Modular Assault Plate and the Clutch

[Curran Giddens]

I finally had time this morning to test out the new RED Modular Assault Plate. This plate is perfect if you want to go quickly from handheld with the Clutch to a tripod with a Quick Release Platform in a few seconds. Keep in mind this is only for 15mm LWS rod spacing.

There was a clearance issue with using the default Clutch configuration. To use 19mm rods on the Clutch you would normally attach the DSMC 19mm Universal Mount on the front of the QR and then bolt the Collarbone on top of that. But the Collarbone is too thick to allow the Modular Assault Plate to attach to the QR plate.

The good news is that the Clutch is infinitely configurable. And you won't be needing to use those 19mm rods, at least not with the required spacing to use a matte box, etc.. But I still like to use a short 19mm rod to attach the Chest plate.

Another option would be to use Rod to Rosette brackets instead of the Collarbone to attach the handles.


Here is the configuration I have settled on for now using the Dovetail Mounting Plate (Short) to attach the Collarbone. The bonus with this setup is you can take off the front handles just by sliding off the dovetail.








Rod to Rosette bracket for attaching the Chest Plate. And you can also use them to attach handles.






Final setup with a Red Brick Battery in the back to help balance the rig.






Quick release the camera from the Clutch and you are ready to go on the tripod in a few seconds.

 

[Scott Miller]

I soooo want that piece of gear!!! Nice to see and hear some real-world use, thank you Curran!

 

[Tim Sutherland]

The one thing I never liked too much about the assault plate is that there is such little surface area that the camera sits on, and all on the smart side of the camera. How solid does the camera feel on there if you put a lot of weight on it? Batteries, preston motor drives, etc, will make this thing a lot more top heavy in most handheld configurations I would be using it in. I'm afraid after a while it would develop some slight play and need to be re-tightened quite a bit.

Tim

 

[Alex Boothby]

Thanks for posting this Curran. It really helps to see these different configs.

I have a quick question; can you tell me what material the DSMC shoulder pad is constructed from? In particular, what are two thin "ridges" that run along the spine of the shoulder pad made of? Is it anodized metal (aluminum perhaps)? Or is it a rigid plastic or poly?

The reason I'm asking is that I am considering buying the DSMC shoulder pad, and then sawing these ridges off (or down considerably) so that I can mount a short dovetail on top of the pad. This would make the shoulder pad more versatile because you could quickly slide it directly under the Epic for better balance when the the situation calls for it.

The problem is that I don't know if this material can be cut. Aluminum, yes. Plastic, no.

Check out the attached photos for a better illustration of my idea. Am I crazy? Do you think this would work?

 

[George Tsai]

If only the assault plate isnt backordered havent ordered yet, still weighing my options. But if it was in stock now i'd prolly end up buying one

 

[Tim Morten]

Thanks for posting this Curran. It really helps to see these different configs.

I have a quick question; can you tell me what material the DSMC shoulder pad is constructed from? In particular, what are two thin "ridges" that run along the spine of the shoulder pad made of? Is it anodized metal (aluminum perhaps)? Or is it a rigid plastic or poly?

The reason I'm asking is that I am considering buying the DSMC shoulder pad, and then sawing these ridges off (or down considerably) so that I can mount a short dovetail on top of the pad. This would make the shoulder pad more versatile because you could quickly slide it directly under the Epic for better balance when the the situation calls for it.

The problem is that I don't know if this material can be cut. Aluminum, yes. Plastic, no.

Check out the attached photos for a better illustration of my idea. Am I crazy? Do you think this would work?

Sounds a lot like what Innocinema is offering:

 

[Jason Wingrove]

Hey Curran, have been tooling with mounting bombs, how is that mounted in your pics? the spinner on a swat rail mounted vertically on the top of a VF/Brook FMJ plate?
Love a pic of that a little closer & wondering how much further fwd you cab go with the bomb?

thx & sorry for threadjacking

 

[Alex Boothby]

Sounds a lot like what Innocinema is offering:

That's exactly right Tim... and I think the Razor is an excellent product by Action products. The difference is that my "hacked DSMC" idea would be faster to re-config; it could pop off the back and directly under the Epic body without unscrewing dovetails or reconfiguring at all.

The DSMC pad could live on the back of the camera (with battery module above) in a typical ENG config. I tend to keep my camera built most of the time, transport in a quick draw bag, and love bouncing between tripod and handheld. Therefore I'm looking for more of an ENG solution, with the added functionality of balance if you need to slide the pad under the camera for cases of prolonged handheld.

It also looks pretty damn nice on the back of the Epic with the battery module attached - like it was meant to be there.

 

[Curran Giddens]

How solid does the camera feel on there if you put a lot of weight on it?

Are you talking about putting a lot of weight on the rods? Or the Quick Release system in general?

I can definitely see the Quick Release base end up with some play just from being worn out from use. You are right, there isn't much surface area to hold the mounting plate down. If you are talking about the rods, I didn't have time to test that yet. It feels pretty solid though. I feel pretty confident about mounting a mattebox and wireless FF on there.

I have a quick question; can you tell me what material the DSMC shoulder pad is constructed from? In particular, what are two thin "ridges" that run along the spine of the shoulder pad made of? Is it anodized metal (aluminum perhaps)? Or is it a rigid plastic or poly?

The ridges are made of aluminum. You should be all set. There is a little bit of rubber material that runs along the center of the ridges, but I have no idea how deep it goes.

 

[Curran Giddens]

Hey Curran, have been tooling with mounting bombs, how is that mounted in your pics? the spinner on a swat rail mounted vertically on the top of a VF/Brook FMJ plate?

Yes, Spinner on a swat rail that is horizontally mounted to the side of the VF/Brook FMJ-X plate. This configuration actually sticks out a bit too far from the camera for me personally.

I actually prefer to mount the swat rail at a 45% angle on the side of the top handle. That way you can move the EVF in just a little bit closer to the camera. See my pics of this Spinner setup here:

http://reduser.net/forum/showthread...nt-evf-on-epic&p=834023&viewfull=1#post834023

 

[Alex Boothby]

The ridges are made of aluminum. You should be all set.

Cool. Thanks Curran. Very helpful info!

 

[Jason Wingrove]

Thx curran. Hmm the perfect solution is still out there. Somewhere

 

[Ben Westaway]

Slight thread hijack, but regarding still the clutch...

Does anyone have a decent solution for a bag/box for the clutch? A peli with cut foam (or foam from packing box as shown) would work, but seems a bit bulky. Need a better solution as for me at the moment the parts are wrapped in cloth and put into a holdall....

 

[Jean-Marie Belloteau]

Hi guys, this is Jim from France and this is my first post here!!

I'm waiting for my epic X, and I want to buy a lot of accessories for the body such as the clutch. I just realized with this thread that "DSMC MODULAR ASSAULT PLATE PACK" is not going to work well with the clutch. I see how Curran Giddens solved the problem. But I have maybe an other and better way, I'm not sure.
The bottom plate called "EASY RISER" plus the "LW 15mm Bracket" can do the same job as the "DSMC MODULAR ASSAULT PLATE PACK" from RED, but cannot quick attach and release on the clutch. So maybe we can use longer screws 3/8-16 to attach the RED "MOUNTING PLATE" to the Wooden camera "EASY RISER" directly on the EPIC BODY.

What do you think about that?

Do you know longer screws that would do the job? If yes, were can I find them?

Do you think this configuration will hold on strongly ?

Thanks a lot

--
Jean-Marie BELLOTEAU
+33 6 50353261
www.blog.jmbelloteau.com

 

[Sean Porter]

Jean-Marie,

This is a very interesting idea. You'd loose correct spacing for the 19mm or 15mm studio rod setup, but if you were planning an exclusively 15mm LW system I don't see why it wouldn't work. overall it's a little more $$ than just the modular assault plate and quick release platform, but then again it's also stuff that's available now =)