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ARRI 19mm Base too narrow??

R

ralf.luethy

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I noticed that the RED 19mm Base gets stuck when I try to slide it one the dovetail-connection of the SKATER MINI (P+S Technik).

I got the regular ARRI base as well, (but that of course is "off-centered" so the it doesn't work with the red one if you want to use a matte box set on the 19mm rods) which slides on smoothly - so I figure it must be slightly wider than the Red/ET one....:sad:

A manufacturing issue??
 
I do have the ET one - from the RED Store, where they call it "ARRI 19mm BASE" - it looks very much like the "regular" ARRI BASE but with the centered screws ... and ET base does not quite fit the dovetail.

I know that the RED BOTTOM PLATE does not fit at all.
 
That should not be. Maybe the brake lever is in the locked position on the ET baseplate/ Otherwise, you could take out the 2 screws and remove the plate oever the brake lever and you could adjust the brake if maybe it is too tight for some weird reason.
 
The ET base fits any ARRI standard dovetail plate, so I'm unsure what you mean that it does not quite fit.

Can you post a picture that shows the problem?
 
I think I know the answer to this question. I too have a Skater MINI and noticed the very same thing happening with my 19mm ET baseplate. I don't think it's the dovetail but rather the rocker that causes the struggle. The Skater rocker has rubber strips that act as cushions while the camera/baseplate sits on the dovetail screwed onto the rocker. I've noticed that the rubber strips also act like mini brakes when trying to slide the camera off, the tolerances are very tight. You might just try lifting the camera/baseplate while you slide them off the dovetail, but I think it really requires three hands to accomplish this feat. Might also try to put some talcum powder on the rubber to give it a bit less grip.
 
okay, so in the first pic you see who far the dovetail will slide into the base - the break is not even close to where it's it at in the photo.

the other to pics show that in theory the two pieces should match...
 
here is a shot of the skater with the tilt arm and two shots of the "regular" ARRI base, which slides on there quite smoothly ... on it's own dovetail (as seen mounted on the tripod) as well as the dovetail that connects the base to the skater's tilt arm.
 
I own the PS skater dolly and it works like a charm with the ET plate.

This picture does no justice but I when i had it on the rocker I had no problems.
 
Mark Phelan said:
I think I know the answer to this question. I too have a Skater MINI and noticed the very same thing happening with my 19mm ET baseplate. I don't think it's the dovetail but rather the rocker that causes the struggle. The Skater rocker has rubber strips that act as cushions while the camera/baseplate sits on the dovetail screwed onto the rocker. I've noticed that the rubber strips also act like mini brakes when trying to slide the camera off, the tolerances are very tight. You might just try lifting the camera/baseplate while you slide them off the dovetail, but I think it really requires three hands to accomplish this feat. Might also try to put some talcum powder on the rubber to give it a bit less grip.
Click to expand...

very true. the rubber stripes make it a little more difficult. but I unscrewed the dovetail completely - still it gets stuck ...
 
Abu Reno said:
I own the PS skater dolly and it works like a charm with the ET plate.
Click to expand...

so it's probably my particular ET plate that has "manufacturing tolerances" ... bummer:sad:

Jeff??
 
the dovetail you show in the photo is not the dovetail from the Skater Mini. That is the ET dovetail. Are you saying it gets stuck or the dovetail from P+S Technic is the culprit?
 
Hi, this is Aki from P+S Technik. I just want to let you know we have tested all Skater dovetails with two ET bridge plates and they work absolutly well and identical like the original Arri ones.

Just to clear some things here. The dovetail from the images shown belong to the Skater Tilt Module.
Ralf, if you would like to send us your brigde plate as well as the dovetail over, please contact us. So we can see, if there is any issue and where it might be.
We would also like to point out, that the original Arri bridge plates, as well as the Red ET ones, don't have contact to the rubber cushions, there should be a gap of 1-2mm. Mark, if it's different with your model, please post a photo or PM to me.

Best,
Aki, P+S Technik
 
pands said:
Hi, this is Aki from P+S Technik. I just want to let you know we have tested all Skater dovetails with two ET bridge plates and they work absolutly well and identical like the original Arri ones.

Just to clear some things here. The dovetail from the images shown belong to the Skater Tilt Module.
Ralf, if you would like to send us your brigde plate as well as the dovetail over, please contact us. So we can see, if there is any issue and where it might be.
We would also like to point out, that the original Arri bridge plates, as well as the Red ET ones, don't have contact to the rubber cushions, there should be a gap of 1-2mm. Mark, if it's different with your model, please post a photo or PM to me.

Best,
Aki, P+S Technik
Click to expand...

Hi Aki,

thanks for your response.

yes, the dovetail does indeed belong to the tilt-module - I unscrewed it from the L-bracket.

Mark, like I said, the "regular" ARRI plate (with the uncentered screws) does work perfectly with the all the skater's dovetails (I got both rockers and the one that connects to the L-bracket). It seems to be my particular ET plate that gets stuck on all of these dovetails, including the bottom-plate dovetail from my "regular" ARRI plate.

Aki, I am currently on the road but as soon as I get back to Munich, I will get in touch with you.

Best,
ralf
 
Aki and Ralf,

You are both right, I stand corrected. The ET baseplate does sit off of the rubber cushions. The fit is very tight with the rocker/dovetail and I was thinking it was the rubber cushions when I removed the camera last week after a shoot. It hasn't posed any problems, just makes for a challenge to install or remove the camera with it being such a close fit. As I took a better look, I see there is the gap you mentioned, not an issue. A great product.
 
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