KAP PARTS
Rig Components & Accessories for Kite Aerial Photography

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«What good is a tracking number if the package gets here
so fast I don't get a chance to track it?
Thank you. That's what I call Order Fulfillment!
If you need me, I'll be in the basement.»
— B.W., Missoula, Montana

Create your own rig or upgrade your existing one using Brooxes parts.All sheet metal parts are fabricated from .062" black-anodized aluminum.

BROOXES BASIC FRAME PARTS

These are the main elements used in the Basic and Deluxe KAP Kits. They're designed to be used with cameras of less than 5.5"W x 4"H x 5.5"D.

PART	W x H x D"	OZ	PRICE U$	PURCHASE
1. Main Frame	7 x 4.38 x 1.5	1.9	10.00
2. Tilt Frame	6 x 2 x 2.38	1.9	12.00
3. Shutter Post	1.38 x 4 x 0.50	0.3	6.00

BROOXES MAXI FRAME PARTS

These parts are designed to accommodate cameras larger than the limits of the Basic frame, and are not currently offered in any kit. VERY IMPORTANT: The Maxi parts won't fit together with the Basic frame parts if you plan to use a tilt servo, so these two Maxi pieces must be used together. [If you don't need a tilt servo, the Maxi Tilt Frame may be used with the Basic Main Frame to accommodate larger cameras in a more compact rig.] Also, as there is no provision for a shutter servo mount, the camera must have some form of remote shutter control by infrared or an electrical connection such as the Gentles devices shown below.

BROOXES UTILITY FRAME

This part is the basis of the BEAK, but may also be used in place of the Basic Tilt Frame for a camera that doesn't need a servo for shutter control. There is no provision for a shutter post on this frame, but it is otherwise interchangeable with the Basic Tilt Frame, and offers many options for servo and camera mounting. Two Utility Frames are combined to make our HoBEAK, or may be used to make a bare-bones frame for autoKAP as shown here.

PART	W x H x D"	OZ	PRICE U$	PURCHASE
4. Maxi Main Frame	8 x 6 x 1.5	2.6	20.00
5. Maxi Tilt Frame	7 x 3 x 4.25	2.7	20.00
Maxi Frame Set			39.00
6. Utility Frame	6 x 3 x 1.5	1.2	10.00

PICAVET CROSSES

All of my kits and nearly all of my custom rigs are hung from the classic multi-line suspension system devised by Pierre L. Picavet (rhymes with Chevrolet) in 1911.

Brooxes Compact Picavet Cross (A) is about as small as the X can go, and is standard on all Brooxes kits. With built-in eyes for the line (inspired by a design by Doug Davlin) the BCPC at its simplest requires no additional hardware except some means of attaching it to the flying line. If you want a more elegant, smoother Picavet, add PeKaBe ball-bearing blocks [below], rotate the X 90 degrees, and mount the blocks on the built-in eyes.

The Gent-X (B) is the result of James Gentles' testing of several variations of the Picavet cross. He found that the most rotationally stable was one that had a cross bar much longer than the fore-and-aft member. The Gent-X is best-suited for rigs for large cameras and/or auto-rotating panorama mechanisms. It must be used with PeKaBe blocks (or small split-rings) in order for the cross to be oriented in the proper direction.

Included below are packages which include the cross, a set of four PeKaBe ball-bearing blocks, a set of Brooxes Hangups©, a nylon washer, and 30 ft of lacing line. The Compact Package is pictured at left; the Gent-X Package is not pictured.

«...as usual your equipment and instructions
were beautifully designed and easy to assemble.»
—B.P., Alameda, California

BROOXES ACCESSORY PARTS

In addition to the essential parts above, we offer sheet metal parts to make installation of legs and gears on your rig easier.

Brooxes Bolt-On Leg Brackets are designed to hold .2400" carbon legs, but may also be used with 1/4" dowel if you sand it a bit. These are made of lighter .050" aluminum to allow easier adjustment of the leg sockets. NOTE: Brackets aren't intended for use with the Utility Frame, and will not work on the HoBEAK.

Sold by the pair, and available below with carbon legs.

Brooxes Better Gear Guide was designed to provide pan gear reduction, but we've discovered that the BBGG also works well on the tilt servo to take the load of an extra-heavy camera like the Canon 5D. Likewise, the BBGG is quite well-suited for use with Brooxes Utility Frame in so-called HoVer installations, where a servo is used to rotate the camera from landscape to portrait orientation. With both of those custom applications, we can provide pictures on request but no written instructions; sorry.

Available below with both molded and machined gears.

Battery Box with Switch

These lightweight covered boxes hold three or four AAA batteries securely; a simple slider on-off switch is provided. The 3-cell unit (left) provides a maximum of 3.5 volts, not enough for a full radio control rig, but just fine for James Gentles' timers.
The larger box (not shown) will provide 4.8 - 6 volts.
Either box will work with alkaline cells or rechargables.

3-AAA BATTERY BOX with Switch U$5.00

4-AAA BATTERY BOX with Switch U$7.00

Standard Servo

The Tower Hobbies TS-53 is the one we use for just about everything. It will serve for tilt and shutter without modification, and may be modified for 360° rotation for use as a pan servo. One standard servo is included in the Servo-BEAK. We can't get the TS-53 at wholesale; you can buy it for less at Tower Hobbies, but we offer it here as a convenience.

STANDARD SERVO U$15.00

Parallax Continuous Rotation Servo

This is a Futaba standard ball-bearing servo that has been modified for 360° rotation. It is ideal for panning a KAP rig — moving it horizontally either direction endlessly. It also contains a trimmer to allow for adjustment of the center point, or to modify the rotation of the gent360Auto.

This servo is included in all of the BEAK kits, and could be used with our radio-controlled kits as well, especially if you don't relish the idea of modifying a servo for 360 rotation.

The Parallax servo is not recommended for tilting the camera vertically.

CONTINUOUS ROTATION SERVO U$17.00

NOTE: For creep-free operation on a radio-controlled rig,
we suggest adding a Gent360Pan to the Parallax servo.

PeKaBe BLOCKS

For the smoothest possible Picavet, nothing beats these tiny ball-bearing pullies from Germany [left], designed to be used on model racing sailboats. Installation is easy with a flat-blade jeweler's screwdriver. For extra insurance, a little thread-locking fluid such as medium-grade Loc-Tite on the shackle screw is a good idea.

SET/4 PeKaBe BLOCKS, U$40.00

KAP-Klips™

Adapted from commercial fishing, these stainless steel fasteners for hanging the Picavet are strong, simple, and as easy to use as a safety pin. They're not quite as slip-resistant as our Hangups™, but plenty safe and secure. A pair of one or the other is included with each kit.

KAP-KLIPS™ U$2.00 per pair

Brooxes Carbon Leg Set

Launching and landing your rig is the scariest part of KAP, because that's when damage can occur. These lightweight legs will provide a measure of protection for your rig, and keep it out of the mud before launching. Brooxes Bolt-On Leg Brackets attach to existing holes in the BBKK frame, and the included four legs of .2400" carbon rod slip right into the sockets. Note: will not fit the HoBEAK.

BROOXES CARBON LEG SET U$20.00

Brooxes Gear Packages

Reducing the speed of the pan servo will give greater control, especially with larger, heavier cameras. Brooxes Better Gear Guide bolts right onto the rig's Main Frame in place of the pan servo, transferring the weight of the rig to an axle and providing a reduction in panning speed. The packages may also be used for tilting a heavy camera or for HoVer format control.

PAN REDUCTION GEAR PACKAGE U$20.00

[top left] including Gear Guide, sturdy molded plastic 2:1 gear set, axle, and all necessary hardware. Other ratios available. Servo not included.

DELUXE REDUCTION GEAR PACKAGE U$35.00

[bottom left] including Gear Guide, machined RobotZone gears to provide a 4:1 reduction, axle, and all necessary hardware. Servo not included. Zero reduction (1:1) is available on request.

gentLED-Shutter

(rhymes with bent red) is used to trigger digital still cameras which have infra-red (IR) remote control capability. This tiny device plugs into a standard r/c receiver in place of a shutter servo, and emits an invisible pulse which is picked up by the camera's IR sensor. It weighs just 3 grams, but weight-saving is second to the great simplicity of installation.

The gentLED-Shutter is compatible with many cameras, but as each has a different infra-red code, there are several models to pick from.

Click here to see what model group
your camera falls into.

The gentLED-Shutter may also be wired to a switch — I use one with my tripod camera.

Several Ricoh cameras have attracted interest among KAPers, and this variation is designed to add electronic triggering for them as well through the camera's USB port. As with the other gentLEDs, it may be used in conjunction with a conventional radio control system or the AuRiCo controller, or with a simple wired switch.

Weighing in at just 9 grams (1/3 oz), the gentLED-Ricoh will work with cameras that may be triggered by the Ricoh CA-1 wired remote control. Additionally the unit may be used as a simple intervalometer, triggering the camera every 10 seconds.

gentLED-Ricoh: U$44.00

gentLED-CHDK

This variation, which looks identical to the one above, is for controlling Canon point-&-shoot cameras which have the unofficial CHDK firmware enhancement. This non-destructive modification is added to the camera via the SD card, enabling many creative possibilities for remote photographers. The gentLED-CHDK replaces a shutter servo, triggering the camera through the USB port. It may be used in conjunction with a conventional radio control system or the AuRiCo controller, or with a simple wired switch.

Weighing in at just 9 grams (1/3 oz), the gentLED-CHDK includes ~250mm (~10") cables and both connectors. It is compatible with the Canon A570, A610/20/30/40, A710, S2 IS, S3 IS, G7, ixus700/sd500 and other Canon models.

A script is necessary, along with the CHDK software. Links to both of those and a complete tutorial on the installation may be found here.

gentLED-CHDK: U$44.00

Trigger your camera automatically with

gentLED-Auto

This tidy little box combines the gentLED above with an adjustable interval timer, so you can trigger your infrared-capable camera every 4 to 240 seconds without using a radio. It is completely self-contained, and comes with a battery and a hook-&-loop patch to attach it to your camera or rig.

NOTE: The gentLED-Auto is compatible with all of the cameras listed here, but I do not stock it for Minolta B, available directly from Gentles.Ltd.

gentLED-Auto : U$53.00

Control servo creep forever with

gent360-PAN

This is a simple connector that does double duty. It eliminates one of KAP's most frustrating phenomena: the occasional unwillingness of a 360-modified pan servo to stand still when you release the joystick. It is installed between the modified servo and the receiver, and once calibrated at the time of installation, will ensure that your servo will stop in its tracks when you release the joystick.

Conversely, the gent360-PAN will allow you to set a pan servo to rotate continuously at a steady slow speed automatically without a radio, which is useful if your camera is triggered by a built-in intervalometer or an external one such as the gentLED Auto above.

gent360-PAN: U$22.00

GENTLES’ GREATEST GOODIE!

Shown here at about 130% of actual size is the gent360 trigger, nicknamed “peanut”. This tiny electronic marvel is specifically designed for minimalist autoKAP rigs such as those built with Brooxes Electric AutoKAP Kit, shown here with a Pentax Optio S4. The peanut comes in three variations, one for cameras that can be triggered by an infrared signal, one for CHDK-modified Canons (see above), and one for servo-triggered cameras.

Pack a lunch, launch your rig under a small kite, kick back, and let the peanut do the work!

For cameras with infrared remote triggering, use

gent360-LED

Plug a 3 - 5v battery into one set of pins and a 360-converted servo into the other set of pins, position the peanut so the LED is next to your camera's sensor, and it does the rest! About every ten seconds, the servo rotates your rig a partial turn, stops, and then the LED triggers your camera. It'll keep doing that until the memory card is full or the batteries run dry. If you'd like to adjust the time interval between pictures, add the gent360-ADJUST, below.

The gent360-LED is normally made to turn in ~30° increments. Please send a note with your order if you would prefer a rotation of ~60°.

The gent360-LED is compatible with cameras listed in Groups 1, 2, 3, and 5.

gent360-LED: U$32.00 postpaid

...and for cameras needing a servo to push the shutter,

gent360-SERVO

This device [left] looks nearly identical to the one above, but instead of an infrared LED, it has a servo plug. The rig rotates in the same fashion, but instead of emitting an infrared pulse, the gent360-SERVO sends a pulse to a second servo, which pushes the shutter button with a mechanical finger. It's the heart of the Servo-BEAK.

gent360-SERVO: U$34.00 postpaid

...and the newest addition, ONLY for CHDK-modified Canons,

gent360-CHDK

Only slightly larger than those above, this one has a USB plug, and may be used only with Canon point-&-shoot cameras with CHDK-enhanced firmware and the Remote Shutter script. Behavior is exactly the same as the two peanuts above, and it may be substituted for the gent360-LED in the BEAK and HoBEAK kits.

gent360-CHDK: U$47.00 postpaid

To adjust the timing interval on any of
the gent360 triggers above, add the new

gent360-ADJUST

The manual for the peanuts above show a do-it-yourself circuit for varying the timing interval from 5 seconds to 35 seconds, but to make it easier,
James has come up with a plug-&-play adjuster.

gent360-ADJUST: U$23.00 postpaid

Peter Engels’ Automatic Rig Controller (AuRiCo)

... is the latest device for simplifying KAP. It operates up to three servo circuits (pan, tilt, and shutter) without the need for radio. Unplug your R/C receiver, plug AuRiCo in its place, leave the transmitter at home, and go KAPing automatically!

With AuRiCo, your rig may be quickly programmed to run through a sequence of rotation and tilt motions and shutter exposures, through the use of simple DIP-switches. No programming knowledge or computer is necessary. Intervals may be set for 5 seconds to 4 minutes, with Turbo modes allowing 2- or 3-second intervals after a 4-minute launching delay.

AuRiCo supports a variety of servos, including Futaba, Graupner, and Profi (Conrad), and may be used with the gentLED shutter trigger for infrared-capable cameras. Cameras with built-in intervalometers may be used as well.

AuRiCo is compact — about 1.5 inches square — and weighs just 7 grams.
It needs 3.5 - 6 volts from AA, AAA, or LiPo batteries (4 - AAA recommended).

For further information, download the AuRiCo manual here.

AURICO: U$64.00

Questions, comments, requests, suggestions? EMAIL ME

or drop me a note at POST OFFICE BOX 34, PACIFIC GROVE, CA 93950-0034.

Prices and specifications of anything on this page are subject to change without notice.