tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18888640.post4284107569854735985..comments2024-03-28T00:18:19.640-07:00Comments on Dollygrippery: Track TalkDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08466991423411721535noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18888640.post-80301617323526250362010-07-23T06:46:59.203-07:002010-07-23T06:46:59.203-07:00I've been using PVC sleeves for long lens shot...I've been using PVC sleeves for long lens shots on round track since hearing about them from a guy who worked on Bertolucci's "The Last Emperor" back in '87 - nice to hear that they're now available commercially. <br /><br />Sleeves can be made by taking 20' lengths of schedule 20 PVC pipe (the thin stuff), carefully cutting off the bell ends and ripping a slot in the PVC slightly wider then the dolly track's tread supports - this allows the PVC to snap snugly onto the round track - the joints between the 20' PVC sleeves can be dressed with emery cloth or even glued if necessary.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18888640.post-30223192355893327542010-05-02T21:04:29.213-07:002010-05-02T21:04:29.213-07:00I have some Star Track. It's heavy, the corne...I have some Star Track. It's heavy, the corners are sharp, and the rails are black, which is just lovely when it's been sitting in the sun for hours.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18888640.post-24250163136061569052007-10-05T10:54:00.000-07:002007-10-05T10:54:00.000-07:00Hello. My name is Gil. I stumbled onto your blog...Hello. My name is Gil. I stumbled onto your blog and found it quite interesting. <BR/>I am one of the inventors of GI track and would like to tell you how it came to be. I was dealing with the same frustrations you were having with other manufactures track that was available from the rental houses. <BR/>Approximately 8 years ago Dillard (other inventor) and I were looking to replace our Matthews Tulip Crane track. We were hearing complaints from camera operators about bumps at the joins in the track. A repetition of up and down movement in the horizon was seen<BR/>through the lens when traveling down the track. We decided it was time to replace the<BR/>track and began to search.<BR/> <BR/>The track needed to be 1M width so our options at the time were Matthews, FilmAir<BR/>and Precision Track. We asked the other techs in town which track worked best for<BR/>them. We found that each manufactured track had pros and cons with the design and<BR/>the way it was engineered.<BR/> <BR/>Matthews steel tube track, less expensive yet durable, was welded. Welding<BR/>steel distorts the steel tube riding surface. Also, the rails contacted the ground<BR/>surface only where the cross members were attached to the track at every 2 feet. <BR/>A heavy crane would deflect at the unsupported distances of the riding surface. <BR/>This is where we were hearing the complaints I mentioned earlier. <BR/> <BR/>Precision track and FilmAir design used an I-beam. The rails of the track<BR/>contacted the ground surface supporting the entire length of the track and no welds. <BR/>This was an improvement to the previous dolly track however the feedback was<BR/>that Precision track was too heavy and not durable. The riding surface of the rails<BR/>and the ends of the track where it joins together would damage easily. You really<BR/>had to baby the stuff. Rental houses hated having to buy it because it was so<BR/>expensive and lots of L&D. <BR/> <BR/>FilmAir was the favorite after Precision. A great design. Every grip in town loved<BR/>the fact that it was light but hated the fact that you had to support it at every one foot<BR/>interval to stop deflection. Rental houses had problems with L&D as well. Could not<BR/>handle the abuse of everyday filming. Star track was similar in design to Matthews steel track but now made of aluminum. It was not durable enough and the teflon coating on the rails squeeked like hell.<BR/> <BR/>Dillard and I did not like any of the track that was available to us at the time and<BR/>decided to fabricate our own design. We did not set out to sell it. We wanted to<BR/>make six or so sections from a simple 3” T aluminum stock and schedule 80 1” aluminum<BR/>pipe, get some PVC from the plumbing store and fix our problem. Our decision to<BR/>manufacture the track came about after hearing from grips…..that our superior design<BR/>offered everything that the other track out there was missing. We offered free test rentals<BR/>to productions and all of the grips were extremely impressed with our track. <BR/> <BR/>I guess the fact is that Dillard and I had a great advantage in designing our track. <BR/>We were able to benefit from using the pros of the other track designs and engineering<BR/>and improving on all the cons. In Vancouver Canada GI track is the favorite. If you go to<BR/>the rental houses it’s never on the shelf. All out on whatever is filming. Paramount<BR/>Production Support has over seventy 8’ sections of GI track and plan to replace all of<BR/>their other older track with ours. L&D is almost zilch. The great thing about the PVC<BR/>cap is that the track riding surface can be inexpensively replaced after time and it’s<BR/>like having brand new track. Kind of designed after the way we all skin the dance floor. There are no latches in the way. Most of our design<BR/>features are simply improvements to scissored track.<BR/><BR/>Boy my fingers are sore. Just thought you might find this interesting.<BR/><BR/>We have some track in LA if you want to see some and try it out. I can arrange this for you or anyone else for that matter.<BR/><BR/>Take care,<BR/>Gilgilthethrillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10380952104260991798noreply@blogger.com