Taking the plunge!

[VA Bowhntr]

Okay, here goes nothin'! Got my first digital cam off Ebay tonight. P32 for $100 That's right, one hundred smackers! Now I just need a recommendation on an appropriately sized case for the cam, batteries, and a Pixcontroller board. Lookin' at the Pelicans and Seahorses (BTW, why are all the cases named after zoo animals?)

Any tips, suggestions, or wise-cracks would be greatly appreciated!

[PaPaBob]

I used the Pelical 1060 for my P32/41 setups. Here is a picture of the camo case and the setup inside. Includes the Pix board and the 4xAA battery case, phone cord connector utilizing a servo connector from inside the camera itself.

Hope this helps.

[PaPaBob]

Here is the exterior with a 3-D camo look using liquid nails.

[VA Bowhntr]

Thanks, Bob. Looks like it'll be the 1060! So, did you use the latex caulk trick for the camo? I was curious about that, I wouldn't think that latex would hold the paint very well, has anyone had any problems with it? What other material can be used for 3D camo?

And maybe I missed reading it somewhere, but how much camera time should I expect to get out of a 4 AA block?

Thanks again, all.

[PaPaBob]

I use Liquid Nails for the 3D camo effect. Just scuff up the plastic with some sandpaper and apply the Liquid Nails in kind of a vertical lined pattern. Then I use an old tooth brush and flat screw driver to rough up, drag, and pull the liquid nails into an irregular pattern. After a 24 hours curing and hardening time period it is rock hard and ready for painting. Just using some flat black to start and then numerous other colors like lt grey, beige, green, brown etc I spray sideways across the patern to highlight the high spots with the colors. I then use a small old brush and finish up the colors by dabbing and stroking different colors where needed.

As for the batteries the 4 x AA block is supposed to last 4-8 months. I have had mine out for 5 months with no need to change them up. Lots of pictures taken during that time.

Here is a picture of the cam with the rough liquid nails applied before painting.

[thehunter]

I just put a P-32 together using the Seahorse 120 case. Outside view:

[thehunter]

Inside view with added event counter.

[PaPaBob]

thehunter: Just curious. What size step rings are you using? I just purchased some that will fit a 1" hole but I am concerned about getting the tunnel effect where the pictures show the edges of the step rings. The reason being is I use the flash gasket molded by ArkansasElkHunter. This setps the camera a bit farther away from the hold in the cam. I was wondering if I should considering going to a larger step ring filter conbination.

[thehunter]

Papabob,

I am using a 30mm UV lens. The hole I had to drill was 1-1/8" and then I had to dremel the hole out a little bit around the edges to let the ring screw in tight. I still need to play with the thickness of the pad materal to get the lens as close to the UV filter hole as possible. Thicker pad for the flash and maybe the thickness of a computer mouse pad for the lens.

A larger UV filter lens for the camera lens would not hurt. But you would need to check the space between lens.