mounting it funny - help please!

[Zeemax 0]

Hello all, i'm looking to mount my pc107 (same as the 109, kind of) on top of my mindwarp millenium, but am planning to mount it on its side - so it looks flat rather than tall on top of my helmet. The lense will of course still be pointing forward.

I've spotted a couple of wingsuit pilots do this, and the idea really makes sense to me. It also seems a more comfortable place to wear a camera.

I've never made a mount before, so have many, many questions. Should i make something to bed the whole camera, or just something to screw one side in, then rest it on foam or something?

Is aluminium the best type of metal to use?

I've found i an old cypres fanny pack will house the camera nicely, but is there any othe precautions i should take to protect my camera?

Is there anything i should be wary of when drilling into the carbon fiber? should i use nuts and bolts? is there a better method of attaching it all?

doing some careful balancing, it seems the standard chin strap takes the weight very well, and seems comfortable (i affixed the camera with tape etc to hold it in place), so do i need to go down the chin cup route, or is it ok to stick with the current set up?

Anyone in the central london area want to help? i'll buy the beer?

Sorry for all the questions, and all help will be greatfully recieved!

Phoenix Fly - High performance wingsuits for skydiving and BASE
Performance Designs - Simply brilliant canopies

[jmidgley 0]

Hi

I'm not familiar with the helmet, so I don't know the answer to the first obvious question - is there a flat area on top to mount a bracket to?

Assuming there is, you could blag a small piece of aluminium sheet from someone that does sheet-metal work (3mm ~ 1/8" at least) and knock up a bracket. You'd need a vice, a flat file and a drill. Or a mate with same. Maybe a round file if you need to 'slot' one of the mounting holes to adjust the angle. Mount it to the helmet with small t-nuts - around 4mm-5mm. I used dome-headed allen-key screws, trimmed so that no thread shows past the t-nut. Both nut and screw are backed with large penny washers to spread the load and to stop the nut pulling through the CF.

You'll want a strap or two - velcro or webbing with fastex clips to back up the thumbscrew. Oh, and a thumbscrew! Start eyeing up mouse mats for foam padding to glue to the "side" of the bracket with contact adhesive. Decide to do this before you drill the hole for the thumbscrew, or it will be in the wrong place. If you slotted one of the mounting holes in the bracket (or if your drilling was a bit slapdash) you may find that the bracket needs to be cranked down hard to stop it moving. I cut a thin sheet of rubber and sandwiched it between the bracket and helmet - no way that's moving. I sacrificed a swim cap for the rubber...

I have a carbon fibre L-bracket with velcro straps fitted that came with my Side FX from 2K composites. I'm not using it - if you're interested, I could be persuaded to part with it...

Regards
John

[Brains 2]

I feel quite sure you understood more of what jmidgley was saying than i did. I immediately thought of taking an L bracket that is used in sidemounts and lay it flat on the top of the helmet. No reason it wouldn't work and it will def. keep a lower profile. Make sure you post some pics, or better yet, put up an in studio video from your perspective of your show.

Never look down on someone, unless they are going down on you.

[jmidgley 0]

Quote

I feel quite sure you understood more of what jmidgley was saying than i did.

Hey! I thought it was a model of clarity!

J

[riggerrob 643]

Is there anything i should be wary of when drilling into the carbon fiber? should i use nuts and bolts? is there a better method of attaching it all?

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Carbon fiber residue can short out electronic components, so put your camera in a plastic bag, in another room.
Close the door.
Drill helemt.
Vacuum thoroughly.
Seal the raw edges with nail polish or similar sealant.
Allow sealant to dry.
Test fit camera to helmet.

[Squeak 17]

how are you going to deal with the video images being 90 degrees off axis?

You are not now, nor will you ever be, good enough to not die in this sport (Sparky)
My Life ROCKS!
How's yours doing?

[ltdiver 3]

Quote

how are you going to deal with the video images being 90 degrees off axis?

Hey, if he wants vertical rather than horizontal, let him be....

( same thing crossed my mind as well, but though he must be smart enough to have figured this little item out...hey, he's a cameraflyer, right? )

ltdiver

Don't tell me the sky's the limit when there are footprints on the moon

[mr2mk1g 10]

I've been real tempted to post that he'll get a crick in his neck watching it back... but I suppose it won't really matter that much if it's 4 way... would be rather odd to see FF, tandems or canopy stuff like this though...

[Zeemax 0]

It's for wingsuit flying


if i look one way, it'll mean i can record without having to crick my kneck up and it'll look near enough alright... if i look the other way, it will of course be 180 out, but thats not too hard to change in a vieo edit.

Phoenix Fly - High performance wingsuits for skydiving and BASE
Performance Designs - Simply brilliant canopies

[Zoter 0]

Hows about something similar to one of the frames like is used on the 'old' 'Bat Rak'
its a metal frame that is secured to the helmet sides but has a'flat top' over the top of the helmet for cam mounting .......will give you max flexibility for mounting......and doesnt look too difficult to put together yourself either...