Martin Gregorie wrote:

Having said that, I did a quick Google for "indoor IR control
models".

http://n-lemma.com/indoorrc/

was the first hit. Cool pics, and there are links to equipment lists
at the bottom of the page. Who knows, you might even get into this
stuff as a winter activity. The links on this site may help too:

http://members.aol.com/Lecisifly/ztron.html

When you wrote "indoor models", I assumed you meant "models used
indoors". What a surprise to see the rubber powered microfilm covered
models I used fly in college are now electric powered and radio controlled!

You need a receiver that can drive a standard servo. This will be
easier to rig to trip the camera release: the very light weight stuff
uses specialized, very small low powered control actuators and
servos. Not what you want. By "standard" servos I mean an off the
shelf model shop item with a three wire connection: they all accept
the same signals and voltage and, apart from the connectors used by
different receivers, are interchangeable. These range from small
(20mm x 15mm x 7mm, 7g) upwards and generate more oomph as they get
bigger. The very small and cute start to get expensive, but the
"mini" and "standard" sizes are fairly cheap: in the $20-$30 range
per servo.

I agree, the really small stuff is too small. Perhaps the "consumer" RC
model car stuff would be the best choice: cheap, and short range, so
unlikely to cause other users any grief.

Take care to design your triggering mechanics so you can't stall a
servo or drive it into a limit stop: they don't like that at all.

And it probably increases the current drain dramatically.

--
Change "netto" to "net" to email me directly

Eric Greenwell
Washington State
USA