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  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

Weapon DSMC2 Tactical Top Plate

I am leaning towards the WC design as I like the idea of moving the top display connectors to the side of the plate to free up space. The area available to the top plate is so small its gonna be a struggle in full production mode especially with the Base Expander. With the Revolt Expander a top plate could be designed to cover the top of both making for a more practical space. I'll try and hang out a bit longer to see what red has to offer with their top plate.
 
I also suggested a top plate that covered both the brain and RedVolt expander. For full up production work the RV expander makes total sense. It will be our default module. So having a top plate across both the brain and RV expander would be perfect. Having optional places to put the "smart" handle would be cool as well, and an option to reverse it (for better balance with longer zooms, and to get it away from the 7" display).

M
 
Offsetting the vf connectors on the top plate and reverse position of the handle with commands is WC find. Hats off for what they have done at that price point!
Pat
 
I had to do a little brain storming to figure out a top handle with the ET V mount. I hope this helps a little for some. I don't like a heavy setup unless Im doing some commercial or things that need it. So for a light setup here is what I came up with.
The top mini cheese plate is the WC Easy Plate XL.
I taped over the contacts on the camera before adding the cheese plate to protect from...well contact.
It is very snug with the Red Bricks but not so much that Im concerned. You can get a sheet of paper in between the handle and the batt so Im all good.
IMG_9978.jpgIMG_9974.jpgIMG_9976.jpg
 
Russ,

Nice workaround. How do you stop the 16x9 quick snap connectors from rotating. I find a monitor on an arm always has enough torque to loosen the 16x9 connector as it has only one bolt holding it on
 
Tom Gleeson said:
How do you stop the 16x9 quick snap connectors from rotating. I find a monitor on an arm always has enough torque to loosen the 16x9 connector as it has only one bolt holding it on
Click to expand...

Tom,
I use LOCTITE 37418 242 Blue Medium Strength Threadlocker.
Primary design is to prevent loosening from vibration - but if you do not "shock" the 16x9, it keeps it in place.
Also prevents corrosion.

Stay with the medium strength - anything higher requires heat to remove - medium can be removed with normal tools.
Also, minimum size for this product is 1/4" (as in 1/4-20) - anything smaller might not be easy to break away.
 
To me, as the camera is so small there is not really space for a top plate and a handle. So im thinking of ditching the included upgrade handle and buy the cheese plate one thats included in one of the raven packages. Or actually sculpt somthing out in 3d and take it to the metal shop As i would like a handle that is more or less like a square stick with nato rails on each side and that also has some flat cheese plate surface and then one more short nato rail going like a cross in the front of the handle. then also male it so it can mount facing both forward and backwards so its balanced a bit better with longer lenses. It can not be to difficult to shop up the original handle an use its conectors on the base and then redo the wiring so the on off button is still up there... even easy to stick a little battery and ir switch in it to make a keycain on of remote...
 
Tom Gleeson said:
Russ,

Nice workaround. How do you stop the 16x9 quick snap connectors from rotating. I find a monitor on an arm always has enough torque to loosen the 16x9 connector as it has only one bolt holding it on
Click to expand...
Usually they are tight enough but I have replaced a couple of the screws wit h 3rd party screws and that seems to help, I have also screwed them with a little bee's wax and put a strip of double sided tape on the back of the bracket and that usually is enough to keep things from spinning. Obviously when you really crank on them they will eventually free up but usually when you get them on they are not going to go anywhere unless you really want them to. The double sided tape was the last thing I tried and that seems to be the trick.
 
Russ Fill said:
I had to do a little brain storming to figure out a top handle with the ET V mount. I hope this helps a little for some. I don't like a heavy setup unless Im doing some commercial or things that need it. So for a light setup here is what I came up with.
The top mini cheese plate is the WC Easy Plate XL.
I taped over the contacts on the camera before adding the cheese plate to protect from...well contact.
It is very snug with the Red Bricks but not so much that Im concerned. You can get a sheet of paper in between the handle and the batt so Im all good.
IMG_9978.jpgIMG_9974.jpgIMG_9976.jpg
Click to expand...

Russ, seems to me that the old red vmount batteries are the problem... (I know... "Duhhh") They stick up really high and I've never liked how tall they are... too bad you can't just flip the whole mount upside down like you can do if it was sitting on rails.. Now, I know if you're like me, you want to repurpose what you already own and not spend all your life savings on camera equipment, but there are other brands on the market that don't sit so high.. and if they are old batteries, it's probably time for new ones.. I personally use AB on my Dragon now, which sits a step above flush to the top... What happens when you want to mount a Red LCD instead of the EVF? all hell must break loose.
 
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I've been using the RED Epic rubber handle on a NATO rail on the top of camera and it provides enough clearance for the ET VMount battery plate. I'll try to remember to take a photo of it tomorrow on set.
 
Your so right Patrick, I do like finding just the right use for some pice of gear that has been around for a while and seems to be out dated. I hate when you dump 4 or 5 hundred or more on some pice of gear and then it doesn't work or can't be used on a newer pice of gear.
I do love my Red Bricks though. They seem to last longer than most 190 ah bricks maybe it's just me. I have with the new Weapon system really started shopping for a new power/battery system so I can make all the new wireless systems work.
The trick with my red LCD touch screen is I have a 16x9 bracket on it so it works on ether side of the camera and the top handle on the front so I don't have to move a thing when adding a monitor or LCD touch screen. And my Small HD is on the same 16x9 mounting bracket with a bracket on each end of a Red6" arm to be able to basically put my monitors, Small HD or Red LCD in just about any positions. The other 16x9 mounts are used to hang flags off of a clamp on a Red6" arm or a quick filter or just about anything you may want to hang in front of the glass.

i will probably be looking in to a new battery system just befor the end of the year..
 
When I see how short the Weapon body is with a vMount that close to the brain, and how tall a typical vMount battery is...it all looks unbalanced and awkward.

I'm starting to think that the only way to go is with the REDVolt expander to get the vMount further away from the handle (and of course provide backup power) to balance the camera and provide a more workable area for handles, monitor attachment, FF receivers, etc.

But I REALLY wish RED would declare their intent to produce a top plate, and provide details. And ideally, an optional plate extension that would cover the REDvolt expander so we have more room to attach AKS.

I also wish RED would produce a REDvolt expander with an integrated VMount like the I/O expander for RAVEN. Spending close to $5K for a REDvolt expander + ET amount seems a bit too much.

M
 
Anyone at RED care to reply to inquiries about producing a top plate? Must we rely on promises of others with no word whatsoever on what should be one of the first accessories produced for the camera??

Sheesh! Why the friggin mystery?

Guess we're left with spending our hard earned cash on other company's products.

M
 
Well, just ordered WC top plates. Couldn't wait any longer. My Dragons are in for upgrade.

I'm sure I'm not alone.... in fact now I'll have to wait since they are in high demand. Too bad RED missed this window of opportunity.

M
 
Yeah bit of a bummer Mark, I just ordered the WC top plate as well. Would have loved to have seen a RED option!
 
Mark Pedersen said:
Well, just ordered WC top plates. Couldn't wait any longer. My Dragons are in for upgrade.

I'm sure I'm not alone.... in fact now I'll have to wait since they are in high demand. Too bad RED missed this window of opportunity.

M
Click to expand...

With you on that. Top plate mounting is pretty much a non-negotiable for production flexibility. I suspect the silence from RED might have something to do with top plate intelligence (pogo display/start+stop functionality) and extended dev time, but it does seem a little odd to rely on 3rd party innovation for something that has been a staple for RED setups. It's a little like the beloved side handle which has been relegated to potential 3rd party solutions to solve for.

Obviously RED is incredibly well connected in pro circles when curating feedback on new camera design but perhaps the odd open user poll would help prioritize development pathways based on wider customer base feedback?

Sometimes it's just the little things as well.. like the Jetpack, which I think a lot of people spending this sort of coin for high end cameras would have preferenced an SDI output first over a HDMI one (first up).. a little frustrating to have to find workarounds for our Bolt kit etc.
 
Wooden camera top plate seems to blow everything else away
 
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