the photo caption. Some pictures won't have a caption as there's not much to say.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGEMmYXG46XaYmIJlY3WUlEN8byh4lfAxCYz2CVviF8j1iz2drBEHJoRjCULFpyyQMfhr5YpFDDu6C8Q3PXNkH9zV-x-SM2WwOis9HVNVLCq28DIYRDpsnGSdjd4bPCZKiX4wgdQyx14vJ/s1600/IMG_0655.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGEMmYXG46XaYmIJlY3WUlEN8byh4lfAxCYz2CVviF8j1iz2drBEHJoRjCULFpyyQMfhr5YpFDDu6C8Q3PXNkH9zV-x-SM2WwOis9HVNVLCq28DIYRDpsnGSdjd4bPCZKiX4wgdQyx14vJ/s320/IMG_0655.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnZndC1rOj1wnS7vqFt0-iLUyIv-UTnThIm78QIEhULR1LtjQ-3yEs7jw9LjFkn-MWyNU__oNDmWs066BBO5MD5bm2a7192jtiUEkUsjXDAg2PmyVCBCNeDBzvhOKbVWhTPRrgGq3saEA4/s1600/IMG_0660.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnZndC1rOj1wnS7vqFt0-iLUyIv-UTnThIm78QIEhULR1LtjQ-3yEs7jw9LjFkn-MWyNU__oNDmWs066BBO5MD5bm2a7192jtiUEkUsjXDAg2PmyVCBCNeDBzvhOKbVWhTPRrgGq3saEA4/s320/IMG_0660.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Here, you don't have to square it out as this is the opening for the motor. You can actually have the cut go along the motor so you don't have a larger opening than you need but I found it's a nice place to have all the servo wiring come up through the body.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilJ3y5Z_39Lb4ZAAQueOfrskLpiFntcVIjmwT0-j7JsZATudYES7waMhe8rgZNcXBy3q6kOiLoTz8Vh_RZpaQAPcQYpsyC8z664VJjWGEMaD165C91Cum34hQ8x_pBUCkTLdrbZGX8QQAg/s1600/IMG_0659.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilJ3y5Z_39Lb4ZAAQueOfrskLpiFntcVIjmwT0-j7JsZATudYES7waMhe8rgZNcXBy3q6kOiLoTz8Vh_RZpaQAPcQYpsyC8z664VJjWGEMaD165C91Cum34hQ8x_pBUCkTLdrbZGX8QQAg/s320/IMG_0659.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Looking from the back towards the front</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvyx46VSZPWed7RIOTIMHrTlf9LzQl-dYBGrxRdYNkNFOShmxHj7svi7Sh3rQvPKMJxVA8KnuUgGXWBYaymwPOzVsB1lL1G2m-cQkmM0rjbERzJMBN51Qeh_DjYd1ui1B3MI3bJaLAe4Rg/s1600/IMG_0657.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvyx46VSZPWed7RIOTIMHrTlf9LzQl-dYBGrxRdYNkNFOShmxHj7svi7Sh3rQvPKMJxVA8KnuUgGXWBYaymwPOzVsB1lL1G2m-cQkmM0rjbERzJMBN51Qeh_DjYd1ui1B3MI3bJaLAe4Rg/s320/IMG_0657.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm6YNHk8qigx5wAq0RFRoJY0PHXMxNPZiFmHpE6DIRAaR3SnnD_gsGH1Gm1unNqHy9gNqT-ZhAcRgpcW_4ErwRKoz1KDU1dnsGEu6f9E_uLGDWsmqTX021-NUswFdXh7bLRN-nwu75OE89/s1600/IMG_0656.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm6YNHk8qigx5wAq0RFRoJY0PHXMxNPZiFmHpE6DIRAaR3SnnD_gsGH1Gm1unNqHy9gNqT-ZhAcRgpcW_4ErwRKoz1KDU1dnsGEu6f9E_uLGDWsmqTX021-NUswFdXh7bLRN-nwu75OE89/s320/IMG_0656.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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This is the only place where I need to make a recommendation to change the cut. If you look at the picture where I said to put everything back together after you cut out the bottom, you can see where the opening extends much further down than this picture shows. Initially, I thought this opening was good enough but after installing it, I found the interior plastic say on top of the gearbox housing and kept the body from getting lower than it could go. Just cut it to the line and you'll be good to go.</div>
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Once the cut it done, you can do a test fit to see how well it lines up. If it's resting on a part of the motor area, just make the modifications you need to get it how you like.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf0iqWEp0t6BKICH0VDp9JnVyUk_ICqChIFL6Z8JiFoS5k6U8XD_Ddxmjv8y3qvwgb5pbq8Uql60LEqTflJlGhEa1cAmVdS-SssKIMkJn9u5IH-M0SP5HS2sItLR8z_rY7gMPxgCkYXlZz/s1600/IMG_0664.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf0iqWEp0t6BKICH0VDp9JnVyUk_ICqChIFL6Z8JiFoS5k6U8XD_Ddxmjv8y3qvwgb5pbq8Uql60LEqTflJlGhEa1cAmVdS-SssKIMkJn9u5IH-M0SP5HS2sItLR8z_rY7gMPxgCkYXlZz/s320/IMG_0664.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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What it looks like sitting on top of the Summit</div>
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Now for the steering wheel. You'll need to remove the steering wheel from the dashboard. I did it by holding onto one end with a pair of pliers and a vice.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiks_QYVz64VRTzSI_TnGgbxQFpJPRl7hQd3uNHN5ARQ3-AKcC5moTojk1sW11ZcWJti82FuK1z8BFKVk0AUct4UmiMGi2iab4dKGjNTS39Re6Gg4xOEyqNTJ74lMmSFnXrR99e3zsoT3SX/s1600/IMG_2782.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiks_QYVz64VRTzSI_TnGgbxQFpJPRl7hQd3uNHN5ARQ3-AKcC5moTojk1sW11ZcWJti82FuK1z8BFKVk0AUct4UmiMGi2iab4dKGjNTS39Re6Gg4xOEyqNTJ74lMmSFnXrR99e3zsoT3SX/s320/IMG_2782.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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The awesome vice my dad got my for Christmas. It was so useful for this project.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl8Qq_dWVfLOUHpyZy0w3pqjfptd5ibt84xpFwMHo7e95ujsu8eJbgK9mNxcGY1CnPcOojZ0t0OFpOPKjg3ARkICZfc3EiUQzzmwM3ptNlOKXTSfPxCdi4AJzBGRPSNZeiVGv2_CD3XI5s/s1600/IMG_2783.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl8Qq_dWVfLOUHpyZy0w3pqjfptd5ibt84xpFwMHo7e95ujsu8eJbgK9mNxcGY1CnPcOojZ0t0OFpOPKjg3ARkICZfc3EiUQzzmwM3ptNlOKXTSfPxCdi4AJzBGRPSNZeiVGv2_CD3XI5s/s320/IMG_2783.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Once you have it in the vice, drill out the rivet in the center of the steering wheel so you can remove it</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPZLpQg6RV7YuIpPWpcoeGpuywAmcixankEf6mJ1nM-aLY8SU5B86Sw1wBCVd4ilegcftjNcI50bixEAtABME77u-oWW03FaaRcSN62tKBN1FSi__o861DnZNtyBzAj9pt5RmBUhhgo1uC/s1600/IMG_2784.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPZLpQg6RV7YuIpPWpcoeGpuywAmcixankEf6mJ1nM-aLY8SU5B86Sw1wBCVd4ilegcftjNcI50bixEAtABME77u-oWW03FaaRcSN62tKBN1FSi__o861DnZNtyBzAj9pt5RmBUhhgo1uC/s320/IMG_2784.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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I used a 3/16" hex bolt to as the steering shaft</div>
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To connect the steering wheel to a servo, I bought a <a href="http://servocity.com/html/servo_to_shaft_couplers.html">servo shaft coupler from ServoCity</a>. I used a Hitec HS-81 servo that I had lying around and installed the shaft coupler on the spline. Since I was using a 3/16" bolt (as it was just the right size for the steering wheel), I made sure to buy the 3/16" shaft adapter. It's a really tight fit but that's a good thing.<br />
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To get the servo to actually turn the steering wheel instead of having the wheel spin freely on the bolt, you'll need to either epoxy the wheel to the bolt or find another way to get the wheel connected to the bolt. I have done it three ways and epoxy is the easiest.</div>
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The pictures here show the first method I tried but I would recommend epoxy as it's the easiest. Basically, I opened up the hole in the dashboard to be the exact same size as a small washer. Using enough washers stacked on top of each other to be just a hair thicker than the dashboard is the right number to use. I believe for me, it was three. Then you need a large washer that you see in the picture. Finally, a nylon lock nut was used to tighten it all down. With this method, you're able to tighten the whole shaft assembly together onto the steering wheel so when you move the bolt, the wheel also moves with it. It's overly complicated but I didn't want to glue it in place. However, after doing it multiple times, it's just easiest to epoxy and not really necessary to go through the extra work. It's not like it's going to break anyway.</div>
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Once you get that done, then you'll need to anchor the servo to the dash. I did it with a piece of metal and double sided tape. A picture is worth a thousand words so I'll save myself three thousand.</div>
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Make sure you cut a notch in the metal if the shaft adapter looks like it will hit</div>
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The other side</div>
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You can see how it all goes together. The shaft adapter from ServoCity is the key.</div>
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Once you have this part done, then put it all back together. Now you have your basic truck, ready to go.</div>
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For added realism, you need a driver. I snagged a brand new GI Joe with kung fu grip on e-Bay for a quarter of the price of what they have typically gone for. If you find one for under $30, jump on it as they are hard to come by. If you're a collector, then go for a cheap one without the joints that move. You're going to have to remove the head anyway as the GoPro will take the place of his head as you'll see later on. Once you get him in the driver's seat, I hot glued his left hand to the steering wheel so he would "drive" the truck. Be sure to get a Y-cable so you can connect the steering wheel servo to the actual truck servo so they move in sync.</div>
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Joe will be the trusted driver of this truck</div>
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Joe all ready to go</div>
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Now for the part I was dreading. Making the pan/tilt for the camera to give the appearance of Joe moving his head as he drove around. The pan is easy to do. The tilt, I hadn't seen a good way to do without purchasing an expensive pan/tilt system or having to do a lot of custom work. I opted for the latter as I don't have the money to buy one.<br />
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The easiest way to do it would be to just glue your tilt system onto the top of the pan servo horn but then you end up with a lot of play in the system if you have more than a tiny security camera on it. My solution to that was a <a href="http://www.servocity.com/html/standard_futaba_servoblocks.html">set of ServoBlocks from ServoCity</a>.</div>
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I have to deviate a little here and give it up to ServoCity. They have a system in place where you can get a discount if you "plug" ServoCity on a blog, on Facebook, or on Twitter. I needed to get a couple of things for this build and gave a plug in a previous blog post. I thought whatever discount I get would be useful for when I could eventually buy the shaft adapter and ServoBlcoks.</div>
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Anyway, they also have a separate promotion going where you can win two sets of ServoBlocks if your project using ServoBlocks is selected as the best one for the month. I had no intention of entering since I didn't have a set but seeing that I could use a set, I just mentioned that in my post. Well, they were very generous and sent me a set to complete this project! I had everything I needed to get this done! It was a wonderful gift as my hobby budget has basically shrunk to nothing this year. $10/mo. doesn't get you anywhere so I have been selling off things I don't use or need to fund this project. I just wanted to say THANK YOU to ServoCity for their generosity!</div>
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The <a href="http://www.servocity.com/html/standard_futaba_servoblocks.html">ServoBlocks</a> are, in my opinion, the best option for a pan system on this truck and you'll see why. I am doing a build for another person and he got the SPT200 pan/tilt from ServoCity and although it's a wonderful setup, I found it's just a little too big for this truck. It would be great for a lot of other projects but for a confined space, the ServoBlocks really fit the bill.</div>
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They go together really well and work with standard size Hitec or Futaba servos. I had a spare Futaba S3004 from a while ago so I used that with the ServoBlocks with shaft hub. Again, a picture is better than an explanation for the rest of the pan/tilt setup so read the captions.</div>
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Side view of the ServoBlocks. There is no play at all with this installed.</div>
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Head on view</div>
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Front view of the pan/tilt</div>
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I have to do a little explanation here instead of just putting captions as there are details that shouldn't be left out. This picture above is the front view of the pan/tilt. The ServoBlocks for the pan servo was the easy part. You actually have to do some work for the tilt mechanism. It's not entirely necessary and you can have fun just with the pan servo. If you don't want to go through the work, then skip this section. If you want to be able to look up, then read on.</div>
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What I had to do was take a long piece of aluminum (1/8" x 3/4" x 4') and cut it to the right length to fit around a $3 Radio Shack project box. Be sure you leave enough so there is space for the box to tilt down if you want to look down some. I didn't and you'll see the modification I had to make to make it fit a little later.</div>
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When you get the aluminum cut to the proper length, you'll need to drill 5 holes in the aluminum. Two are used to mount the bracket to the ServoBlocks hub. The hub is already threaded for 6-32 screws so make the hole about that size and make sure they line up with the hub. Once you have that done, it'll mount onto the pan system pretty easily.</div>
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You'll also need two holes on opposing sides for the project box to mount it so it can rotate without resistance. Finally, you need a hole to put the pushrod in so you can tilt the box with a servo.</div>
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ITEM OF NOTE: The pictures show the servo on the left side of the box (if you were looking at it from behind). You should mount the servo on the OTHER side. I found out the hard way after putting it all together. The servo got in the way of the side of the truck so it couldn't pan right all the way.</div>
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ITEM OF NOTE 2: You'll see another inconsistency in the pictures because I had to flip the pan mount around. Initially, I had it just like the first few pictures. When it came time to mount it, I had no place to set the pan servo on without making something so I took the tilt bracket off, rotated it 180 degrees, and then put it back on so I could use the existing interior to mount the servo. Be sure to look at the latter pictures to see what I mean.</div>
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Side view of spacer opposite of tilt hardware. Remember, this is before I had to move the tilt servo so the servo and hardware should actually be on this side.</div>
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Shows how the tilt hardware connects. Be sure to flip it to the other side!</div>
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Shows the back side and where the servo originally was. Make sure it's moved to the right.</div>
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This is a hard one. If you mount the box too low, then it hits the screws that keep the bracket connected to the pan servo. If you mount it too high, then it hits the top of the truck. I unintentionally mounted it too low and decided to Dremel away to let the box clear the screws. Pick your poison, that is unless you get the roll bar version of the truck, then you can mount it without any issue.</div>
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This shows how the tilt hardware is installed. Remember to put it on the other side. The cutout at the top is so you can use a cable to get A/V out from a GoPro HD Hero 2. If you have an original HD Hero, you need to have that cutout on the bottom AND make sure you have enough space there for the cable to go in between the box and bracket. If you don't use a GoPro, you don't need either! It's just for video out if you intend to do FPV with it.</div>
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This is with the pan/tilt installed. If it looks a little off, it's because the GoPro's lens isn't centered on the camera but is offset to the left and the position puts the lens right around where Joe's head would be. Remember, the servo should be moved to the right.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgksF408iZGs4PPUUtlqKzLWYomJK73f_ZMBJYHIIVT9D-w-M-w6PIFx1sAfVhQp19PES2uqg5MtuSmvNAySSv3vql5ltNy2bcS51tIqBdH220v5XqrSYumGu3SQUIRrH7gc6ajzJElRDZd/s1600/IMG_2895.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgksF408iZGs4PPUUtlqKzLWYomJK73f_ZMBJYHIIVT9D-w-M-w6PIFx1sAfVhQp19PES2uqg5MtuSmvNAySSv3vql5ltNy2bcS51tIqBdH220v5XqrSYumGu3SQUIRrH7gc6ajzJElRDZd/s320/IMG_2895.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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With this installation using ServoBlocks, it fits perfectly so the bracket clears the top of the seat without any modifications to the seat.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPp9asnpI3-CXqQCUrHbSwOeeyGBIXB9lhYuW2N73-qmGDlbJSu1LxBPHqO7bDK6FJDxOt0GrAzfr_E-moW4PAZH_epvKHEQtuT9In0OHxl6jcsPiIRRqV5asDwC0FHdNKDlkItUkJYK1A/s1600/IMG_2900.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPp9asnpI3-CXqQCUrHbSwOeeyGBIXB9lhYuW2N73-qmGDlbJSu1LxBPHqO7bDK6FJDxOt0GrAzfr_E-moW4PAZH_epvKHEQtuT9In0OHxl6jcsPiIRRqV5asDwC0FHdNKDlkItUkJYK1A/s320/IMG_2900.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Here's what it looks like with it installed behind Joe<br />
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After that, then you just need to install your camera, install a Barbie as a passenger, and then make the connections for all the servos with your receiver. You'll need at least a six channel transmitter for this beast using Y-cables on your servos.</div>
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Using my Futaba 9C, I used two Y-cables to connect the steering servos and the steering wheel servo together and put it on channel one. That's the aileron channel. Then the ESC connection goes to channel 2, which is normally elevator. You need the stick to come back to neutral and will need to re-calibrate your ESC to your radio. Next, the tilt servo goes to channel 3 and the pan to channel 4. Those correspond to the left stick on the radio. Pan will return to neutral when you let go but the tilt will stay where you leave it. Finally, the shift servo goes to channel 5 and the locking differential servos are connected through a Y-cable to channel 6.</div>
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Now for some shots.</div>
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Jungle Summit<br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">(it's actually just in long weeds in the back yard)</span></div>
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Out in the open</div>
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Completely posed on a stump but it just looks cool</div>
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Another staged but nice look</div>
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Climbing the mound of weeds</div>
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Hanging in a clearing</div>
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Pretty cool huh? I think so. The next step is to install a wireless video transmitter so I can drive as though I'm in the truck and I'll be set. I may update the blog with that but until then, enjoy this video! It's the first video before I borrowed a Barbie to have as a passenger. The pan is pretty shaky but that's mainly due to the fact that I'm running 7 servos off the stock BEC and need add a separate BEC so it can be powered properly.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/bsYexifSwRc?rel=0" width="560"></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3395435645005563598.post-4220816238873901722012-05-02T19:33:00.001-05:002012-08-18T13:03:51.397-05:00My Review of Getting Started with RFID<div class="hreview">
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Moved to <a href="http://mynerdybookreviews.blogspot.com/2012/08/my-review-of-getting-started-with-rfid.html">here</a></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3395435645005563598.post-89179098984866702702012-04-22T21:17:00.001-05:002012-04-24T11:30:18.951-05:00Upcoming ProjectsSo, first off, I have to say, I definitely do not like the look of the new Blogger format. In fact, I hate it. Maybe I'll get used to it but this is just not fun at all. Okay, now that I've ranted, moving on.<br />
I have a few projects in mind that I thought I would write a little about to document for my own sake. It's stuff I've been planning on doing but haven't gotten to yet, although I have a lot of the hardware for it that I have had around when I used to have more funds to get the stuff. I'm still missing a few key components but hope to be able to get them over the coming months.<br />
The first is a home wireless sensing network. This will involve using multiple XBee radios in a mesh network so I can pass around temperature data for various rooms. It'll start just as temperature to begin with but will eventually evolve to other sensors like PIR motion sensors, humidity, light, and whatever else I think would be nice to record and push out somewhere. This will take a little work but shouldn't be too bad, at least for temperature as I have the sensors. The other sensors will take a while to get as it's just too expensive to buy them at one time. Maybe next year.<br />
Then I have some other interesting plans. The first will be something that's more mechanical than anything else. I have been working on converting the body of an old Tonka truck and adapting it to my Traxxas Summit to drive through a video camera. You can see a picture of something similar I'm <a href="http://www.tonkasummit.com/Photos.html#38">modeling it after here</a>.<br />
The biggest issue is that my camera will be on top of a servo so I'll likely use the ServoBlocks from Servo City. They have a great setup on <a href="http://www.servocity.com/html/standard_futaba_servoblocks.html">their website</a> that will be really useful for strengthening what weight the servo can handle. That would be perfect for this setup. Eventually, it'll transform into something like what you see in <a href="http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1333642">this thread</a>. I'm excited about that.<br />
Then my next project is to build an antenna tracker so when I fly my r/c plane with video gear installed on it, I can track the plane for a better video signal. Again, for the pan servo, I plan on using a ServoBlock as that should fit the bill nicely and if I can somehow afford two ServoBlocks, then I'll use them for both pan and tilt to make building a lot easier. That's more of a programming challenge for myself and although it shouldn't be too difficult, the hardest part will just be to get started. Getting the GPS data down to the ground wirelessly won't be an issue at all as I have already done that before.<br />
My final big programming / radio control project of the two will be fairly big. I have a cheap auto-pilot to turn my r/c plane into an autonomously flying airplane. My wife and friends like to run a half-marathon in the fall that I thought would be a nice venue for tracking some runners. The plan is to use the airplane as a relay station in the air. It'll fly in a circle pattern on its own and with it in the air, should have good line-of-sight to the runners to get a clear signal from them. The runners will carry a GPS, battery, and XBee module to transmit their position to the airplane. That airplane will then relay the signal back to a ground station where I will be plotting their positions on the computer. The difficult part will be making sure the data gets from point A to B to C reliably and making sure the plane stays in the air without issue. The antenna tracker I build will be useful for this part to make sure I get the best reception at the ground but I don't think I would need the tracker for a basic telemetry relay. It would be for the next part.<br />
If I can get this project working reliably fairly quickly, then I'll move to a different airplane platform with a really basic camera system underneath that will let me look at the actual runners. I would need to use a directional antenna to make sure to keep a good video link and the pan/tilt will let me keep the receive antenna focused on the airplane so it could pick up even a marginal signal. I would then be able to tell the plane to track a specific runner and it would fly circles over the runner and keep the camera focused on the runner. This last part is a much trickier project and would require modification of the open source code but would be a great project to do. That way, if I want to focus on runner 1 for a little, I tell it to track their GPS location and then if I want to move to runner 2 a quarter mile ahead, then it moves to the next runner and circles them. I may have to make this a multi-year project but it'll definitely be something to work towards and could be very useful if I get it running.<br />
So, that's what I have in mind. I have all the hardware (except spare XBee, GPS modules, and batteries for the runners) for most of the projects, oh yeah, I need ServoBlocks too. We'll see how it goes.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3395435645005563598.post-72443161618869781312012-04-14T19:34:00.003-05:002012-04-14T21:11:24.495-05:00Finally! An R/C Related Post!Well, since I have been doing book reviews, that took away from some of my free time to do r/c stuff, which is how this blog started. I'm finally book free and now I'm back to r/c again!<div>A friend at work was very generous and offered to give me all the parts he had previously purchased to build a quadrotor. If you don't know what a quadrotor is, check this video from UPenn out.</div><div><br /></div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/_sUeGC-8dyk?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br /><div><br /></div><div>Okay, so mine isn't that fancy but that was cool wasn't it?</div><div>So, since my friend was so generous to give me his parts, I had to build it and I have wanted to build one for a while so it was a perfect opportunity to learn to fly one.</div><div>I finally got around to building it and took my time over President's Day weekend. Once I got it built, then I had to tune the control board up so the settings were just right. The problem I had though is around that time, I started to sell and upgrade things as some of the stuff I had were actually selling for more than I paid, so the tuning had to be put on hold while I was on a crazy selling spree. The plus side is I have MUCH nicer gear now for little extra cost and a brand new Spektrum DX8 radio! Anyway, here's how my quad looks after having been built.</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrrK_LOT8xqltxEFyLJWjojPtBtz7qL1xHh9c4HB4u1DN7Vi3Swfopf7AIP5rIjSmUhqmUyBO24eQQ8U9H3kAKv6V7NHiX9FBnBIOl8apYda5Vs7TSpfKpDsBNATlWbSygdFuuU_Ik4VXb/s1600/IMG_1809.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrrK_LOT8xqltxEFyLJWjojPtBtz7qL1xHh9c4HB4u1DN7Vi3Swfopf7AIP5rIjSmUhqmUyBO24eQQ8U9H3kAKv6V7NHiX9FBnBIOl8apYda5Vs7TSpfKpDsBNATlWbSygdFuuU_Ik4VXb/s320/IMG_1809.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731441972290357634" /></a><br /><div>So, now that I'm back in the swing of spring, I have lots of yardwork to do. My wife has been sick all week with a crazy temperature but that actually gave me a chance to get even more done since I had to take some time off work. That was actually a hobby blessing in disguise.</div><div>This evening, after the kids went to bed, I finally had the chance to take it out on a calm evening and fly and did it fly well! It flew so well that I decided to test out my new anti-vibration mount on my quad to see if I could get good, smooth video from my GoPro video camera. Here's how it turned out.</div><div><br /></div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/VK50oO_Ajps?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><div><br /></div><div>Quite good and there's no jello effect as the mount worked wonderfully! I got the idea from <a href="www.rcexplorer.se">www.rcexplorer.se</a> on his v2.5 tricopter build. Excellent idea David!</div><div>So, there you have it. I finally did something worthwhile r/c related. Next up is mounting all my wireless video gear onto it and flying from the perspective of the quad! Then it's on to my airplane build.</div><div>Stay tuned as I should have something to post in the next year! Hopefully it won't take that long.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3395435645005563598.post-33874791754204967602012-04-01T22:15:00.003-05:002012-08-18T13:03:34.640-05:00My Review of Making Android Accessories with IOIO<div class="hreview">
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Moved to <a href="http://mynerdybookreviews.blogspot.com/2012/08/my-review-of-making-android-accessories.html">here</a></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3395435645005563598.post-84154814230898628642012-03-13T21:56:00.002-05:002012-08-18T13:06:22.756-05:00My Review of Make: Technology on Your Time Volume 29<div class="hreview">
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Moved to <a href="http://mynerdybookreviews.blogspot.com/2012/08/my-review-of-make-technology-on-your.html">here</a></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3395435645005563598.post-35100355046619875762012-02-23T11:15:00.002-06:002012-08-18T13:09:42.004-05:00My Review of DIY Satellite Platforms by Sandy Antunes<div class="hreview">
Moved to <a href="http://mynerdybookreviews.blogspot.com/2012/08/my-review-of-diy-satellite-platforms-by.html">here</a></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3395435645005563598.post-14821456603734524282012-02-04T22:02:00.003-06:002012-08-18T13:02:49.526-05:00My Review of Environmental Monitoring with Arduino by Emily Gertz and Patrick Di Justo<div class="item">
Moved to <a href="http://mynerdybookreviews.blogspot.com/2012/08/my-review-of-environmental-monitoring.html">here</a></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3395435645005563598.post-35725428055449259802011-05-16T19:10:00.005-05:002012-02-23T12:21:59.865-06:00New HorizonsSo, I finally got around to putting my Slow Stick back together after having last flown it in Oklahoma. It was a little dusty but I had secret plans for it.<div>I first put it back together and left it pretty much as is except for some super landing gear I had custom made for me by the designer. I didn't have the resources to put it together myself so he did it for me. Considering it was just $18 from him in Canada, it wasn't a bad deal at all. You can see the landing gear <a href="http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showpost.php?p=15434201&postcount=118">here</a>.<br />I took it out for the initial test flight and crashed it straight into the road but only broke a prop and bent the motor shaft a little. It was a little windy and had been a while since I flew so I wasn't too surprised. Then I flew it again and it flew really well, despite the wind. I could tell the vibration from the slightly bent shaft was causing major vibration in the wheels and frame but I worked that out later.</div><div>Over the next couple of week, I started putting one new part on and then doing a test flight to make sure it all worked just fine. I did that over and over making little modifications to smooth things out until I finally decided to go for it and this it what I ended up with and I'm pretty happy about it.<br /><br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/BQCDdxS-DZg?rel=0" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" width="480"></iframe><br /><br /><a href="http://youtu.be/BQCDdxS-DZg">http://youtu.be/BQCDdxS-DZg</a><br /><br />Excuse the plaid pants as I wasn't feeling all that well that day and it was going to rain for six days straight so I just went out when I had a chance.<div>Yes, the video is in black and white but there's a reason for it. Before I put on the video gear, the plane's total worth was about $130 but with it, it goes up another $70+ before the camera so until I learn to fly better, I'm sticking with a cheap $10 B&W camera.<div>Now for any of you that have seen my previous videos, you know I've filmed in color before so this may be a step back but there's a good reason for it. The older videos were recorded onto the camera memory card that was connected to the camera. This time, I'm streaming video wirelessly back to the ground where I am, which gives me the ability to fly from the pilot's perspective. In the r/c world, this is a somewhat recent development called first-person view (FPV) flying. One of my dreams growing up was to be a fighter pilot. Well, that obviously didn't happen but this is the next best thing without spending thousands of dollars to get a pilot's license.</div><div>So, there are a few growing pains that come with learning to fly FPV and one is crashing. It doesn't have to be that way if you're careful but regardless, things can go wrong no matter how careful you are so I'm using a cheap camera until I get more proficient flying through the camera. This flight was just a typical r/c flight as I watched the plane and not the video feed. I have a 7" LCD screen and a set of video goggles that I'll eventually be flying through so I'm really looking forward to the fun I can have with all of this. Hopefully I won't be reporting a lost plane any time soon. I'll definitely need to take some precautions to make sure I can track the plane so I can find it should anything ever happen to it.</div><div>I have a nice little ground setup I'm working on too so I'll post as that progresses. Stay tuned for more as the weather is getting better.</div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3395435645005563598.post-35299663984440572642011-04-04T21:24:00.002-05:002012-08-18T13:02:37.538-05:00My Review of Make: Arduino Bots and Gadgets by Kimmo Karvinen and Tero Karvinen<div class="hreview">
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Moved to <a href="http://mynerdybookreviews.blogspot.com/2012/08/my-review-of-make-arduino-bots-and.html">here</a></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3395435645005563598.post-64449872809449328082011-03-28T10:06:00.002-05:002012-08-18T13:01:47.301-05:00My Review of Arduino Cookbook<div class="hreview">
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Moved to <a href="http://mynerdybookreviews.blogspot.com/2012/08/my-review-of-arduino-cookbook.html">here</a></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3395435645005563598.post-51588238222692874342011-03-25T07:27:00.005-05:002012-08-18T13:01:20.543-05:00Programming Python by Mark LutzMoved to <a href="http://mynerdybookreviews.blogspot.com/2012/08/programming-python-by-mark-lutz.html">here</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3395435645005563598.post-22980560614241422532011-02-26T19:30:00.002-06:002011-02-26T19:34:59.009-06:00Short UpdateWow, so it has been a really long time hasn't it? Things have been quite busy though and I should have a little more time to play with things but my interests have changed somewhat.<div>In addition to the simple r/c stuff I have been doing for a while, I have started doing some microcontroller programming with an Arduino and programming with a LEGO MINDSTORMS kit to get a little into the robotics world. I have also begun working on amateur UAV work as well with some hardware from DIY Drones and that has been fun. It's been fairly time consuming but I'm learning a whole lot and it is great.</div><div>I have always used MATLAB in a lot of the stuff I did at school and I still use it at work but since I don't have a copy at home, I'm considering learning Python as it's fairly similar to MATLAB from what I have heard. I'm excited to get going on it and looking for a good book. If anyone has any recommendations, that would be great!</div><div>Anyway, this isn't just an r/c blog anymore but it's more a compilation of all the nerd stuff that I do now and I'll post updates as they come along. Some of the projects I'm working on will take some time but that's okay. I'll have good informative posts when all is said and done.</div><div>Stay tuned...</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3395435645005563598.post-83122866789958041272009-12-18T14:59:00.001-06:002009-12-18T15:01:06.292-06:00Good Old TimesWell, I doubt anyone is following this blog at all but I thought I would update and just say that I have finished my masters and all my responsibilities that go along with it and am free to have a little fun after work now! I have my FPV project coming along nicely and will be working on that. Currently, I have the whole video feed working correctly but still need to get audio working somehow. I guess I must have soldered something wrong. Anyway, I'll try to update this a little more often again.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3395435645005563598.post-13718929863667274272009-09-09T19:22:00.004-05:002012-02-23T12:20:55.189-06:00Wings Across America FlightSo, I signed up about a year and a half or so ago to be a pilot for Wings Across America (WAA) to help fly an r/c airplane in every state in the US. They started it last year in Virginia and it's finally made it to me. I was pilot number 155. Yesterday, I met up with Jim who was pilot number 154 and we made the hand off in Moore. It was nice to meet a fellow pilot and I was able to get a picture with him. Since I didn't ask his permission to post the picture, I'll hold off on it although if you really want to see it, you can get to it through the WAA website in a round-a-bout way. Anyway, he explained to me a little about the plane and what I needed to do to get it set up and what was in the box. After a few words and pictures, we loaded up the box into the car and I headed home hoping the weather would cooperate enough to let me fly it quickly to get it to Jim, pilot number 156.<br /><br />I got the box home and we were both very impressed with how nice the box is. There are stickers all over the sides of the box of various r/c clubs that have participated.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRYE8Pk86DR5MHoLAQzabFIr7LmV7YFr4-M_y993zRjOF8RTo186r-P9bWL4ejmsurWe_uZGXlhRmUXV54Uy2dI4GC-lolgFZ3m4r0czZWidEz1dmr-8qd1q3i7DAh6UusZxr6VsXv73I/s1600-h/IMG_4806.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRYE8Pk86DR5MHoLAQzabFIr7LmV7YFr4-M_y993zRjOF8RTo186r-P9bWL4ejmsurWe_uZGXlhRmUXV54Uy2dI4GC-lolgFZ3m4r0czZWidEz1dmr-8qd1q3i7DAh6UusZxr6VsXv73I/s320/IMG_4806.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380033120148835682" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWisoTP9pLrW6uhWFNYFI7lOwALfoSwVjxg9MhRSgyTn5KPiEABHuCFQfdBy_BdCiL-nub7D8eqmHSitOs3QocgL3Mk0BgnPsmt3tC4o_ZImaHbbqHUTI6S89UUCZ0eRPCqFY6FB6inQI/s1600-h/IMG_4805.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWisoTP9pLrW6uhWFNYFI7lOwALfoSwVjxg9MhRSgyTn5KPiEABHuCFQfdBy_BdCiL-nub7D8eqmHSitOs3QocgL3Mk0BgnPsmt3tC4o_ZImaHbbqHUTI6S89UUCZ0eRPCqFY6FB6inQI/s320/IMG_4805.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380033110131384530" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIPKTb1dAjeFi4nvHZeG4cHBM7xvMl9Xin7hpyIP6EiV0aYPxtZTDjeCsKlNQIW6cMJMZ5aACIvLsfEAbfNLqRfJT2TFJTgdr98wk28WXNmk-Mmj8oefOcliI2-Uh9SgR2EDj-SOzRZJU/s1600-h/IMG_4804.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIPKTb1dAjeFi4nvHZeG4cHBM7xvMl9Xin7hpyIP6EiV0aYPxtZTDjeCsKlNQIW6cMJMZ5aACIvLsfEAbfNLqRfJT2TFJTgdr98wk28WXNmk-Mmj8oefOcliI2-Uh9SgR2EDj-SOzRZJU/s320/IMG_4804.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380033093409296370" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWK6aUAu92njBkrHizfYdMNnXJcsNckOo3-MaSW0titwJOpyCIIvKwMkx_5c9JRCDWPQ2J8Y9itzEiZhZim43INhEyJFS04WAWv3Fbb0dTmtbCJfHn0BaXUmMn3dAV7qchvxDM6dmlLGg/s1600-h/IMG_4803.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWK6aUAu92njBkrHizfYdMNnXJcsNckOo3-MaSW0titwJOpyCIIvKwMkx_5c9JRCDWPQ2J8Y9itzEiZhZim43INhEyJFS04WAWv3Fbb0dTmtbCJfHn0BaXUmMn3dAV7qchvxDM6dmlLGg/s320/IMG_4803.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380033082115914146" border="0" /></a><br />There are signatures of every volunteer pilot registered to fly for WAA on the top of the box as you can see in that last picture.<br />I was even on the website for WAA as having had possession of the plane.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2OlO6Z99Sy_249hZFpmYnk0ohHctqfU11cANhW40rdw38Psr7SY4FhIY1nwlW1VaX4BKID5pSboljZs3AW3Nhmsnq-Mgjy7G1pnvU0SmJpYhggMMuVgKOQsu3YsabatBD17uisAgbQfA/s1600-h/WAA+Kenta.png"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 261px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2OlO6Z99Sy_249hZFpmYnk0ohHctqfU11cANhW40rdw38Psr7SY4FhIY1nwlW1VaX4BKID5pSboljZs3AW3Nhmsnq-Mgjy7G1pnvU0SmJpYhggMMuVgKOQsu3YsabatBD17uisAgbQfA/s320/WAA+Kenta.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380044570179045330" border="0" /></a><br />Anyway, today, I thought it would be nice to try and fly the plane and hand it off the Jim #156 as soon as possible. I was online at work and saw an article on CNN about how people did some interesting things on September 9, 2009 (999) and I thought, "I should fly the plane on 09-09-09!" I decided I had to do it today since the wind wouldn't be that strong and I wouldn't have a chance any time soon as it was supposed to rain for the next week.<br /><br />We packed the plane up and headed to the park to go fly. As I was getting it put together in the back of the van, I found the wind was stronger than it was supposed to be. I had the thought in the back of my mind, "Don't do it" but I really wanted to fly on 999 and I didn't know when else I would be able to fly soon. So, I got everything ready anyway, Kendall sat in the back of the van ready to take pictures, and Thomas sat in his car seat.<br /><br />I did a range check, lined up the plane to fly into the wind, got behind the plane, and hit the throttle to get going and it just went in a circle. I tried again, and went in another circle. I repeated this several times.<br /><br />You see, with a tail dragging plane, there are issues when you try and take off. Unless everything is just perfect, you tend to turn one way or another. The trick is to just throttle up the plane so the tail doesn't drag and if it's trimmed right, you'll go straight. I was nervous doing that though because it was windy and in addition to that, it wasn't my plane and there are about 150 more people after me that need to fly it, so I couldn't take unnecessary risks.<br /><br />Well, I finally got it up in the air and started a circuit around the parking lot in the air. By then Thomas had started crying so Kendall had to get him and take care of him so all the pictures of the plane were taken while taking care of Thomas. Quite the feat if I may say so. Some were pretty good shots.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdHVz5vynveT2xPm91kqsmAurSeUYa-L1fAkSFm4MBK1z_kv1ayQ0Sa2x0d52catj0te2lyWsKmvPaf29FyO6ZEcBSx-QzLSQcXSmsBv6EaKGxXFVKJ_kGEg0Qw1ZXmGNJQN-Ks4f6CEs/s1600-h/IMG_4796.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdHVz5vynveT2xPm91kqsmAurSeUYa-L1fAkSFm4MBK1z_kv1ayQ0Sa2x0d52catj0te2lyWsKmvPaf29FyO6ZEcBSx-QzLSQcXSmsBv6EaKGxXFVKJ_kGEg0Qw1ZXmGNJQN-Ks4f6CEs/s320/IMG_4796.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380041744273270162" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjctWJEeWMkZzAde6upoXiPv1gQvtOGJxmiDBp-5O9izVHoTcA4BFozq6QhkMPp3_Uq8lGow1eqGBpZeYQNJU9_eGZgK5m7kpbp3QEAHz8ynB-TXMA_TVG5Mwcm_dIRPWjcCpnUGxmTvTw/s1600-h/IMG_4797.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjctWJEeWMkZzAde6upoXiPv1gQvtOGJxmiDBp-5O9izVHoTcA4BFozq6QhkMPp3_Uq8lGow1eqGBpZeYQNJU9_eGZgK5m7kpbp3QEAHz8ynB-TXMA_TVG5Mwcm_dIRPWjcCpnUGxmTvTw/s320/IMG_4797.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380041754222480626" border="0" /></a><br />A few were not quite what you want when taking a picture of the plane.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLcpdP6IpP-CN4j5WPAO2repQQHgBICJE5mltoSLH0Fkmfs8FKLT3MvHMhK2qK2TdZpYlQ0yZkB0LBtowp0f6-HGY8qA0-i5N3NlNQNohMoKI3yeFnMCs4WPdfDceNGSY_ajSUGHTumBM/s1600-h/IMG_4799.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLcpdP6IpP-CN4j5WPAO2repQQHgBICJE5mltoSLH0Fkmfs8FKLT3MvHMhK2qK2TdZpYlQ0yZkB0LBtowp0f6-HGY8qA0-i5N3NlNQNohMoKI3yeFnMCs4WPdfDceNGSY_ajSUGHTumBM/s320/IMG_4799.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380041776321798402" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">Where's the plane?</span></div><br />She did a great job. I like the one where it's just taking off. You'll have to click that first picture to see the details.<br /><br />Anyway, I got up in the air and realized, "It's a lot windier up there than it is down here!" but it was too late to jump ship. I had to fly it and get it down somehow in one piece and I could only fly for 5-6 minutes on a pack before the motor could have cut out.<br /><br />I did one circuit around the parking lot and tried to bring it in for a landing and was way too high to land closely so I throttled up again to gain altitude and do another circuit. Well, same thing again. I came in too high so I throttled up and tried to get it back North flying with the wind to get in position and lost control for a second and the wind turned it left (I was trying to go right) so it lost altitude quickly but finally turned North and went where I wanted it to go. I made sure to give it a little down elevator and got it low enough to land. The wind was strong enough that I probably could have floated it down and landed like a helicopter but I didn't care to try so I just landed the best I could and I landed it just fine.<br /><br />Kind of hard to see there but it landed just fine even though it may look like it might have crashed.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY_mvcz1YfdWLfib3Un99E6mfTvHGVYebzlAvOEaMPxYMfms9CLyusxUMPaP2yOCVhQLghNItUhlFk8K0gfq3YsAP2k_fS4buvPn8QYpITSfvHAvZmk91fhnkQQRwiuqIeNRc700mWh-E/s1600-h/IMG_4801.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY_mvcz1YfdWLfib3Un99E6mfTvHGVYebzlAvOEaMPxYMfms9CLyusxUMPaP2yOCVhQLghNItUhlFk8K0gfq3YsAP2k_fS4buvPn8QYpITSfvHAvZmk91fhnkQQRwiuqIeNRc700mWh-E/s320/IMG_4801.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380044264682747666" border="0" /></a><br />I was quite relieved that it was back down on the ground in one piece. I took it back over to Kendall relieved that I had been able to fly it on 09-09-09 and also get it back down without any problems because I really thought I was in trouble when I was in the air.<br /><br />This evening, I finished off the rest of my responsibilities. I was supposed to write my experiences and any advice to the next pilot(s) in the log book and sign the top of the box as I was one of the volunteer pilots.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglngBbcH251mWgrgvXZAKdMnDG8vU4uN8JHR7OpOqo3dO8ihnwqiurDfQzW0XeFIu-RXRjIHOB9BZLm-IxeP6p8-5u2Bu4Vy8PLEP9g6D_08G4ogKZMHq-r1WIT8hxYOZPwaAspD7HCD0/s1600-h/IMG_4820.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglngBbcH251mWgrgvXZAKdMnDG8vU4uN8JHR7OpOqo3dO8ihnwqiurDfQzW0XeFIu-RXRjIHOB9BZLm-IxeP6p8-5u2Bu4Vy8PLEP9g6D_08G4ogKZMHq-r1WIT8hxYOZPwaAspD7HCD0/s320/IMG_4820.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380049113614654290" border="0" /></a><br />It really was a lot of fun to be able to participate in Wing Across America. If I end up in Arizona in the next few months, I could have the opportunity to fly it again which I believe will be a first for the journey, to have the same person fly in two states, but I could be wrong.<br /><br />Here's the video of the flight. Sorry for how bumpy it is. If you zoom in closely where I'm flying to plane in the picture where it's taking off, you'll probably be able to see I have a hat on with a camera mounted on it so I can record where I was looking. Obviously, I missed the plane in some areas but I didn't care at the time because I was more concerned about getting the plane back in one piece. It was just a bumpy recording since I was moving around with it on my head.<br /><br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/-S4wklb_p2Y?rel=0" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" width="640"></iframe><br /><br /><a href="http://youtu.be/-S4wklb_p2Y">http://youtu.be/-S4wklb_p2Y</a><br /><a href="http://www.exposureroom.com/waa2009"></a><br />Here's the final hand-off with Jim #156.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia8LcSbu_J3Z4n3i_WYP2ZTWqBhb6nMdXP81rohlDOvzWXvuVBTBwAboCtiwSZqebo7n3tK2LRWrE8DWWrVB8GwZEKjG0bVzsfaLX9mi6LBvp_4GNWViyumeK-usfPGIzP9aDbQo1a2jLe/s1600-h/IMG_4829.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia8LcSbu_J3Z4n3i_WYP2ZTWqBhb6nMdXP81rohlDOvzWXvuVBTBwAboCtiwSZqebo7n3tK2LRWrE8DWWrVB8GwZEKjG0bVzsfaLX9mi6LBvp_4GNWViyumeK-usfPGIzP9aDbQo1a2jLe/s320/IMG_4829.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381128290335260274" border="0" /></a><br />Thanks to everyone who has participated and to all those that made it possible! I really enjoyed it and hope it makes it around the US quickly.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3395435645005563598.post-72092086897126862612009-06-13T12:36:00.004-05:002012-02-23T12:20:11.514-06:00First Racing ExperienceWell, I went to my very first race and had a blast there. It was at Competition R/C in Oklahoma City and the people there were really nice about everything and all the competitors were great as well.<br />The way everything works is there are 3 qualifying heats and 1 main. All are 4 minutes long which is shorter than what I have seen at most places but with all the classes running there, it needs to be short or you wouldn't be able to fit in 4 total races for each class.<br />I ran in the Slash class which was combined with the other 2wd trucks and buggys since there were only 4 Slashes in the field. They scored us separately which was nice to see as they are different types of trucks.<br />In my very first heat, I came in 3rd in the Slash class but 5th overall in 10 vehicles. I was pretty excited about it seeing as I have never raced competitively. Maybe it's all that hand eye coordination from video games when I was a kid and from playing the piano and drums.<br />In the second heat, I was 3rd again in the Slash class but 7th out of the 10. I wasn't as smooth and crashed more so that explains it. Kendall had a great time laughing at the video I made since I was getting stuck everywhere. It was kind of funny to see her laughing so much at an r/c truck.<br />In the third heat, I came in 2nd in the Slash class and 3rd overall. That felt really good. I really ran well and had a good time on that run. I didn't realize it until the end as you will see but there was a guy trying to catch me the whole race and he got close but I eventually made it without getting passed.<br />Then came the main. I qualified to start in the 5th spot which I was pleased with but my nerves got to me and I finished 4th in the Slash class and 9th overall. I felt really bad about it more because I kept running into people without meaning to and knocked them off course. I was actually out in front of the Slash class for a lap or two and then just fell apart. Hopefully I can stay calm the next time out which will be a while still.<br />I took two videos (heat 2 and heat 3) from my hat cam and they turned out just fine. They are posted below.<br />Thanks go to Competition R/C again for a nice atmosphere and a great track for the Slash.<br />Enjoy!<br /><br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/veeFF7YLyjo?rel=0" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" width="640"></iframe><br /><br /><a href="http://www.exposureroom.com/clip5">http://youtu.be/veeFF7YLyjo</a><br /><br />Length: 4:51<br /><br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/A1BB_eMwpWY?rel=0" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" width="640"></iframe><br /><br /><a href="http://www.exposureroom.com/clip9">http://youtu.be/A1BB_eMwpWY</a><br /><br />Length: 4:43Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3395435645005563598.post-29388544122301299472009-06-02T19:02:00.004-05:002012-02-23T12:19:01.850-06:00Longest Vapor Flight<div>Okay, it's been a really long time since I updated anything (5 months). I took this video on a rare calm day here in Oklahoma. I can't fly the Vapor in any wind so the weather was perfect for it. It was right after Thomas was born and I was home for a good week that I got to go and fly. I didn't edit it much as I don't have much time to spend on it right now but hopefully you'll just go through and watch any parts that you like.<br />The plane is a fun little plane to fly. It only weighs about 15g so it's very light, hence why I can't fly in any wind whatsoever. It flies slow enough that I can even fly it indoors if I have enough room. One of these days, I might get a video of me flying inside the church gym.<br />Anyway, enjoy the video. Skip through to whatever you want as it is about 17 minutes long.<br /><br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/BkRIUXDUp5Q?rel=0" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" width="640"></iframe><br /><br /><a href="http://www.exposureroom.com/clip3">http://youtu.be/BkRIUXDUp5Q</a><br /><br />Length: 16:49 </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3395435645005563598.post-92002817369344360802009-01-03T09:08:00.006-06:002012-02-23T12:18:28.016-06:00Backyard RacingOkay, this really isn't in the backyard but it's in the rear driveway of my parents house. I got a new truck for Christmas and some cones as well so I thought I would set up a little course for me to run on. I really like how the Slash looks when running on the road. It rolls a lot like a real car would so it looks even better than my Rustler running on the road. That's what I saw when I was in Arkansas watching these race on the track. I didn't know what it was that I liked about them but I realized now that it was the body roll that made them look so real. You can disregard some of the commentary by my wife. Some of it's good but then some of it is laughable like going to the bathroom comments.<br /><br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/2w-XLrBwF6s?rel=0" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" width="480"></iframe><br /><br /><a href="http://youtu.be/2w-XLrBwF6s">http://youtu.be/2w-XLrBwF6s</a><br /><br />Length: 2:15Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1