Super Duper Simple Dolly for HV20?

[Tom Lowe]

I need a very simple and smooth "dolly" for doing very simple moves with the HV20 fitted with a bolt-on matte box. It needs to be really portable, for shooting up in the mountains and such.

I probably don't even need to be able to pan or tilt -- just slide along.

What I was thinking of doing is nailing down a 10-foot section of 7 and 1/2-inch "live steam" model railroad track to a 10-foot plank of wood, then using two sets of tripod legs to raise it, lower it, and level it in outdoor settings. I would have to buy two live steam axles and build a little "car" with a plate to attach the HV20. I would want the car to be rather heavy, so the whole thing would be smooth.

Does that sound like a good idea, or are there simpler solutions I could just buy? Even my solution doesn't sound all that portable, considering that I have to haul around a 10-foot plank of wood.

 

[ColinSmith]

The Hague tracking dolly does fine if the ground is not too rocky / overgrown.
If you really think you need to raise the track off the ground then their ladder dolly is interesting.... already been thinking on that for some timelapse....

Hague

 

[Jason Francois]

Tom. I just bought one of these and it's built amazing. It's really heavy and well built. PERFECT for the HV20.

http://dvcaddie.com/dolly.htm

I have a $80 bogen head on it that allows pan/tilt, etc.

You can build an elevatable track system or just lay track out on the floor and plunk down some sandbags. It also runs VERY smooth on granite countertops.

I bought it at EVS.

J.

 

[Tom Lowe]

Tom. I just bought one of these and it's built amazing. It's really heavy and well built. PERFECT for the HV20.

http://dvcaddie.com/dolly.htm

I have a $80 bogen head on it that allows pan/tilt, etc.

You can build an elevatable track system or just lay track out on the floor and plunk down some sandbags. It also runs VERY smooth on granite countertops.

I bought it at EVS.

J.

Oh, this looks pretty good. I would still need to build a "track" for it though, with PVC pipes, I guess. I want to be able to shoot anywhere from ground level up to about mid torso, and I only shoot outdoors, so the terrain is likely to be rough.

 

[Chris Forbes]

Kung-Fu Master. Light, Portable, self cleaning, and rock steady on uneven surfaces. :shiftyph34r:

 

[Jason Francois]

Oh, this looks pretty good. I would still need to build a "track" for it though, with PVC pipes, I guess. I want to be able to shoot anywhere from ground level up to about mid torso, and I only shoot outdoors, so the terrain is likely to be rough.

I have a track that I'm going to modify. It's only good for about 6' when elevated, but it can go on c-stands are light stands with Carnelli (sp?) clamps.

I used the straightest electrical conduit and cut two pieces at length and then the end pieces are cut to match the spread of the dolly. I tie all together with 90 degree screw on elbows from home depot. All of this is in the electrical dept.

I tried to make one out of aluminum, but when the aluminum came in it wasn't the right size. Apparently all the measurements for tube stock are off because of inner vs. outer diameter.

Anyway, home depot can make it work for short runs. Long runs need a middle support when elevated.

J

 

[Steven M. Bailey]

I've used that "live steam" rail and it is heavy to pack. Have you considered sand-bagging your camera to a skate board and using just the plank. I know this may sound like a joke, but I have it from a reliable source that it works good, and am planning on trying it myself soon.

Good luck

If you used sanded plywood you could get away with 3/4" by 1' by 8'. If this isn't smooth enough you could cover it with plexi-glass, but I don't think you'd have a problem with acx grade plywood

 

[Tom Lowe]

Maybe I could make something that runs down a ten-foot 2x6" plank, with four skateboard wheels riding on top of the plank and four wheels along the sides, rollercoaster-style, to stabilize it?

 

[Finner]

Tom if you are even a bit handy check this out. I think I would go with skateboard wheels instead of rollerblade ones but either would probably work for what you want.

http://www.digitaljuice.com/djtv/segment_detail.asp?sid=186&sortby=&page=1&kwid=0&show=all_videos

 

[Steven M. Bailey]

an aluminum screed plank may stay straiter for you than a 2x6.

 

[Jonathan L. Bowen]

I was going with the dolly from IndieDolly.com for now, very portable, seems pretty sweet for less than $2,500 including track. I've been in touch with them via e-mail and am going to visit the factory pretty soon, but just haven't gotten a chance yet.

 

[Finner]

Why would you buy that Jonathan. Just a few weeks ago you were talking about how you could build a fisher type quality dolly for $500.:biggrin:

Seriously though don't spend that much money on that dolly. Look at my post on page 1 of this thread and go to the link I posted there and watch the DIY dolly video. If you have a bit of building skills this will be real easy. Beyond that if you have slightly compitant building skills you could build 4 short angle aluminum corners rather then 2 sides like is shown in the video and on the bottom of each of the 4 build a swivel system (you may have to hire a welder for an hour or so of work to help you to do this part) and this way it would ride on corner track rather then just straight. Build a mountable dolly grip handle and attatch it to the dolly platform and for $200 or less you will have the same thing you are looking at at indie dolly.

 

[Tom Lowe]

I have one of those PVC dollies and have used several different versions of that basic setup. My friend has one using very large gauge PVC. It's smooth and works well, but is not portable and it's tough to level.

I think I would rather have something monorail-like, that I can raise up off the ground with telescoping legs. Maybe instead of a 2x6 I might use a 4x4, ten feet in length? Some kind of beam. I don't know if that would bow or stay solid, though. Maybe aluminum?

 

[Jason Francois]

I have one of those PVC dollies and have used several different versions of that basic setup. My friend has one using very large gauge PVC. It's smooth and works well, but is not portable and it's tough to level.

I think I would rather have something monorail-like, that I can raise up off the ground with telescoping legs. Maybe instead of a 2x6 I might use a 4x4, ten feet in length? Some kind of beam. I don't know if that would bow or stay solid, though. Maybe aluminum?

I was thinking maybe get an aluminum extension ladder, but only use one piece of it. The take your PVC or aluminum rods and screw them in the the ladder at the width of your dolly. Viola...a strong base that can be mounted in C-stands or light stands at any height. Fairly light. Portable enough.

I'm going to try this eventually. I think it would work very well.

 

[Finner]

Makes sense Tom but the thing is if you build just the wheel system in 4 parts you could mount them to a small platform and use metal electrical conduit that you could use a little wood on either ends of the conduit to hold the conduit at the right distance apart the attatch cheaper metal saw horse V's that accept 2x4's and if you have 2 2x4's for each leg that you can adjust and screw together to get the right height needed. You could obviosly not ride on this but it would allow for quick set up.

Hope that makes sense.

 

[Finner]

Insanityfw,

Nice idea but I think most of those ladders are built for structural strength when vertical but I would think 1 peice of leg would not have very much horizontal strength. I may be wrong but I could see it bending in the middle quite easily.

 

[Steven M. Bailey]

I have one of those PVC dollies and have used several different versions of that basic setup. My friend has one using very large gauge PVC. It's smooth and works well, but is not portable and it's tough to level.

I think I would rather have something monorail-like, that I can raise up off the ground with telescoping legs. Maybe instead of a 2x6 I might use a 4x4, ten feet in length? Some kind of beam. I don't know if that would bow or stay solid, though. Maybe aluminum?

You got me thinking at the beginning of this thread. I frequently use an aluminum concrete plank for screeding concrete. Typically they are sixteen foot but could be cut smaller. they are ridged and very light. If you welded two of those together in a T shape they would be incredibly strong and give you a platform to mount your four sided camera coaster to.

This setup could be given fold-up screw-jack legs and a four pulley push-pull system. It could be hand cranked or motorized with a variable speed reversible DC motor for ultra smooth controlled auto dolly. Add a Manfrotto ’s 503HDV pro fluid head and you'd have one bitch'in setup.

I have a full industrial machine shop I think I am going to make one of these soon. I'll let you know how it works out.

good luck.

 

[Finner]

Pics of your DIY would be cool to see as you take on the challenge Steven.

 

[Steven M. Bailey]

Finner,

I just finally finished downloading your link. I have dial-up. Everything takes a month to download.

Seams like a very simple afternoon project. Good link

I'll try to post some pics when I get to production. Right now I am pretty swamped with two houses under construction, but I will get to it soon.:construction:

 

[ColinSmith]

I was thinking maybe get an aluminum extension ladder, but only use one piece of it. The take your PVC or aluminum rods and screw them in the the ladder at the width of your dolly. Viola...a strong base that can be mounted in C-stands or light stands at any height. Fairly light. Portable enough.

I'm going to try this eventually. I think it would work very well.

If you check out my "Hague" link up top, you'll see their ladder dolly setup for some ideas.