Multipurpose Flats

[JCC1996]

Hi,

 

The Young Farmer's club that I am part of is currently looking to invest in some new flats. They will be used for a variety of different events and on different stages so ideally would be 'scaleable' in how they fit together.

 

Currently we have 3 very basic flats (effectively a board with legs and castors) that are getting a bit past it. We are looking for suppliers of a better system, thinking along the lines of panels which can be linked together to form a solid backdrop if that makes sense? We would also like links to DIY plans as one of our members is a joiner, so if this is more cost effective it will definitely be considered!

 

I'm no expert on scenery, so if I've left out any useful information, please let me know and I'll fill you in!

 

Thanks,

 

Joe

[Floydey]

Hi Joe

 

Try these two links for more info on flat building:

 

Link 1

 

 

Hope this helps

[JCC1996]

Hi,

 

Thanks for that. I should have said that for ease of storage, transport and painting, we would prefer a solid wooden panel. The plans I'm looking for are really on how to link the individual flats together.

 

Joe

[Dave m]

Same as the canvas ones but cover ideally in skin ply. Hardboard gets damaged easily Try to avoid solid sheets of 18mm sheet material even if you are used to chucking hay bales over your head.

You can use G clamps to squeeze the flats together or screw a batten to the top and bottom creating a bigger flat.Or pin hinges. This is a hinge with removable pin used as a quick fastener normally with a bit of L shaped coat hanger wire dropped in after it's located.

A big flat will still fall over unless you create a book type corner or some kind of pillar. Using braces at the back is normal on stageLook up French Brace for a plan.

French braces pin hinge onto the back of the flat but take up space. Alignment of the two parts is quite important. Normally weights are used. You could use bags of sandOr if it is always in the same hall, fix a big batten on the wall and use that to screw short spars out to hold the set up.This leaves space for the cast to move and if above 6'6 doesn't bang heads

 

The lighter it is the easier to move. But it needs to be braced otherwise you get the comedy wobble.

Probably not safe but you can also use sheets of corrugated plastic as flats and light it for that 70's light entertainment look

[jonathanhill]

Cleat and line is the tradional method of securing flats together.

 

Someone like Flints Hire and Supply would be able to supply cleats, clummets, tie off cleats and sash cord to enable this.

 

Pin hinges, as suggested above, are also used but are most useful if the flats are run in a straight line.

 

French braces can be built to take up less floor space than an extendable stage brace. Both can be used either with stage weights or screwed straight to the stage floor.

 

Personally I would build flats and clad them in 4mm ply and then cover with canvas to give a good surface to paint on. If just black flats are required, then using black wool serge, preferably either durably or inherently fire retardant, in place of the canvas would be a good solution.

[alistermorton]

As I've mentioned before, our flats are canvas covered, constructed like the "broadway" plans on the page linked above and join together with plates and hinges which are attached using "thumbscrews" which screw into threaded inserts in the wooden frame. A simple box set can be easily constructed in a morning including the french bracing which attach to brackets, which are attached with ... you guessed it,the same thumbscrews. A very flexible solution. We have flats in 1/2, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 foot widths, and some of the wider ones have door frame openings into which a selection of frames with different width doors can be bolted.

 

They also work really well as tormentors, slotting into forks attached with zebedees to a unistrut above the stage running up/downstage at each wing side.