Rusty Geller

Looking for a Preston MDR-1 that is updated to drive digital motors. email: rustygeller7@gmail.com or any 2 channel wireless system that will drive Preston digital motors. Cheer, Rusty

Hi, is this unit still available? My old MDR-1 Digital carked it. Is this one converted to digital, will it run digital motors? Thanks, Rusty Geller

Looking for a 3A socket block. rustygeller@bigpond.com Cheers

Thanks guys. Anybody know anyone who wants to sell a 3A socket block?

Does anybody know if the mounting holes on a 3A socket block will match those on a Flyer vest? I have an old male 3A arm bottom mount assembly that looks like it will fit on my (upgraded) Flyer arm, but need to upgrade the female socket block to make it work on my vest.

Theo, did you get a socket block, and if so, where?

Does anyone know if you can shoot the new Sony F5 at 2K using PL mount Super 16mm lenses like you can with the Scarlet?

This has been sold. Rusty

Preston FI+Z Hand control, 3 focus rings FI+Z Transmitter w/2 antennas, 2 batteries, fast charger, MDR-1 receiver/motor driver w/2 antennas, MDR top mount, MDR top mount to PRO bracket, 20' remote hardwire command cable Microforce zoom control, zoom control to hand controller bracket, 1’ cable, 12' cable Remote Iris control w/ 10’ cable 3 motors w/32 pitch gears (1 has 1/2" wide gear) .6 gear (Fujinon), 48/.5 pitch gear (Canon focus, Panavision zoom) 64 pitch (Panavision iris) 2 Preston long dogbone motor brackets (19mm) w/2 Kip connectors ea. 1 Preston short dogbone motor bracket (19mm) w/1 Kip connector 2 Panavison motor bracket sleeves 2 15 mm motor bracket sleeves Panavision front mount dual motor brackets with 2 articulated arms, 2 Kip connectors4 motor cables w/90 degree elbows RED One start-stop cable Arri/Moviecam 3 pin start-stop cable (Alexa, 435,SR3 etc.) Moviecam 2 pin start-stop cable Canon 4429 start-stop cable Fujinon 8 pin start-stop cable Fujinon 4428 start-stop cable Sony 4430start-stop cable Arri 11 pin Fischer start-stop cable Panavision start-stop cable PRO short power cable 12' long power cable, 3 pin XLR 24v w/4 pin XLR 12v pigtail in 2 Pelican cases $11,000 rustygeller@bigpond.com

FI+Z Hand control, 3 focus rings FI+Z Transmitter w/2 antennas, 2 batteries, fast charger, MDR-1 receiver/motor driver w/2 antennas, MDR top mount, MDR top mount to PRO bracket, 20' remote hardwire command cable Microforce zoom control, zoom control to hand controller bracket, 1’ cable, 12' cable Remote Iris control w/ 10’ cable 3 motors w/32 pitch gears (1 has 1/2" wide gear) .6 gear (Fujinon), 48/.5 pitch gear (Canon focus, Panavision zoom) 64 pitch (Panavision iris) 2 Preston long dogbone motor brackets (19mm) w/2 Kip connectors ea. 1 Preston short dogbone motor bracket (19mm) w/1 Kip connector 2 Panavison motor bracket sleeves 2 15 mm motor bracket sleeves Panavision front mount dual motor brackets with 2 articulated arms, 2 Kip connectors 4 motor cables w/90 degree elbows Cables: RED One start-stop cable Arri/Moviecam 3 pin start-stop cable (Alexa, 435,SR3 etc.) Moviecam 2 pin start-stop cable Canon 4429 start-stop cable Fujinon 8 pin start-stop cable Fujinon 4428 start-stop cable Sony 4430start-stop cable Arri 11 pin Fischer start-stop cable Panavision start-stop cable PRO short power cable 12' long power cable, 3 pin XLR 24v w/4 pin XLR 12v pigtail 2 Pelican cases rustygeller@bigpond.com

Just removed the spring, quite easy, no pullies, chains or dramas. I ended up only having to remove one axle-pin, the one on the non-adjusting end of the spring. I adjusted the arm so the spring was shortest, then c-clamped the bottom of the arm flat to my work bench. I removed the circlip & fabric washer, then had my Lovely Wife apply leverage under that end of the spring by prying with a large screwdriver under the spring hook and against the inner shell, taking the load off the axle-pin. I gently drove out the axle-pin with a flat-ended punch of the same size, being careful with the bearings and washers. The axle pin out and my Lovely Wife back in the house, I placed the parts safely on a paper towel in a tuperware tub, and sketched the order of the parts. I then unclamped the arm, turned the arm adjuster to the opposite end until I could extract the spring from the adjuster. Monday it's off to Boing Boing Springs so my main man Jarran can build me a pair the same size but 10-15% stronger. Next episode: the reassembly.

Currently the upper stage (gimbal end) spring is weaker than the lower stage spring. I noticed the upper section drops 45 degrees while the lower stage is still horizontal. Tiffen says this is normal. Tiffen won't sell a Zephyr arm seperately, so I'm having a pair of springs for the Flyer arm made up here in Perth by a company that specializes in making custom springs for industrial and commercial equipment. They're going to make the new springs to the same exact size, but make them 10-15% stronger than the stronger one of mine. They're making them up for about $100 total--obviously they're not aware of camera gear pricing. A few months ago I made a Garfield mount for the Flyer arm. I'll use that to anchor the arm to do the deed. The Flyer arm sections unpin from the elbow. I'll do each section pinned to the male end of the socket block. I intend to pull the upper cross axle from the end of the arm, flop the end on the lower axle exposing the end of the spring, then pry the spring end off the axle with a brake spring tool (big bent pry bar with a screw driver handle) while withdrawing the axle by having my wife push it thru. "Oh, honey..." Alternately, I can push several screwdrivers into the coils to partaiily expand the spring to make it longer. I intend to reassemble it the same way. I'll drop the old spring off at the company on Monday so they can build the new ones to it. I should have it back in a week. Wish me luck.

James, have you taken a Flyer arm apart? How hard is it to reattach the springs?

Sold the PRO, bought a Flyer, figured it could handle the light cameras I use these days. This is supposed to be the 19lb. arm, which I have determined is actually 21lbs.I found the limit this week. One of the arm sections seems to be stronger than the other. I had a full load on: EPIC,Master Primes, HD transmitter, sound receiver, 2 Preston motors,, mattebox, glass, etc. (see photos). I'm also flying a Preston MDR-1 on the bottom for stability and a MARSHALL 7" with electronic level display box. I punched out the 1/2" insert in the arm post socket and it carries 5/8" posts, much more solid and can take long posts. Here's my problem, with a full load the ARM section closest to the vest is out straight, the one closest to the sled is dipped 60 degrees down, so that means that spring is weaker. There is a spring manufacturer here in Perth that can make stronger springs, any size, any material. I want to dismantle the arm to replace the springs. Maybe get them to make a set 15% stronger. Is it possible for me to do this without special tools or jigs to re-fit the springs? Does Tiffen make stronger springs? What are the spings made of?

FI+Z Hand control, 3 focus rings FI+Z Transmitter w/2 antennas MDR-1 receiver/motor driver w/2 antennas, 2 batteries MDR top mount MDR top mount to PRO bracket Microforce zoom control Microforce zoom control to Hand controller bracket Remote Iris control 3 lens motors w/32 pitch gears, 1 with 1/2" wide gear .6 gear (Fujinon), 48/.5 pitch gear (Canon focus, Panavision zoom) 64 pitch (Panavision iris) fast charger 2 Preston long dogbone motor brackets (19mm) w/2 Kip connectors ea. 1 Preston short dogbone motor bracket (19mm) w/1 Kip connector Panavison and 15 mm motor bracket sleeves (2 ea) Panavision front mount dual motor brackets with 2 articulated arms, 2 Kip connectors 4 motor cables w/90 degree elbows RED One start-stop cable Arri/Moviecam 3 pin start-stop cable (Alexa, 435,SR3 etc.) Moviecam 2 pin start-stop cable Canon 4429 start-stop cable Fujinon 8 pin start-stop cable Fujinon 4428 start-stop cable Sony 4430start-stop cable Arri 11 pin Fischer start-stop cable Panavision start-stop cable PRO short power cable 12' long power cable, 3 pin XLR 24v w/4 pin XLR 12v pigtail 20' remote hardwire command cable 10' remore iris cable 12' long Microforce zoom cable 1' short Microforce zoom cable $14,950 or best offer rustygeller@bigpond.com