Franken Mount

[freeflyguy 0]

Figured I'd post my new camera set-up. It seems the thing to do. Almost done.

PC-101. Kenko .42. Mounted an a home built, caged aluminum "L" bracked. Bent, and rivets for strength and protection. Bolted to a carrier disc with one 3/8's bolt, with nylock nut, and 3 fender washers between for spaceing and friction. I am going to try that at first, without any sort of locking mech. I can crank it down so it barely turns. But still, it can be twisted, if I want to change camera angle, or I get kicked real hard.

This sits on an aluminum disc that is bolted with stainless steel to the helmet in a tripod arrangement.

The whole mount can rotate through 360 degrees. For back shots, tracking, whatever. I can also mount the camera upside down, for right side up shots in Headdown.

Aluminum straps in the back are not structural, just for riser protection. Smooth edges around.

Can also open the screen while it is mounted. I will add some strap or foam that I can band or strap over the screen and mic in freefall. Charge jack and firewire also accessable. A little more Dremel time, and the video out can be too.

Any suggestions?

I would like to thank Boeing Surplus, my local hardware store and my garage full of junk.

NEXT:

I have all the parts for a fibre optic site. Should be cool.

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bzzzz

[freeflyguy 0]

oh yeah, If I want to take it off, 2 9/16 wrenches from the outside of the helmet do the trick in a minute. Leaves the Carrier plate on, but it is low profile enough not to be a pain.

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bzzzz

[rapper4mpi 0]

Here's a suggestion...add some expanding foam in the gap between the helmet and the L-bracket. I know you will lose the ability to rotate the camera, but that thing looks pretty nasty. Sometimes things can be a little over built.
-Rap

[SanDiegoRW 0]

Looks pretty good IMO. Beats paying $160 on a D box too.

-Kenny

[AndyMan 7]

I don't like the gap between the frame and the helmet. Looks like a snag waiting to happen.

_Am

__

You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.

[f1freak 0]

I like the rollcage around the lense....

HAVE FUN...
...JUST DONT DIE

[freakydiver 0]

"Beats paying $160 on a D box too."

It looks like a good and cheap design, but I don't know that I'd go so far as to day it beats the 160 dollar box. I see quite a few snag points. Although, I should talk with my cheap ass L bracket setup. Three hundo camera jumps and counting without a snag, knock on wood....

-- (N.DG) "If all else fails – at least try and look under control." --

[freeflyguy 0]

I did try to minimize snags, actually a big part of the "design".

I could have molded to the helmet, but having it movable was important to me.

The straps on the back will keep most of the stuff out from under the bracket. Foam isn't all it is cracked up to be, too flexible. Hard points are where it is at. The gap itself isn't a big deal, as long as I keep stuff from entering it. I will reduce the size of the camera mount screw.

Regardless, was fun, and we will see how it goes. Proper deployment is the biggest part of snag prevention. Course, any deployment is sometimes the only deployment that is possible.

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bzzzz