my version of the fig rig

TeamJoeDawn said:
I agree.. looks great.. unlike my ghetto version I'd make with fifteen elbow joints..


How do you keep the pipe from collapsing flat when using the heat gun? I'd still try to form it around something round.. just cause I dont trust my "just eyeballed it".... I might end up with a pig tail or corkscrew..
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I did my bend tonight... bought a heat gun, $25 at Home Depot.. but I've seen them for as little as $9.95 on the net.. (course, then you got shipping).

I formed mine around my BBQ grill outdoor.. one of those round barrel types.. had a convenient lip to rest it as it cools to solid shape (it stays somewhat floppy and pliable for suprisingly longer than I thought, you got to hold it in place with a litte tension, a second person is a must [I used my wife.. she was thrilled])

I didn't use any sand in it, cause I figured i would try it without it and it didn't collapse, just got to go slow and easy.

Mine looks exactly like the first post.. except it isn't painted yet, I have foam handles ready to be put on.. and I haven't finished the camera mount yet.. IM GETTING THERE!!

J
 
Just built mine today... im going to get a leather stering wheel wrap and put that on it tomorrow.

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I followed troops instructions to the letter and now have a great new toy to play with. He was right, the QR cost more than the parts for the whole unit!One word of advice guys, be sure to feed the QR bolt up through BEFORE you glue!
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Looks fantastic! one question. Do these fig rigs give you a steady cam look? I am thinking about making one for football season. I get ground level footage run and gun style.
 
Kdawg said:
Looks fantastic! one question. Do these fig rigs give you a steady cam look? I am thinking about making one for football season. I get ground level footage run and gun style.
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Defintitely not steadicam type stabilizing. I have some footage of me running with it and it just aint pretty. Better than plain handheld - I was at full sprint - but not pretty. It works great when you are just standing and some even controlled, slow walking, but overdo it and the steps are noticable. Also stairs are difficult to take.

All that said, I swear by my FigRig (non-DIY) and wouldnt be without it.

-GageFX
 
Just remember, like any other mount, you need to practice to get good results. Even a real Steadycam operator needs practice to produce good results.

I've done some fairly smooth scenes with mine.
 
bicycle wrap works great and if you leave an opening at the top left and right - say one o'clock and eleven o'clock, you can add a mike or a small light...
 
Kdawg said:
thanks for the info, a step up from hand held... good enough for me.
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I would agree completely.. definitely not "stabilized"... but a step up from hand held. Works for long periods (I have used mine pretty much continuously throughout 3-4 hr events with little fatigue) and the results were pretty good (providing I didn't walk around alot).

Im happy with it, more mobile than constantly setting up a tripod, smoother than strictly hand held. I do alot of sitting my faux-rig on my lap, resting the base on my thighs.. rotating from that point. Things like that.


J
 
With these DIY fig rigs, do people get some up and down shake? I built one just like the original poster, and there was sufficient bobbing so I put a second piece of angle-iron. Still the shake. To prevent this I'm having to tie the shoulder strap thing around the top of it and tape it there. Is it supposed to have some shaking?
 
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