R/C Naval Combat

Our next upcoming battle will be at Hanson Ponds in Cle Elum.  For those who haven't been there before this is our largest and deepest battle site we normally visit.  I recommend that you test your float/recovery systems before you get there.   Please try to arrive by 1100 so you have time to set up.  The first sortie will be starting at 1200.

Directions:

Go East on I-90 and take exit 84 onto First Ave in Cle Elum. Turn right (south) on Oakes Ave. (There is a Chevron station on the corner.) This is also marked as the Eastbound access to I-90. Follow the road and go over the I-90 overpass to the Whispering Pines R/V Park on the south side of I-90. Just before the road ends at the R/V park, take a sharp left (U-turn) into the dirt parking lot and continue on the gravel road through the woods. The battle is at the first pond on the left. The pond is alongside I-90 about 1/2 a mile from the R/V park. We usually are at the west end of the first pond but sometimes are found elsewhere. Driving time from Seattle is about one hour and fifteen minutes.

I'll be there

will also bring the little maru with and we can try to do some convoy actions

I dont intend to put them in the middle of the pond, it shouldn't be much of an issue. I'm more concerned about people who think theyre being funny without thinking about it. A couple hours in the sun can do funny things to our brains. The tripods themselves are pretty stable, it would be difficult to knock one down I think, so incidental bumpings shouldn't be a major concern.

I could give them little umbrellas to prevent plunging fire from pumps., that leaves the only risk of someone sailing up under it with a pump running.

Posted By Hovey Moore on 07 Jun 2010 12:59 AM
I would be more concerned with accidental drenching from a stray pump than from bumping into the tripod. I came close enough to hosing several people down today and I wasn't hard pressed fighting. I would never try to ruin someones camera but I think it ill advised to place a non waterproofed camera in or near the water.

Of course its ill-advised.  However illadvised things generally lead to thinking about ways to make them less horrible ideas.

Two thoughts have come to mind. 

One is that the entire flipcam (with fresh batteries) and tripod mounting plate could be vacuum bagged and sealed.  This has the downside that it has to be done at home and I'd have to bring enough flipcams with fresh batteries in them.  I have access to the cameras no problem, but it would become a hassle. 

The second thought is to build a box.  Clear lexan for the front, aluminum angle attaches to that and provides an access hole for the tripod mounting stud.  The remaining sides could be any waterproof material with an elastic to allow it to close mostly tight around the base of the tripod head. (thinking like a shower cap).  The lexan would provide a non-distorting windowpane for the camera and some measure of protection vs stray bbs and the entire assembly should provide sufficient water resistance to drizzle and random pump spray.