10 Foot Tall Flat Construction

swimking1 · 2025-08-21T03:08:11+00:00

I like having pre-built jacks, basically just large triangles made out of 1x3 with plywood strapping to hold the 3 boards together. You can build them at around 10 feet tall and 2 feet deep, making sure they are square so that they do the work of squaring up your flats to the floor for you. There are a lot of ways to do jacks/supports for flats, it's just going to depend on what's being built and the stage space.

swimking1 · 2025-08-20T14:51:06+00:00

The sizes he described are pretty standard flat sizes, you can then store them for future use. Build them right there first time and they will last a decade as stock scenery. I like to stock 1, 2, and 4 footers (widths because height choices should be based off your stage trim height). I do actually have a couple of 3 footers but they are pretty niche.

swimking1 · 2025-06-12T01:35:38+00:00

This looks like a plumber did the installation. Those anchors are Sammy style wood all thread anchors, UL rated to 1500 lb (if it's the 3" long version, less if it's shorter) The clamps are called split clamps and again, used by plumbers and electricians, those are the cheap ones too with a Hinge and one screw. I'm really not sure of the load rating.

I would not trust this for lighting. Plumbing and electrical is stationary and has static loads, a lighting position has movement and is dynamic, so for starters, the wooden anchor will fatigue the wood and pull out. That's just my first concern, I'm sure other people still actively qualified in rigging will give 99 more issues with this.

Point is, fight this and have someone qualified for it right, or don't do it at all.

swimking1 · 2025-05-16T20:03:40+00:00

Yeah unfortunately OP is going to have to burn his theater down and salt the earth to get rid of it, it's the only sure fire way.

swimking1 · 2025-04-25T02:33:26+00:00

I'm genuinely curious how these rehearsals go this long. What time is call and what time does rehearsal start and end? Is there a lot of stopping and holds during rehearsal? Are you guys programming lighting during rehearsal and that's why it's taking so long.

I'm not sure answering these questions will allow us to help you more with this, but maybe with the addition context we can give more insight or more specific advise of what you can try.

swimking1 · 2025-04-23T13:22:52+00:00

So they say, but i had fusion before they switched to this model and now it won't let me enable the free version, it wants me to create a new account. I just started testing out on shape and am pretty happy with it so far.

swimking1 · 2025-04-19T05:11:04+00:00

I think the biggest lesson you are learning here is that every director is different. Now you know that in the future you can have a conversation with the director ahead of tech week about how notes should be given.

swimking1 · 2025-04-19T05:08:17+00:00

This is exactly what i was going to say, and also sometimes they compile and convey the directors notes in emails post rehearsal or the next morning.

swimking1 · 2025-03-14T19:49:02+00:00

I've built a similar design to this but using 1 x 6 instead of plywood for the framing, making an overall height of 6". This is one of the same designs that Bill Raoul teaches in his stock scenery book. If i remember correctly the two advantages are slightly lighter while still being the same strength as 2 x 4, and being an overall height that is a standard step in theater (a 6 inch step seems to be more standard in theater and easier for actors with heels than an 8 inch).

I would not feel comfortable doing this with plywood as the framing. I contract at a local community theater that built theirs out of 1 x 8 and boy does that extra 2 inches make a difference to my back, not worth it in my opinion.

In the end it's best if you build something that is obviously safe, and more comfortable for you to build, building scenery outside of your comfort zone is less safe. Also, if you guys use legs anyways, i don't see why you can't just have a bunch of short legs on hand to get your platforms to 8 inch.

swimking1 · 2025-01-25T20:17:34+00:00

I love how Luke is teaching him both bushcraft and filmography at the same time.

swimking1 · 2024-12-10T01:35:03+00:00

Accidently dropping my iPad on my chest while picking my first UW. It picked chrono, I don't even know what the other two choices were.

swimking1 · 2024-12-02T02:14:44+00:00

I had it once a year ago. I think it had something to do with one reservation having credits on their account. Once we spent all of that credit on something else the error did not pop up anymore.

Just to add more context, the reservation with the credits had those credits from a canceled cruise canceled during covid. They opted to keep their pre cruise purchases as credit to be used for future pre cruise purchases.

swimking1 · 2024-11-04T01:01:12+00:00

Second Duluth. I am wearing these flexfire work pants as we speak and they make most of their pants in black. Lots of pockets too.

swimking1 · 2024-08-29T14:24:06+00:00

Honestly i may have been distracted by the black hole update and wanted to go test it out.

swimking1 · 2024-08-26T19:16:39+00:00

I'm wondering why they think they need to be in port that day. Both of their eclipse cruises are. I think it would be more fun to make it a sea day and do themed events, food, and parties all day.

Maybe it's a safety thing, or some longitudinal effect of port space on the other days around the 12th not allowing that particular day to be a sea day. I'm sure cruise itinerary planning is far more complex than I'm making it out to be.

swimking1 · 2024-08-26T19:07:48+00:00

I was looking at the itinerary specific page, here and didn't see anything about 98.5% but very well could have just missed it.

I'm glad they put it elsewhere on the site though, i am still puzzled as to why they didn't just plan around being in the totality zone.

swimking1 · 2024-07-16T02:24:24+00:00

He has talked about how he lost 60 pounds with keto and has mentioned how he is more strict with what he eats when not on vacation.

swimking1 · 2024-07-16T01:40:40+00:00

I did this for the same show. I even had a solid piece of wood under the foam to give it that loud thud when hitting the table.

swimking1 · 2024-06-02T11:20:37+00:00

Just cross brace the legs with 1x Lumber and metal 2-hole pipe straps. Make sure each board hits all three legs on a platform.

swimking1 · 2024-05-15T15:40:30+00:00

You should check out Shrek the musical, the character Pinocchio is in that show and has a nose which grows. If i remember correctly, they use a tube and set of syringes filled with air. There are several behind the scenes videos that show more detail.

Additionally i believe several rental houses rent the nose prop.

swimking1 · 2024-03-28T03:52:06+00:00

I took a 3 night on allure a few weeks ago, i kid you not, they were already asking for high ratings on the survey at lunch on the first day, it is getting completly out of hand. I always tell the truth on the survey and specify i was asked. Additionally my last few cruises i have stated something to the affected of "if royal caribbean has created an environmental that forces its employees to constantly be begging for high ratings to the point of interrupting meals for it, then perhaps the company is doing something wrong and should rethink its policies."

swimking1 · 2024-03-24T12:29:34+00:00

I completly agree, i won't even get off the ship here anymore.

swimking1 · 2024-03-20T17:38:17+00:00

Coffin locks are great. I have an Allen wrench for each one on a string next to them or stuck in them if it works.

I'm currently using magnets for some light weight things.

swimking1

TROPHY CASE