Mike McEntire Posted October 8, 2011 Report Share Posted October 8, 2011 Hi folks I have a Cinema Products WRC-3 that needs some service. It is part of a very old steadicam system I purchased from Fred Murphy some years ago. It was working pretty good but now it is on the fritz. Any suggestions would be welcomed. At some point I am going to buy a modern system but my wireless FF needs are pretty minimal so if this can be fixed I will be happy for now. It is serial number 29. Thanks Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Eric Fletcher S.O.C. Posted October 8, 2011 Premium Members Report Share Posted October 8, 2011 Hi folks I have a Cinema Products WRC-3 that needs some service. It is part of a very old steadicam system I purchased from Fred Murphy some years ago. It was working pretty good but now it is on the fritz. Any suggestions would be welcomed. At some point I am going to buy a modern system but my wireless FF needs are pretty minimal so if this can be fixed I will be happy for now. It is serial number 29. Thanks Mike Well it's built on a Old (Like REALLY OLD) Airtronics RC airplane system. What's wrong with it. I have some experience fixing it (Actually it's what moved me away from CP, but that's another story) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike McEntire Posted October 8, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 8, 2011 Hi Eric and thanks for taking the time. Well the system has always been a little dodgey. The motor was just jumping around a bit to much when the controller was not being used. I decided to open the box up. Saw some loose wiring and did not mess with that as I was not to sure about where they should go. Put it back together and now the motor just spins constantly when connected. If you were willing to check it out that would be really cool. If you don't have time maybe you could recommend someone. I am down in Oceanside, CA. BTW the motor has only worked when connected to the zoom output. And the focus knob made the motor turn, not the zoom control. Really strange but at least it used to work. Let me know what you think. Thanks, Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Eric Fletcher S.O.C. Posted October 8, 2011 Premium Members Report Share Posted October 8, 2011 Hi Eric and thanks for taking the time. Well the system has always been a little dodgey. The motor was just jumping around a bit to much when the controller was not being used. I decided to open the box up. Saw some loose wiring and did not mess with that as I was not to sure about where they should go. Put it back together and now the motor just spins constantly when connected. If you were willing to check it out that would be really cool. If you don't have time maybe you could recommend someone. I am down in Oceanside, CA. BTW the motor has only worked when connected to the zoom output. And the focus knob made the motor turn, not the zoom control. Really strange but at least it used to work. Let me know what you think. Thanks, Mike Get it to me and I'll see what I can do with it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anthony Graham Posted October 8, 2011 Report Share Posted October 8, 2011 Hi The funny and timely part about this is your old WRC-3 is on ebay at the moment Eric (look close at the TX pic)!!! http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Steadicam-follow-focus-/250902632958?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3a6af659fe Are these as much "fun" to work with as the Seitz? I got a Seitz as a bit of a Steadicam history thing and it is a bit sketchy in use to say the least! Thank god it's not my main focus, must have been fun using these back in the day. Ant Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members John atkinson Posted October 8, 2011 Premium Members Report Share Posted October 8, 2011 Hi folks I have a Cinema Products WRC-3 that needs some service. It is part of a very old steadicam system I purchased from Fred Murphy some years ago. It was working pretty good but now it is on the fritz. Any suggestions would be welcomed. At some point I am going to buy a modern system but my wireless FF needs are pretty minimal so if this can be fixed I will be happy for now. It is serial number 29. Thanks Mike Jim Bartell is the guy. Years ago He fixed my first unit. JA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike McEntire Posted October 8, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 8, 2011 Thanks for the advice on Jim Bartell. Now at least I have a thread of hope with Eric and Jim. Best, Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Eric Fletcher S.O.C. Posted October 8, 2011 Premium Members Report Share Posted October 8, 2011 Hi The funny and timely part about this is your old WRC-3 is on ebay at the moment Eric (look close at the TX pic)!!! http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Steadicam-follow-focus-/250902632958?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3a6af659fe Are these as much "fun" to work with as the Seitz? I got a Seitz as a bit of a Steadicam history thing and it is a bit sketchy in use to say the least! Thank god it's not my main focus, must have been fun using these back in the day. Ant That is hilarious!! His description is incorrect he would be at least the third owner, I bought it from Charles Papert That Reciever was the reason I sold my cinema products gear and moved to a pro. And yes it was a mess to work with Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike McEntire Posted October 9, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 9, 2011 Hi Eric and thanks for taking the time. Well the system has always been a little dodgey. The motor was just jumping around a bit to much when the controller was not being used. I decided to open the box up. Saw some loose wiring and did not mess with that as I was not to sure about where they should go. Put it back together and now the motor just spins constantly when connected. If you were willing to check it out that would be really cool. If you don't have time maybe you could recommend someone. I am down in Oceanside, CA. BTW the motor has only worked when connected to the zoom output. And the focus knob made the motor turn, not the zoom control. Really strange but at least it used to work. Let me know what you think. Thanks, Mike Get it to me and I'll see what I can do with it What is you address Eric. Thanks so much for checking it out. Best, Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members JimBartell Posted October 11, 2011 Premium Members Report Share Posted October 11, 2011 There seems to be a terminology problem. The item pictured on eBay is a WRC-4, which is, as Eric stated, based on Airtronics R/C radio technology. The major cause of problems with these units was loose connectors on the PC board in the transmitter. The WRC-3 (see photo), on the other hand, is a much older unit that looks like a WWII walkie-talkie and is not serviceable. Most of the parts were discontinued by the manufacturer 20 years ago. Jim Bartell Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members JimBartell Posted October 11, 2011 Premium Members Report Share Posted October 11, 2011 While I was looking at the WRC-4 on eBay, under the "You might also like" it suggested this: Benz 5000 for sale Uh, no. No, I might not. Nor should anyone else. Jim Bartell Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Tom Wills Posted October 11, 2011 Premium Members Report Share Posted October 11, 2011 While I was looking at the WRC-4 on eBay, under the "You might also like" it suggested this: Benz 5000 for sale Uh, no. No, I might not. Nor should anyone else. Jim Bartell I think it says something that I've never seen a single Bartech on eBay, and yet in the last year I've seen 3 VFX wireless controls, and that Benz 5000, which has been up there for months. Apologies in advance for getting the thread off topic! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike McEntire Posted October 12, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 12, 2011 Jim thanks for the response. Not the news I was hoping to hear for it is indeed the WW1 style WRC-3 that is in question. I sent it over to Eric who is going to have a look at it. Hopefully it can be rescued. If not I will be in the market for a newer unit. Be talking to you if that happens. Best, Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members John atkinson Posted October 12, 2011 Premium Members Report Share Posted October 12, 2011 Mike, If not I have my WRC4 that works beautifully and was serviced by jim Bartell. You could probably buy this for less than repairing the other unit. John Atkinson Johnatkinson3@mac.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike McEntire Posted October 13, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 13, 2011 John I will see what Eric says. Will keep you in the loop. Thanks for the offer. Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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