PaulEdwards

Rob, I haven't found what you describe to be an issue at all. The battery I've been using with the PC-7 on the sled is still fine after over 12 months of use. Paul

Erwin, Don't know how you're powering your IP-5 but I found that with the IP-7 (which also uses the same Infolithium 'F' batteries), if you just leave one of the batteries on the unit, you can use the DC in cable to power it straight off the sled's recorder supply. The unit senses the battery's circuitry and will happily run from the sled. Paul

What needs fixing?

Thanks for the feedback guys. Good to hear it works OK. It's ironic because I didn't get a credit for the Band of Brothers episode..........but someone else did!! I shot for most of the ep. with over 100 steadicam shots including static and dolly shots and a 3 minute intro. sequence which they had to cut for timing. I discovered the credit cock up way too late! The 'Auf Wiedersehen Pet' shot was done at Looton Hoo. It was a really wide (8mm) lens (SRlll) and we started on the crane platform, went up about 25' and then back down again with a step off as the grips wheeled the crane out of shot. We were under pressure to do it quickly as usual. The platform was really a little too small (seemed to feel smaller the higher up we went!) which made it a little arkward to manoeuvre and if you look closely, there is a slight 'wobble' on the step off where my safety strap just brushes the back of the sled. Funny you should mention the Coldplay video...it was supposed to be a really complicated shot on the beach involving many extras...pull back with someone out of the sea to find couple lying down sunbathing.....around bucket of crabs by old boat...follow feet up sand dune to find pitched tents...360 around vocals etc. etc......then the weather closed in! The final straight forward shot was in rain and wind gusting 25 mph. I put the gyros on (only third time I've used them) and was also surrounded with three 4x4's wind breakers. The DOP I worked with yesterday was trying to convince me that 'Russian Ark' had "at least three" cuts in it. I must watch it again to check the points where he mentioned. Paul

I'm in the process of updating my website and have put video clips on for the first time (in 'Showreel' section). I'd appreciate it if anybody who has the time to check it out could comment on the video downloads ie. if they work or not on their machine! Also if the files download at a reasonable speed. The site is at www.steadicam-op.com Thanks. Paul

Flemming, When you say that your rig goes off level; how many inches (or cm) does the bottom of the post wander out from vertical and is it side to side or fore/aft? What drop time are you balancing with? Fast drop times will tend to hide the problem and slow drop times have the opposite effect. Because this fault is happening only half of the time, it's more likely to be some slight play somewhere in the gimbal, rather than misalignment of the bearings. Check for any looseness. Paul

Phil, Canford Audio charge £110.80 (plus VAT) for the 1500 with foam! Paul Edwards

Mitch, Good suggestion! I've just put a post in "Forum Support" to let Tim know about this "Non-CP etc" thread which Jerry started. Regards, Paul

Guys, I've just put a post in "Forum Support" to let Tim know about the "Non-CP etc" thread which Jerry started. Regards, Paul

Jerry, I agree that "Non CP" should go. How about three separate topics for "sleds", "arms" and "vests", so that all manufacturers of sled etc. appear under one topic? Paul

.....and for completeness here's my latest painting entitled "Operator as a Firetruck"......

Hi Rob, I think I've found the way to post the pics here and keep this discussion on the board- just in case anyone else is interested! In the meantime here's my reply "..........It also shows that when you swivel the ladder to the other side (= the front-mounted harnass) , the only force that prevents the truck from tipping over is its weight, since the pivoting point is on the same wheel the ladder is above. True, but this is always the case wherever the ladder (or steadicam arm) is attached. "............ That is a less safe situation than your first drawing where the pivoting point is the opposite side of the truck giving a lever to the ground on one side over the full length between the wheels + the weight from the truck + theweight of ladder on the other side." Not true. The drawings of the two trucks are exactly the same in terms of forces (I've assumed that the ladder weight is not significant). It might be clearer if you look at the drawing of the two trucks again but imagine that the truck on the top drawing is on the very edge of tipping over forwards, so that the rear wheels are just a milimetre off the ground. All the forces are pivoting about the front wheels. Putting in some figures; M2=100 kg M1=400 kg L1=5 m L2=20 m The pivot force trying to pull the truck over (clockwise rotation) is; M2(kg) x L2(m) = 100 x 20 (Kg.m) = 2000 kg.m The pivot force trying to stop the truck falling forward (anticlockwise rotation) is; M1(kg) x L1(m) = 400 x 5 (Kg.m) = 2000 kg.m and the two forces balance perfectly. These are the only forces that can act on the ground because this is the only point of contact. If you now calculate these forces for the bottom drawing they will be exactly the same because the masses are the same and they are in the same points in space. The ladder point of attachment makes no difference. To get a clear view about what is going on in terms of forces you should forget about "vertical forces". Gravity tries to pull each mass (operator's body, sled etc.) downwards but the important thing is how these forces pivot about the point of contact with the ground (ie. wheels or feet). It is wrong to get tied up with the position of the ladder on the truck (or the arm mounting position with the steadicam). The only things which are relevant are the position of the masses and their distances from the point at which these masses act ie. their distances from the point where the wheels on the firetruck touch the road (or where the operator's feet contact the ground). Let me know what you think. Regards, Paul

Hi Rob, I've just sent you an e-mail with a word attachment sketch using your "firetruck" example. I think it shows why the arm attachment point is not the critical thing with the DSD vest. I would have posted it up here if I'd cracked the technology! Let me know what you think. Paul

Larry, I take your points about being able to compare your batteries. I think knowing which batteries are the best ones in a group is really useful information. I wonder if your being able to use the AstroFlight unit to discharge your batteries at this constant "half C" rate (or lower) will be beneficial to battery longevity. It kind of feels intuitive that a constant low current discharge would be good for the cell balance. Anything which might help to keep the cells balanced is a good thing. It seems that a string of 24 cells in series is a very difficult battery pack to keep in good trim. All six of my Ultra batteries have died and had to be re-celled. Paul

Larry, I've just looked at the AstroFlight site and it looks interesting. I did notice though that the AstroFlight unit only discharges at a maximum rate of 1.25 Amps which might be giving you an optimistic capacity rating. A more accurate rating would be given by discharging at 1xC rate ie. 2.4 Amps. For example all Anton Bauer batteries are rated using the 1xC rate to avoid the inflated ratings produced by low discharged rates. Paul Edwards