What kind of RC toy do you recommend me to build?

I wish to spy on someone in public places (like really badguys, losers, chiting wifes,etc) and i would like to do an RC spy tool for that. Why ? Because is cheaper and more secure: I don't think an "mister muscle man" will rob a car if you are 10 foots behind him.

I was thinking on an RC heli, or an multi rotor...but the problem is they can't stand in the air for more then 10 minutes...


Maybe some RC cars? but they can be easy be "stolen" and taken home by a curiouse kid + they could drive to much attention + they should be a little big if you wish them to carry an 300-500 grams payload (camera,etc)

So what do you recommend me?

Sorry but i couldn't find an "RC general" discussion here...

Put a camera on a blimp

Originally Posted by epyonxero

Put a camera on a blimp

hah and i was thinking to use a quad to install cameras on roofs

You may buy a Schiebel Camcopter S100.
It can fly up to 6 hours on a single tank of fuel.

Originally Posted by sbt

You may buy a Schiebel Camcopter S100.
It can fly up to 6 hours on a single tank of fuel.

that will be very expensive

If you want long flight times you can build a gas heli like jr gsr260z, century radikal g30, vario benzin, etc.

Originally Posted by sbt

If you want long flight times you can build a gas heli like jr gsr260z, century radikal g30, vario benzin, etc.

for how long a gas like can fly?

by the way ... the heli do lot of noise also ... quad do a noise but it's "a strange noise"

At least 30 minutes, it depends on the size of the fuel tank.
The problem is that you need at least 3 years of r/c experience to be able to use a heli for this job.

why 3 years?

Originally Posted by sbt

At least 30 minutes, it depends on the size of the fuel tank.
The problem is that you need at least 3 years of r/c experience to be able to use a heli for this job.

And even once you can fly the heli/quad well, they're kind of obvious, with the noise they make and being the only low-flying object in the area... They're great fun to fly, but not really spying tools...

All it will take is a rock and someone with a good throwing arm and you will be out of the spy business.

not really i saw heli flying over 1000 foots, and with a good camera with a good digital zoom (or you simple add a binocular in the front of the cam...)

Originally Posted by s.hantiu

not really i saw heli flying over 1000 foots, and with a good camera with a good digital zoom (or you simple add a binocular in the front of the cam...)

i don't know where you're from but in most countries what you're trying to achieve is highly illegal.

but spying on someone, you need to be stealthy, that means your spy gear needs to be either small or far away from the target to avoid detection. being stealthy is easy nowadays but it always comes with a hefty price tag. my SLR cam alone already cost 1k+ and the lens that could zoom in far distances is already twice that amount, and for the platform that i use? what else? MYSELF

Go to mikrokopter.de and take a look at their latest video using remote zoom on a multi-rotor mounted video camera. Its scary just how far they can zoom and how much detail you can see.

That said, be careful you don't violate privacy laws in your country in the process.

It would be easier and faster to train as a ninja. Learning to fly what you are needing would take YEARS of experience and thousands of dollars.