Francois Archambault SOC

Sorry about the long message folks, bare with me please, I just wanted to give as much details as possible. This is one of 2 rigs I have, and I'm selling this one. I wanted to design and come up with my dream sled, and after more than 3 decades of operating the steadicam, I did have very precise goals. I teamed up with David Hable and came up with this perfect sled for me. The philosophy behind the design is based on 3 basic goals: #1- Lightweight and versatility, #2- smaller footprint and downsizing/eliminating certain components of the sled, and #3: more control of power management. Goal #1: Lightweight and versatile has everything to do with the control of weight management. If the sled itself is unnecessarily heavy just by itself, you’re kind of stuck with that weight no matter what. But if it’s lighter from the start, you can add more weight if you want or need. For example, if you’re flying a heavier camera, you can just use bigger more powerful batteries at the bottom. But I control how much and where. You may want to use 2 batts in the back and 1 on the monitor to help pan inertia, or 2 in the back and 1 under the centerpost for less pan inertia if you need to do fast pans, it’s up to you. Weight management was really important in my design as I believe the operator should have as much control as possible of how he or she wants to build the sled according to what the shot requires. You can also see that the lower centerpost bayonet mount is centered over the battery under it, giving a bit more weight forward to accomodate the lighter flat screen monitors we now use. No more big CRTs anymore... I mean, generally speaking, of course... I still have my old 5" somewhere... ain't gonna use it anytime soon, if ever... And I still have my old Steadicam CP model 2 with it's blindingly bright 3" CRT. Still works, but again, ain't gonna use this thing anytime soon, if ever... Goal #2: Smaller footprint. For me, that meant eliminating the upper electronics box AND redesigning a smaller lower electronics box. No upper electronics box meant more usable space on the centerpost. On the sled, the Betz-Tools top stage has been modified and upgraded with an extension in the back to accommodate the space required for the Lemo plugs and wiring. With that done, I can now slide the gimbal up much closer to the camera with that available space now, therefore giving the bottom of the sled more impact to counter balance. That means I can now keep the sled shorter than before and there’s less need to extend the centerpost as much anymore. Personally, if the camera ends up a bit lower when operating, I simply fix that by simply adding a longer armpost and keep the sled on the shorter side. At the bottom of the sled, there's now a much smaller new lower electronics box sitting above the battery rack. This tremendously helps bring the sled to an even shorter version while still using the same regular standard centerpost length. And that makes it more versatile in its standard mode, no need for a shorter centerpost in the kit, unless you need a really short centerpost for specialty shots, of course. Goal #3: More control of power management. When in 12v, this new lower electronics box will distribute power everywhere, using either flying 1, 2 or 3 batteries. When 2 or 3 batts are used, the amp/h is added, giving you more use time before swapping batts to fresh ones. For example, if you put 2 batteries on the bottom, and each battery is 8 amp/h, you're now running 12v but at 16 amp/h. You got 3 batteries? so it's 8 + 8 +8 = 24 amp/h. And you can put them where ever you want on the battery rack. 1 battery anywhere will work. 2 batteries clamped on any of the 3 gold mounts will work at twice the amp/hour. It’s all up to you. The lower electronics box will make any configuration work, and there's no more need for jumper blocks in this design anymore. Now when you need 24v, you just flip the switch to 24v. There’s just 1 limitation for battery placement in 24v, you have to put 1 of the batteries under the centrerpost position. The other one you can chose either the upper or lower gold mount in the back. A third battery is optional, 12v accessories will still be powered, and if you do put that 3rd battery, it will help with the other 12v accessories, all of it managed by the lower electronics box. I'm definitely no electronics geek, David The Genius" Hable took care of that... diodes and thermo switch and wiring and all that stuff... The sled will easily fly ANY cameras, from smaller packages like RED Komodo setups, to the big hog Alexa 65. For that hog, just clamp on big powerful batteries, and Bob's your uncle. And because the sled is light, you'll carry less weight…. Wink wink…. The weight of the sled itself is less than 10lbs. To be more precise, sled only, no batteries and no monitor, is exactly 9lbs 12oz. Size of sled fully collapsed, "all in" from the top of the Betz top stage to right under the bottom gold mount is right at 22". Anyway, I’m selling this combo here with an almost new Volt 2 unit in fantastic shape. Super low mileage on that Volt 2. Here’s the list of components from top to bottom, PLEASE note that the batteries are not included, there are just there for the pictures. PRICE: US$21,000 + shipping. - Betz-Tools modified top stage with internal electronics and “Pro Type” centerpost bayonet clamp. All PRO pinning and Lemo plug compatible. - Pro 2 telescopic 1.5" centerpost with internal HD cable (Pro compatible) - Complete Tiffen Volt 2 system with Tiffen Rain cover for gimbal. Because the gimbal has interchangeable bushings, it will fit centerposts sizes 1.5", 1.58" and 1.75", all the parts are included in the Volt kit. The gimbal handle too has bushing for armposts size 5/8" and 3/4". - New Lower Electronics Box. 12/24v - Modified Gen 4 Pro battery rack - Betz-Tools “Ted Churchill” monitor bracket - It's not pictured, but I'm also including a Cam-Jam yoke and parts for the Cam-Jam monitor bracket only thing missing is centerpost clamp and rods for complete kit. - Nebtek 7” Solar HD monitor. - Tiffen Volt docking bracket with interchangeable spuds (either 5/8”, 3/4”, your choice) - Cam-Jam Universal camera dovetail plate with rods and clamp adaptor - Cam-Jam Alexa 35 sliding dovetail - Cables and BNCs for monitor, power cables for Alexa Mini-Mini LF, Alexa 35, Venice/Venice 2, all with backups - All cables for the Volt 2, with backups. I’m based in Vancouver and if you want, I can ship with pelican cases, but with the cost of shipping these days, you will most probably pay more for shipping the case than buying a new one wherever you are… We can discuss that more in depth if we get there. But if you're local, the pelican cases are available if you buy the sled and pick it up. There it is. Contact me if you want to learn more or need more pictures or infos. Cheers! Francois Archambault, SOC

May have a Tiffen Volt 2 kit for sale, but will know in about a week or so. Let me know if you're interested to know more. It's in super shape, has very low milage! Will fit any post as it comes will all the bushings for 1.5", 1.58" and 1.75". Let me know. Francois

to buy or to rent?

SOLD

SOLD

XCS gimbal in great shape, smooth as buttah. Hasn't been used a lot, mainly keeping it as a backup. Purchased it new from Greg, never abused it. Got a couple small cosmetic scratches but besides that, it's in perfect shape. Gimbal can be used on either a 1.5" post or a 2" post by simply swapping the sleeve. Comes with 2 hand tools. Buyer pays all shipping charges. Asking US$3800.00 Francois.

Not available anymore.

NOT AVAILABLE ANYMORE

Sold.

Mint condition WK SingleShot complete kit with the 3 elastic latex strength (light, Medium, Heavy), 1 x SingleShot standard adaptor for Klassen Harness, also 1 x optional Side adaptor, 1 x soft shell bag. Used only few times. Price buying a new unit is US$2790. --Asking US$2200 OBO, buyer pays all shipping costs.

Thomas, just sent you a text and email.

Bump.

Bump

2 GPI-PRO black canisters in perfect working order. A+ condition. New units are around $3300/each, --asking $4200 for both with the case. Buyer pays shipping. Cheers! Francois

Still available, New price: US$30,000

Selling 4 GPI-PRO canister kit for either Titan or Atlas arm. 2 Black canisters and 2 Blue canisters. Great condition! Ready to go! Price new is somewhere between $12,000 and $13,000 for the 4 of them--- ASKING: US$8000 OBO

Finally, after a couple extra weeks of spring cleaning, I've put together a solid kit for sale. I tried to edit my original topic from 2 weeks ago, but I don't think it's possible, so here's a new topic. All in great shape, the kit is ready to go. The Battery Rack Gen 4 has a jumper block that has been modified so that all 3 batteries work together to feed 12v at 3 times the Amp/H. Price new: US$43,000. Asking US$32,000 OBO. Here are the components: -Betz-Tools top stage -Cine-live upper electronics -GPI-PRO telescopic centerpost 2 with HD cable -XCS-INC Gimbal with Ergo Handle 2 (regular XCS padded handle also included) -Boland 7" High Brightness monitor with Cam-Jam yoke and MK-V bracket -Cine-Live Lower electronics with 3 x 12v modified jumper block. (2nd original jumper block also included) -GPI-PRO Atlas Arm with 2 gray canisters and 2 armposts with clamps (one 6" and one 10") Padded bag included. -1 XCS dovetail plate, 1 Alexa Plate, 1 short Betz-Tools dovetail and 1 Arri sliding dovetail adaptor plate -1 Low mode D-Bracket -1 Jerry Hill Mag Dock 2 -1 Jerry Hill Gorelock 2 -3 x Jerry Hill docking clamps, fits Gorelock 2 and Mag Lock 2 -1 Robbie Carlson monitor rain cover -1 Robbie Carlson Arm rain cover -1 Robbie Carlson Cine-Live / Batteries rain cover -1 Arri Mini-mini LF Camera power cable -1 Sony Venice Camera power cable -1 American steadicam stand - Can include a Pelican case for shipping if needed. Asking: US$32,000 OBO

SOLD.

Hi all, here's a GPI-PRO Cinelive sled for sale in great shape. I bought all the components new and I used it with great care. I never rented the rig out, it was always used by me. Here are the list of components from top to bottom, and if you need something you're not seeing here, let me know I may have it in my shop. I can throw in a pelican case if you want one, but I figured that with the price of shipping going up so much, the price of a new case is probably the same as shipping it..... Asking US$ 24,000 OBO. Thank you! - Betz-Tools top stage, with dovetail plate. - Cine-live upper electronics box - GPI-Pro 2 telescopic centerpost - GPI-Pro Gimbal with VZ handgrip and XCS Ergo handle - Boland 7” BVB07 High brightness monitor - Cam-Jam / MK-V telescopic monitor bracket - Cine-live lower electronics box - GPI-Pro battery rack lite (3 A/B plates) - Misc. Plates, cables and tools, Mag Dock 2, GAD2. US$24,000 OBO

Sold.

XCS Ergo handle for sale. This a right hand handle, meaning that your right hand on that handle, and the sled is hanging on your left. Will work on either a Pro or XCS gimbal. Very good shape, the bearings are very smooth. Had it as a BU option in my kit. US$750 OBO More stuff to come! Francois

Hi all! It's the end of spring and I've been doing a bit of cleaning in my garage! I have an EFP blue spring arm for sale. It's in great shape and ready to fly. I've had this as a BU and also used it a few times with my special lightweight rig. I could have painted the spring covers, but looks better with a bit of patina... US$3000 OBO. More stuff to come! Cheers! Francois.

Hey Joseph, would you be interested in an XCS ergo handle? It was on one of my Pro gimbals, works perfectly. Unless you're looking for a long handle so that you can do a Volt conversion? Anway, JIC, see attached pics.

Gentlemen, I have an EFP blue springs arm available if any of you guys are interested. Arm in good shape and fully functional. I'm cleaning my garage, I have sooooo much shit.... Was checked and tuned 4-5 years ago and used it only a handful of times since. I had it for my extra lightweight running rig I have. Keep me posted! Francois

Hi Amadeu, just wanted to see if you were still looking for a GPI-PRO Cinelive sled? I may have one for sale very soon. Keep me posted Francois