GoPro wing tie-down mounts

[Cloudsurfer11-03]

Not sure if there's anything like this on the market already but figured I'd share in case anyone else wants to make their own. I was thinking about methods to attach GoPros safely and securely to the exterior of a Mooney without any sort of airframe modification, suction cups, or clamps. I figured the wing tie down bolt holes would be the perfect place. They're already a structural threaded hole and conveniently placed. I modified some GoPro tripod adapter mounts to thread into them:

 

 

The tie down bolts are 5/16"x18TPI (at least on my 78' J model). The tripod mounts are 1/4"x20TPI, so unfortunately you can't just use some all thread between them. I bought some 5/16"x18TPI bolts, cut off the head with an angle grinder, chucked up the remaining bolt in a drill, and then used that and a bench grinder to reduce the diameter of one end down to approx 1/4", then threaded it with a die. I used thread locker and threaded the bolt into the camera mount.

My A&P gave them a look and a thumbs up. Looking forward to trying them tomorrow.

[gsxrpilot]

They'll work fine. I did the same thing when I owned N6XM. I've still got them around here somewhere. Same as you, I modified a GoPro tripod mount to thread into the tie down mount under the wing. One modification you'll want to make is to add a lock nut to the threaded bolt. That way you can tighten down the mount with the camera in the proper orientation. If you just tighten the tripod mount to the bottom of the wing, the GoPro mount tabs will have the camera facing some silly angle. 

After using those mounts for a couple of months, I switched and went to using the GoPro sticky mounts. They are even more secure, can be mounted anywhere for more viewing angles, are cheaper, and just easier to use.

[Cloudsurfer11-03]

Good idea on the lock nut. I was thinking about using a rubber pad/gasket/o-ring or something between that'd compress and let me adjust it the angle as well as add some friction and prevent it backing off.

Have you had any issues with the adhesive pads and your paint? I was worried that it could cause some damage.

[gsxrpilot]

5 minutes ago, Cloudsurfer11-03 said:

Good idea on the lock nut. I was thinking about using a rubber pad/gasket/o-ring or something between that'd compress and let me adjust it the angle as well as add some friction and prevent it backing off.

Have you had any issues with the adhesive pads and your paint? I was worried that it could cause some damage.

A nice thick rubber pad would probably work well also. I tried a piece of bicycle inner tube, but it wasn't thick enough and so I went to a lock nut.

I've had the sticky mounts on and off my plane for 5 years now. I often leave them in place for 6 months to a year. I've never been able to find the spot after taking one off. I just haven't seen any effect at all, on the paint. Now I've never had a new paint job, but my Mooney isn't ugly either. So I don't think the sticky mounts will ever damage the paint.

[Cloudsurfer11-03]

Just now, gsxrpilot said:

Now I've never had a new paint job, but my Mooney isn't ugly either.

The paint on mine is far from perfect, just trying to preserve what I have  thanks for the advice!

 

[carusoam]

Hmmmm...

Now with ceramic coating in place....

What do the sticky mounts use to adhere to the surface...?

Just Setting up the next go pro experiment.... 

 

I think the threaded tie-down is a great place to mount an expensive, don’t want to lose it, kind of device...

But from an MSer point of view...  further back on the tail includes more plane in the scenery...

 

Best regards,

-a-

[Ross Taylor]

9 minutes ago, carusoam said:

Hmmmm...

Now with ceramic coating in place....

What do the sticky mounts use to adhere to the surface...?

Just Setting up the next go pro experiment.... 

Good question about the ceramic coating!   I look forward to seeing *someone else* try that first...and reporting. 

[gsxrpilot]

9 minutes ago, carusoam said:

I think the threaded tie-down is a great place to mount an expensive, don’t want to lose it, kind of device...

That's what you would think. But after 10+ years of sticking GoPro cameras on aircraft, (the last 5 years on Mooneys), there is no doubt that a properly applied sticky mount is more secure. 

[Skates97]

I did something similar to the OP but without the grinding and reducing the diameter of the stud. Two fender washers, two neoprene washers, a stud, a lock washer, a wing nut, and some JB Weld. I used JB Weld to put the stud in the GoPro mount and one washer to it. The neoprene washers provide a little cushion and the wing nut can be hand tightened enough to keep it from moving. It worked with the original round tie-downs and also the LASAR ones I have now.