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Brief:
Ever since leaving LDRS 19 (held July 1-4, 2000 near Orangeburg, SC), I had been awaiting Point 39 Production's video with breathless anticipation. LDRS 19 was my first national launch and was the venue for my Tripoli Level 2 Certification. As word leaked out that the video would also contain coverage of the SmallBALLS experimental launch (Whitakers, NC), I really became pumped! Although I haven't flown at Whitakers, the Whitakers field is a frequent haunt of many members of my club, the Maryland/Delaware Rocket Association.

When the box arrived, I carefully inspected the contents. As with previous Point 39 videos, it came with in a sturdy box and had the write-protect tab removed. The latter seems like a trivial detail, but I have lost other commercially produced videos to the presence of this tab mixed with young children (of course I would never accidentally record over a coveted rocket video).

Over the last couple of videos, Earl has also thrown in a small extra to whet your imagination. This year it is a piece of wire from an actual Saturn V Checkout/Launch Computer. Although I personally do not value this too much as a souvenir, it does demonstrate the extra effort that Earl puts into his videos. I will not provide a recap of the launches (see scans). Instead, I want to focus on the video's production attributes. (Well, you really HAVE to see the flight of the Freedom Phiter on "O" power, a 1/6 semi-scale Mercury Redstone made of plastic and flying on "J" power, Redemptive Power built in a week of scrap materials and flying on experimental "N" power, etc, etc, etc)

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I believe the Point 39 videos are the best rocket videos around, but this year Earl has really outdone himself. He has a new digital editing system and the results are just phenomenal. There are tons of special effects on this tape, including video fades, overlays, insert "windows", scrolls, pixelization, mosaics, scrolling and spinning text, graphics and the list goes on. Among the best of these are the video windows that show an interview with a builder while the rocket is prepped in the main screen, and the textual sidebars that show rockets stats prior to launch (builder, rocket name, engine(s), weight, etc.).

As with the LDRS 18 video, Earl makes use of his "pad-cam", providing up-close-and-personal footage right at the pad. Thus, many of the launches are shown in 3 views: ignition at the pad, ignition and early launch from a ways back, and the entire launch from countdown through touch down. With his video editing equipment, Earl has also added slow motion footage. This stuff is great! I loved the slo-mo views of ignition, especially on the experimental flights at SmallBALLS. I hate to admit it, but the slo-mo is even better for CATOs and prangs! (My apologies to those fliers.)

The following excerpt is from "Extreme Rocketry". The intention is to allow guests to get a basic feeling about a kit. We strongly suggest that you get a copy of the referenced Extreme Rocketry and read the entire article. Inside you will find many helpful hints in construction as well as other useful information. For more information, use the link above.

"The coverage of LDRS 19 is...the best work he has done so far."
"The first ten minutes or so of the tape Earl uses for an introductory piece."
"Most notable about the LDRS 19 video is the overall visual quality...."
"The ever-present "Pad Cam" is back...."
"Flights are kept well in frame from launch to touch down...."
"The personal interviews are very well done, holding viewers interest."
"Another new feature...is the addition of captions along side each of the larger featured projects before their launch."
"The coverage of the Small BALLS launch in Whitakers is also well done...."

Overall, the article suggests that is a very well done video.