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Collapsible flats


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This is probably a strange question. Basically, we are looking at getting some flats built - we travel round to different local venues, and so need to take backdrops with us.

 

There is one big issue. With times as they are, we need to be able to fold them down to fit in members cars. So, an 8 foot flat, folding down for fitting into a car..

 

Are there any online plans as to how to construct such a thing, and make them safe?

 

Thank you ever so much for your help. :)

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How about something off the wall? We used to make screens and things using fibreglass tent poles and kite making parts for the joints. Everything packed down into small holdalls and we used them for fluoro drapes, video and slide screens and general frameworks.

 

Obviously not solid or really square but a different take on roofracks taking off along the bypass, which happened in the middle of the Monmouth tunnels once.

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different take on roofracks taking off along the bypass, which happened in the middle of the Monmouth tunnels once.

I can relate to that .

I made some 10ft x 6ft flats at home, tied them to the roof rack and got less than a kilometre along the motorway before the whole lot, roof rack included, left the car.

Cheers

Gerry

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Without knowing your set up, it is difficult to imagine exactly what you're after, but will the flats be put together to create a background? Is this something you are going to want to paint to suit your needs? If so, using the hinge and pin joints typically used will be an easy way of joining smaller pieces (4'x4'?) together.

 

I can envisage a couple of ways of doing this:

 

Option A: If you are able to put 2 pieces width ways together at an angle. They will have rigidity at the base that can be transferred into the top.

 

Option B: If you are having a single width piece. Do you have access to adjustable supports that you can combine with stage weights? You can join 2 pieces together, put supports on either side to add rigidity and then support as if it was an 8' piece.

 

I am pretty sure I have explained this in a very difficult way, so I have sketched something up which I can send over to you.

 

Dominic

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I have seen molton covered masking flats made with the rails removable on pin hinges so that the flat arrives as a roll of fabric with a stile at each end.

Stretch the fabric out, pop the rails back in and locate the pins, erect the flat.

 

What I don't know is how long such an arrangement would last, and obviously you still need to be able to transport the length of the stiles.

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The most portable set I've seen was a Cambridge footlights tour set, which was about three 8x8' flats and two doorways, which all fitted into a single holdall. It was 1" aluminium right angle edges that folded up into 2ft sections, and bolted together at the corners, with stretchy cloth covers, so that the frames were held together and the folding bits held in place by the tension of the cloth. The clothes were starcloths as well with about 8 circuits of LED and multipin connectors between the flats.
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The thought of flats limits your choices! If you can determine your scenic needs then look at ways of achieving it other ideas will occur. Pipe and drape with some symbolic paint will roll up into reasonable size bags. Look also at exhibition stands with the image rolled up in a rubber foot.

 

Folding s full box set into a car could be a problem. Flying a set of flats off a roof could be a conviction.

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Ben, read my post about not using a roofrack, wander over to the Students Union and ask Steve how crazy I can be and then think; "If that nutter won't do it, there must be a reason."

 

Hmmm. (tm Ynot)

 

Obviously proper thought and design as well as multiple ratchet straps should be applied.

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