LRTimelapse Forum

Hey guys,

I already discussed this on timescapes forums, just wanting to see what you guys think:

I am eyeballing on a slider/dolly combo for a while now. The thing is that most of what's in the market is too expensive or too bulky - or both. And if it's a DIY, it's often too technically advanced for my skills, nerves and time - and often budget as well.
The thing is
-I'm a cheapskate
-I'm a not very techy person
-I need ultra portable equipment as I'm using my equipment during travel
-My equipment is only a go pro for timelapses, so I need nothing ultra sturdy!

I'm a big fan of easy solutions, preferably recombinations of existing stuff.
So when I pondered about what's already available that could be used, this is what I came across with:

The Dolly
I don't see me using a real slider as the slider itself is not portable enough for me (I'm frequently flying with hand luggage only) Therefore a dolly seems to be a good start. Already got one of those home for under 15€ - seems well made.



The thing is I'm often doing timelapses in nature, so with no flat surface, this will be useless soon without some kind of tracks/Slider
To get such a dolly on tracks/sliders, there are U-groove wheels that would enable a normal dolly to work on a slider, for example
http://www.ebay.de/itm/4-Wheels-for-DIY-...1c33750427

maybe there are even cheaper u groove wheels?

so for the tracks, I came across two ideas:
1. flexible rubber tracks
http://www.camonwheels.com/?p=318

Any experience with that stuff?
I wonder if a hard garden Hose or thera tube could also work as my equipment is very light!
Or do you have an alternative idea here?

2. There is a kickstarter project with inflatable tracks - just way too expensive for my gusto.
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/bake...era-slider
So I was also thinking about an alternative...
There are small air mattresses for about 30$ that have even a built in pump as well. some even have individual cells, so you vould cut the ones away you don't need and leave just three or four, depending on the dolly width


What do you think?
Or do you have an alternative idea here?



As for the motor, I'm still a bit undecided. I guess a step motor fits into the category described before - too expensive, DIY too tricky, or am I wrong?

Options for a motor I came across instead:
There's a guy that motorized his dolly instead of attaching it to a wind - sounds like a clever idea to me. no more cords etc.
http://www.digitalanthill.com/gopro-timelpase-dolly/

continuous RC servos w controller -> I heard that a sailing wind already has a pully on top and might be stronger, is that correct?
http://cheesycam.com/motorizing-the-juic...iy-slider/
RC motor with controller -> can it be slow enough? what's the advantage?

rather weird ideas
BBQ rotissery motor, electronic pencil sharpeners and knex motors
http://goprouser.freeforums.org/dolly-sl...t5277.html

What do you guys think?
Is there noone like me out there? besides the inflatable kickstarter project I coldn't find much, maybe the mobislyder...

Haha 700 views but no reply?

check out www.thespinpod.com

This is a cheap very portable variable speed rotational device for panoramas and timelapse. It can combine wth a similar style dolly that you mention in your post to make a linear dolly unit for a very reasonable price. Maybe using it with the wheels you found on ebay and some of the tubing.

ten