pencam payload bays...clear?

Hello, I've recently purchased a couple of pencams (Pencam SD & 1.3) and am now planning on launch vehicles for them. I've read of some who claim that they've flown them in rockets that have clear plastic payload bays. This would be ideal at reducing drag, but wouldn't the clear (and or course curved) plastic cause too much distortion to the image? Eventally, I may build a custom booster, but for the time being I'm looking at "off the shelf" kits that can be readily adapted to carrying these cams. One I'm considering is Apogee's Rising Star. It has a clear payload bay, so it could also do double duty as a "night launch" rocket by filling the bay with light sticks. Are there any other kits that the group feels worthy of consideration? I need a tube with an I.D. of about 2 inches (based upon the camera specs....I don't yet have the cameras in hand). For engines, I would like one kit to have a 24mm engine mount (to fly with BP or RMS engines) and the other would be nice if it used a cluster of 18mm engines. Any good payloaders that would fit the bill? I considered maybe a LOC Isis kit and then adding a payload bay, but it seems like an awfully heavy booster for such a light payload! :-) Craig

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I've used the clear flourescent light protector tubes for mine, but I also cut a hole in the tube where the lens looks out. So the clear tube is really only so I can see the LCD display, and in the case of the original, the AYUCR status led and switch.

If you go to http://www.soar571.com , look down the page four or five articles, you'll find a link to a video I made with a Multipod 5-in-1 pen cam, stuffed inside the payload section of an Estes Hi-Jax, a 1" diameter rocket flown on a B6-4. There is a minor amount of diffusion, but not enough to notice unless you'd seen the inside/outside portions.
Roy nar12605
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