Need help with armature interface

[Troy Downen]

Folks, I have an internal armature for a SS X-wing (the RodMart Art2Models kit) that has a female 3/8”-16 thread. I have used Panavise mounts in the past with 1/4”-20 male screws interfacing with their female equivalents in internal armatures.



What I need help with from this fine group (!) is identifying a Panavise-like mounting system (i.e. adjustable ball screw joint so I can pose the model as I wish for display and photography) but with a 3/8-16 screw. A few brief searches online seem to indicate that some photography equipment might come with this type of interface but I have not yet found anything quite like the good old Panavise.

A fall-back, if nothing turns up, would be to use a 1/4-20 to 3/8-16 adapter, but I would prefer to stick with a 3/8-16 adjustable ball screw joint all the way through the system if I could. Any thoughts?

And while we’re on the subject – what are YOUR favorite ways to mount your SS models? Particularly if you need to route power from the base into the model. I’m always on the lookout for better methods…

Thanks!!

[wizardofthenorth]

Are you using the standard Reader Armature?

I had Mike make me a convertor for that very reason. It is the brass piece.


http://www.studioscalemodelers.com/forum...?aid=14609

[Troy Downen]

I'm not familiar the Reader Armature. The RodMart X-wing came with its own, unique armature (which is pretty darned nice, by the way). But the interface is 3/8-16. I see the brass adapter that you refer to in your picture. I'm thinking that is what I am going to have to do as well. Those can be purchased commercially - I have found a few using Google searches. I was really just hoping that someone would jump up and say "oh yeah, just use boom mic stand from XX or camera mount from YY or cymbals stand from ZZ because they all have 3/8-16 threads." No such luck so far, though! :-)

Thanks for the input!

[dbhs]

The cleanest way may be to have a small metal shop weld a 3/8-16 threaded stud onto a panavise ball so you could mount it with none the wiser. This would give you exactly what you want but could cost you a bit more that something off the shelf.

Regarding the mounting and electrical connections. Right now I'm sold on the idea of replicating the armatures, mounts and electrical connections to the original models as much as is feasible. Sometimes this means clunky ugly mounts and exposed wires. I'm ok with this as it makes the replica that much more accurate to the original.

[Troy Downen]

(09-10-2014, 02:13 AM)dbhs Wrote: ... Sometimes this means clunky ugly mounts and exposed wires. I'm ok with this as it makes the replica that much more accurate to the original.

That's a great way to think about it! Duplicate the original filming miniature right down to the messy wires and mounts!

Thanks for the tip.