Ynot

On 9/3/2023 at 9:59 AM, ianknight said:

I'm sure someone will be in touch @J Pearce - The 520i with the dodgy LCD's is in my care at the moment (and I have two more for spares!) but I'm really a Zero88 'expert' so the fault is baffling me, it was working when I bought them from the Belgrade 5 years ago.

What would be really handy is someone who knows which section to dust with 'magic spray' or where to poke - the desk powers up otherwise and works but the LCD's aren't doing anything sensible (nor did swapping displays help). Some of the arcane knowledge for keeping this kit going (and so presentable in a working condition) is disappearing as folks retire or move on - it would be nice (where we can do so) to preserve that knowledge.
Even simple things like the old style Strand service manuals (even circuit diagrams for kit between Tempus & 500 series, Strand don't have them!) will help the collective and there must still be some lying in dusty corners - my small collection is already 'bequeathed' to the collective when I'm done. 🙂

I was about to say that there was a 500 series gathering dust in B2 the last time I was there.
Guess it isn't any more 🙂 🙂 🙂

We actually have one of those little beasts (if I can find it...) and that would be fine for Molloy's hat shop. 

But for the Vandergelder feed store, seeing as he's a 'half millionaire' I reckon he'd probably have something like the real deal 🙂

That said, I believe we may be in luck as my friendly props contact at Imagine in Cov thinks she may have one (again - if she can locate it!! 😮 )

Ebay

And I recall the last ones I got for Litedeck (same principle) were from Stage LX.

Also - when you say 70mm length but at least 30mm threaded, do you mean 70mm from end to end incl the butterflies, or just the bolt shank?

Bolts/set screws are usually measured just by the shank length.

🙂

What lanterns are on the circuits that are tripping?

Discharge luminaires in particular have a high inrush current draw that will most likely exceed the rating of the circuits at startup, and you should be able to arrange that startup sequence so they don't all fire up at the same time.

However, what surprises some people is that LEDs also have a higher than you'd expect inrush on power-up so bear that in mind when planning your power distro

Looking to beg, steal, borrow or at worst hire an old fashioned shop till for the feed store scene in Hello Dolly. 

Anyone have any contacts for this sort of thing?

Doing a bit of clearing out here at home and came across an old CD that MAY be of interest to someone out there with an eye for legacy stuff. 🙂

The README.txt lists various bits on there - 

\software\gp_lp\rel_2.4d

       300 Series software                           - (\c3instal)
       500 Series non-I software                     - (\c5instal)
       500 Series I software                         - (\ciinstal)
       300/500 Series Console Networker software     - (\cninstal)
       SN Node software                              - (\sninstal)
       300/500 Series Console On-screen help software- (\hcinstal)
       300/500 Series Operator's Manual (compressed) - (\hfinsal)
       300/500 Series software tutorial (compressed) - (\htinstal)

Along with several previous versions and other bits & bobs. 

If you're interested, the full text file is here.

The disk is free to anyone who gets in touch pronto-like 😄

My first question when any am dram groups want to look at stuff like radio mics (or any potentially expensive gear, tbh) is "Do you ACTUALLY need to buy??"

If your group does half a dozen shows a year or more, then it's possibly getting towards the more economic end of the equation, though you would have to factor in additional costs on a regular basis for replacing mic heads and occasional transmitter spares. But if there's only a couple of outings per 12 months then it makes FAR more sense to rent what you need when you need it. You'll be able to get (usually) far more modern gear and you'd hope a set of mics that are already preset for the best performance. And the consumables responsibility it down to the guy you hire from.

11 hours ago, ImagineerTom said:

secondary issues also cropped up, what is SL & SR when you have two mirror image auditoria for example, 

Really?

Curve in particular has no specific left and right in the studio as it's just that - a studio black box that can be formatted however it's needed for each production.

I'd guess the same would apply to similar venues, so that's not really an issue, is it???

As for the acoustic issues, I know that whilst the separating walls are pretty solid, there's not much of an acoustic barrier above them, so it's really not an isolated space ether side.

Actually I worked on the getin for a show at Curve a few years back that did in fact have the rear wall raised, and we used the motorised bars from the studio as extra back lighting positions. 

That said, I can't recall what the show was, although I do believe it was in fact two different shows in on the same performance schedule, so there were different kit used for each.

I think.

It's been several years, so memory may have deserted me.... 🙂 🙂 🙂

Unscrew the main surface plate from the body, check that there's enough clearance (should be) to the motor inside then drill a 10mm hole in the centre of the plate. Put an M10 bolt thru the hole (with washers) and lock off to the plate with a standard M10 nut (or Nylok if you like).

Screw the plate back onto the body.

That gives you the necessary to stick a hook clamp on and hang from your stand's T-bar.

et Voila!

😄

Yep - I'd agree - Halls T60. 

For clarity the ones I want are to fit the (seemingly) standard connectors on EL wire from suppliers.

Looking at this page, the most obvious would be the SM 2.5mm pitch...

Oooh - searching Amazonia for JST plug does look like that's the beasties...

Now to just figure out what size they are!!

🙂

Want to look for some of these, as rewirable plugs/sockets, as well as some male versions on a panel mount variety...

Any suggestions?

I'm going to dip my toe into the world of 3D printing after a friend loaned me one of his smaller printers to have a play with. This is something I've never done up til now, though have pondered it in the past. 

And to be fair, I;ll probably start with pre-set stl models rather than leap into trying to design my own (which may well be past my ageing brainpower these days 😄 ) so will be looking for some suitable/useful options to kick that off.

One area that he and I have talked on in the past has been staging for my scale stage model that I've used for some years - like I guess many others, I've used balsa and occasionally card to design and test practicalities for some of the sets I've built and it seemed that it could well be an idea to 3D print some of those as building blocks.

So the question - does anyone have suitable STL files they'd be happy to send me for things like LiteDeck to start with? 
Or anything else that could be a useful addition to a stock of printable stuff?

That's sort of why I'm being a bit picky with the Hippodrome cassy work - with the fuel to get there (about a 30 minute drive on diesel) plus parking (I used to be able to park in a BT exchange nearby for free, but that's sadly gone) and in recent years the clean air zone * fee, I have to work for 2 hours before making a penny - so a basic 4 hour shift really isn't worth the hassle.

* The CAZ charge is also a double whammy for overnight getouts as it's a CALENDAR daily charge - so get stiffed for £8 x 2 for those... 😞

4 hours ago, paulears said:

If you’re officially retired but still want to do things that interest you, why not start yourself a small business? Take work that sounds nice, reject everything you don’t fancy, and take a few chances and buy kit and not worry? 

That's sort of how I'm already looking at it. Like I said, I do casual stuff occasionally, but just when it suits my time, and I already have my name on a couple of lists where I might be asked to do some random jobs for remunerance where it suits. 

So it's that sort of thing I mean - jobs that might be viable at home (made up about 80 DMX cables in front of the TV last year, eg) or interesting work not too far away. Those set pieces I've built for the local am-dram group could be enlarged upon making other bits for other groups to commission, too.

So, yeah, keeping it interesting and making a few quid on the side can work. 🙂

On 6/26/2023 at 10:20 AM, kerry davies said:

... I certainly wouldn't go volunteering time to anyone just yet,...

 

I was looking to 'volunteer' for a little occasional PAID work, not get more involved in freebies (do too many of those already!! 😮 🙂 )

Well, a handful of you in here may have already seen my Facespace announcement a few weeks back that I'm finally retiring, after just shy of 45 years service. I joined the PO Telecoms, then BT as a snotty faced yoof in 1978 and have worked tirelessly (less so recently 🙂 ) since then as well as being involved with am-dram for more years than those, managing the local venue from 1999 to 2021, a small amount of freelance work and being a cassy at the likes of Brum Hippodrome, Cov Belgrade and Leics Curve. Though the latter three haven't been as regular as they used to, I may start to get back into the swing, as long as this aged body can cope with it and the travel/parking/clean air charges don't take up 50% of the earnings... 

So, whilst I have a pretty decent pension lined up, and the lump sum is easily going to finish that pesky mortgage off, I'll likely soon be looking to occupy my days with the occasional 'project' in addition to the voluntary stuff I'll be continuing with. So if any of you luvverly lot have any (preferred Midlands based) things you might throw my way for a reasonable remunerative arrangement, feel free to DM me. 🙂 LX mainly, though set designs/builds aren't out of the question.

I've built a fair few set pieces for local shows in recent years - some of the items made for Legally Blonde, Young Frankenstein and Wind in the Willows have been sold on in the past 3 years or so, and I'm currently looking for buyers for stuff from Singin' in the Rain and Spamalot. I could be persuaded to make up custom items on request. 🙂

Anyway - here's to a productive retirement, eh?
😄 😄 😄

10 hours ago, J Pearce said:

By the time they've been posted, cleaned, repaired, retreated with fire retardant, and returned you may well be at the point of buying new ones. Repairs of anything larger than a very small tear rarely look good, especially in the twill fabric that schools usually end up with rather than serge.

That's pretty much what I've warned them of.

I've been approached by a local school asking where they can get their torn stage tabs repaired. Now it's been a while since I've had anything repaired, (have replaced many over the years from Whaleys), so looking for a couple of midlands based companies who might have the wherewithal to do this so I can point the school at them (as well as recommending getting a replacement cost in case the repair is wildly expensive).

Cheers

I have to sadly report that I've just been informed by Lincoln that Brian Fairchild, a long time Blue Roomer, passed away yesterday as a victim of that b'stard known as cancer. 🤬🤬🤬

Brian was a long standing member of Lincoln's pyro safety courses, and always a source on here of good advice. 

I did a refit on some Stagg COB wash lights a few years ago. These weren't the cheapest LED kit around but certainly not top quality. We bought them as a reasonably budget option for a fixed rig of ten top-lights over stage and for a few years they performed well. However (and I suspect this was due to overheating as when I opened them up the fans were in various states of clog) several exhibited signs of discolouration compared to others. 

I decided to swap out all the COB chips, which was pretty fiddly, but doable. However, I believe the chips I got were the VERY last 12 to be found anywhere. And I mean anywhere. The manufacturer had changed the COB completely on the next model so nothing compatible was available.

Those Staggs are now relegated to either the skip in worst case to 'use if you want something basic and colour isn't a need'...

8 minutes ago, kerry davies said:

This was a hit when I was 11.  

Followed the link, and despite being familiar with Mr Lehrer, I was immediately reminded of a very different song from Billy Eliot near the finale of the show...

Relevant bit starts around 2:20

VERY poignant bit of the plot, though not related to nuclear annihilation...