The Lego Steadicam (yes, I said Lego)
 

What's more interesting than Mikko Wilson's photo of him posing with Steadicam inventor Garrett Brown?

Why, his one-of-a-kind working Lego Steadicam, that's what.
Check it out at http://wilson.pp.fi/mikko/photos/legosteadi/.

The point of this excersize is that you can learn a lot about the way things work by building them. Legos, Erector Sets and those kinds of wonderful construction toys are a great way to do that, inexpensively.

Mikko's photo with Garrett, and other interesting subjects: http://wilson.pp.fi/mikko/photos/.

Enjoy,

Absolutely killer. Great fun.

The irony here for me is that I often refer to my endless collection of brackets, rods, adaptors and widgets that is part of my Steadicam kit as "Lego". What comes around, goes around.

heh your lego probably has a considerably higher "Recommended Age" rating than the stuff you can buy in Toys R Us tho ;)

I dunno James, sometimes I think wistfully of my childhood Saturdays spent tinkering with the Legos--still sounds good to me!

well guys,

you can check also this thread:

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthrea...ighlight=14%24

scroll bit down and you will see following link:

http://www.astercity.net/%7Etarasuma...izer_page.html

i did it almost two years ago, last year published on my page. (now is destroyed :(((()

well - if mikko's lego steadycam is first, then mine was nr 0, and David Emmerichs was -1!!!! (check IMDB)

if you are interested, just scroll down the thread and you will find what wrangler Charles Papert said - and HE knows about steadycam! (check IMDB)


i was absolutelly SURE that LEGO STABILIZER was my own "invention" but, thanks to this forum, i know that it was not. David Emmerichs was the first LEGO steadycam builder!!!

but miko's steadycam is SOOOOO beautiful, that i will with pleasure give him 1st place award!!!!!

exellent work mikko!

Filip, do you have any surviving photos? Geez, this could become its own forum category!

chris,

i do not know exacly what you mean by "surviving" photos? but i will gladly send everything i have.

i will contact you thru your private mail (with your perimition of course), i'm now on vacation and until end of month i can't send you any "normal" mails etc. but i will try to check DV forum from time to time :)

thanks,

filip

Dude, that's hilarious! How much weight can it support? 5 ounces?

Well hello all!
I am plesently suprized to see my 'rig' in the discussion here!

Chris, You are compleatly correct, the lego rig was built mostly to learn about the way the rig works - not the principles, but some of the mechanics. - Really good for leanign where the various stresses are on a rig. (I can see for example why Rod-Ends are sometimes likly to break [reads of the steadicam forum will know what i'm refering to..] - There is a LOT of stress on that part of the arm.)

But oh boy was it fun. I love tinkering around with the best toy invented! - And if i recall correctly the recomended ages for lego technic is 12+ ..so i see no upper limit there! :-)

..I hear that also Knex have been used to perform similar experiments!

Andrew, not sure who you are asking me. But mine "mock camera" is one lego motor and a lego tire - not sure exatlyhow much that wighs. - not much though. - As said, the capacity limit is set by the Vest end of the arm.

- Mikko Wilson

mikko,

just a short info to you - i received your mail and will write back to you. i was on vacation.

may the lego (c) be with you...


filip