Request: Need to build a Circular Dolly

givemefood

givemefood

Well-known member
Friends,

I need to build a dolly that can slide on Semi-circular pipes.

If you follow my shot from the beginning to the end, the path of the shot would look like the number 6. And as you can tell, i would need to build/assemble a bigger semi-circle pipes and a smaller semi circle pipes. I would ofcourse take this shot in 2 pieces.

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/ledarkstallion/detail?.dir=/f6d7scd&.dnm=f7e3scd.jpg&.src=ph

How can i build such a dolly? Any ideas??

Need your input. Thanks in advance.
 
My suggestion would be to use a steerable dolly on some kind of dance floor, or steadicam. A good operator in either case is recomended.
 
If you're set on doing this with a dolly, it can be done providing the dolly has:

1. A skater design (inline's won't work very well)
2. The wheel trucks can rotate.
3. Two of the wheel trucks are also mounted on articulating arms.

1" ABS water pipe can be joined using inserts, and bent by securing the ends. I just use cargo tie down straps (hooks gaff taped in the ends of the length) to winch them to the right curvature. This clip took about 5 minutes to set up.

http://www.savefile.com/files.php?fid=5675492
 
guskersthecat said:
If you're set on doing this with a dolly, it can be done providing the dolly has:

1. A skater design (inline's won't work very well)
2. The wheel trucks can rotate.
3. Two of the wheel trucks are also mounted on articulating arms.

1" ABS water pipe can be joined using inserts, and bent by securing the ends. I just use cargo tie down straps (hooks gaff taped in the ends of the length) to winch them to the right curvature. This clip took about 5 minutes to set up.

http://www.savefile.com/files.php?fid=5675492
Click to expand...


Thanks for the info. Your link doesn't seem to be correct. Would u post the link again?
 
j said:
My suggestion would be to use a steerable dolly on some kind of dance floor, or steadicam. A good operator in either case is recomended.
Click to expand...


Thanks for the suggestion. I'm trying to stay away from steadicams completely as i've not seen any footage shot with video to be neatly steady with a steadicam.

Do u know of any steadicams that can produce smooth shots?
 
You know how the track dollys have the angle iron that the wheels are attatched to so they are at a 45 and grab the pvc track? I was thinking of making one with casters attatched to the plywood, but no caster wheel. Just using the swivel portion and creating that angle on the outside of the caster so as to put skater wheels on it in the same fashion. But having a swivel as well. Does this make sense?

I'll try to make some kind of prototype and post pictures, cuz I wanted to try it myself.
 
Kdawg said:
You know how the track dollys have the angle iron that the wheels are attatched to so they are at a 45 and grab the pvc track? I was thinking of making one with casters attatched to the plywood, but no caster wheel. Just using the swivel portion and creating that angle on the outside of the caster so as to put skater wheels on it in the same fashion. But having a swivel as well. Does this make sense?

I'll try to make some kind of prototype and post pictures, cuz I wanted to try it myself.
Click to expand...


ha ha... i think u tried well. It's my fault i didnt understand most of it.

Yes a conceptualized design would be great to look at. Thanks in advance.
 
givemefood said:
Thanks for the suggestion. I'm trying to stay away from steadicams completely as i've not seen any footage shot with video to be neatly steady with a steadicam.

Do u know of any steadicams that can produce smooth shots?
Click to expand...

have you checked out any of mikkos footage ?
 
lol sorry my description was not very good. Anyway, I had an old caster wheel, so I gave it a shot. my bends and tweaks are not perfect. and there are more ways than one to do this. However here is the idea.
Swivel1.jpg


Swivel2.jpg


You have seen the tracks from other dollys I am guessing out of pvc pipe? You get the swivel action from the caster when its mounted under a piece of plywood, and at the same time the smooth dolly action. I'd say make 4 of these, make your track and your in business.
 
Nice wheels Kdawg!
That is actually prety damn clever. Though Gota have good track with only one pair of wheeles in each coner or you will see bumps.


Thanks Silverwolf! :) :thumbsup:

givemefood said:
Thanks for the suggestion. I'm trying to stay away from steadicams completely as i've not seen any footage shot with video to be neatly steady with a steadicam.

Do u know of any steadicams that can produce smooth shots?
Click to expand...

Umm yeah ... A Steadicam®.

This is going to sound dumb, but I came up with this reponse before I saw Silver's post...

You may not be aware, but I garuntee you have seen very smooth Steadicam footage, but (hopefully) you didn't even know it was a Steadicam shot! You highlight my gripes about a lot of stuff that we see that claimes to be steadicam like, but isn't even close.

Yes you can get perfectly smooth - dolly like - shots with a Steadicam. But it has to be a good experienced operator and be working with proper gear. (non of this cheap imitation stuff we see floating around)


What's the shot of? A dolly might still be the better option depening on what and how you are shooting.

- Mikko
 
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