For those who were interested in cody's plans and were not able get it, then don't dispair. It's back. Any questions refer to HBS website. Here's the link to purchase the plans:

http://www.cafeshops.com/stabilizer.9054362

Yes, he's a member of HBS and I'm proud to say it. Promotion? you bet, but don't take my word for it. His plans are the best out there, as far as I know.

I'll be putting an official review of it in my book which will hopefully be out early next year. Just waiting for some hi rez pics from Steadicam and GPI Pro.

Has anyone tried making one of these yet?

Hi all! I've been all over the threads and home-made stabilizer plans and I do agree that his plans are the most comprehensive I've ever seen. I purchased them a few months ago but haven't had time to put one together because of work, etc. etc. etc. But now that I'm going on vacation in a few days I'm going to spend my full time constructing the vest and stabilizer that are laid out in the handbook, as well as complete my Agus35 for my DVX100!!

Though I have yet to put one together the handbook definitely commands a great amount of professionalism and respect. There are plenty of illustrations to show the reader how its done as well as professional standard measurements to use, which means you can just take the plans and have the steel work done accurately by a steel shop. Don't get me wrong though. One is able to put one together on their own, but it will take longer and you might sacrifice quality! Be forewarned though, that if you are to get your stuff done by a steel shop, that's gonna cost a few hundred dollars!!

Another great thing about the plans is that Cody has provided more than adequate information for acquiring all the hard to obtain parts. He lists helpful websites for parts, and gives helpful advice on what parts to get!!

I do recommend this handbook if you want to get your hands on a sweet rig. For $35 that's a damn bargain! I got mine for $50! So when I do complete my rig as well as my Agus35 I will post up some footage and pics to show you guys the results. I don't know if the example movies are still up on his website but I have them downloaded to my CPU if anyone would like to see them or if anyone would like to put it up on their webspace!!

The clips are up on the HBS website. Or you can see those wonderful clips at the direct link:

http://www.codydeegan.com/demo.html

Again, if you have any doubts or questions relating to hiis plans please visite the HBS website where he as his own forum.

Enjoy

Hi Guys.

I have tried to make the plans a reality.

They work. They are VERY clear and detailed. I was a bit skeptical before I got them... the ordering over the web stigma.

Let me be the first to say (even tho Im not) that Cody's plans are amazing.

The arm I built came out really bad. This was in NO PART the fault of the design and plans. The problem is my ability to make things from nothing. For a first try, it was a good start and it works. I have not tried my camera on it since I will be working on making a new one, this time done right and not rushed.

If you are up to the challenge and like making things with your hands (even if your not so good at it) then this is a rewarding project.

If you have any questions on this, please feel free to e-mail me.

- Aaron

I have had the plans for a few months and just now am starting to work on it.

I am actually going to use a Glidecam sled that I purchased off of Ebay, so I'm bypassing that and going right to the arm and vest.

My first challenge is finding the odd size drill bits for the bearing holes. I may modify with a bearing sleeve that goes through the post to hold in place. Maybe even cut down some skate wheels and use them inside the posts. Don't know. Should be fun though.

Tom

I checked out Cody's clips. Damn. He's got something going on. The performance of the stabilizer is very impressive. I was watching keenly during the first clip where he passed in close proximity to the railing, which is a situation where you can more likely see the "footsteps" in a small-scale stabilizer due to friction in the arm--none present, which is a testimony both to his operating and to the gear.

The only issue I can see with his rig is that the arm has a tendency to lean out from the operator, which would require the operator to use force to hold the rig in front of him(it would want to fly away). It's important that the vertical members of the arm, particularly at the gimbal mount end, be truly vertical or even slightly tipped back towards the operator to prevent this. This is a design issue even with some of the commercially available DV stabilizers (the full-size rigs allow for dialing in the angle of the arm to suit the individual). In my estimation, this adds greatly to the fatigue level and although it does not directly affect the stabilization, it will ultimately affect performance.

Great perception Charles. I had already mentioned this to him a long time ago but then again, it's a side effect that comes with his type of design. On the whole, he's done a fantastic job. :)

I bought this book and the plans are very detailed... I was planning on building the vest and arm for my gluidecam, but it became aparent to me that I wouldn't be able to construct this myself...

So if anyone out there is up to building an arm and vest for me I'll pay you for supplies and your time...

email me at

slammerps@hotmail.com

For those who have made this is, it possible? Peter, why don't you think you can make it? I am all about the home built stuff and was wondering if I could pull this off. I want to order the plans, but won't if I don't think I can do it. I have access to welding, machine shop tools, favors from friends, etc. Just wondering if it is worth the effort...BTW his footage is great! If you haven't checked it, do so! Cheers to him and anyone else who has made one...

Clay

Charles:

I met with the designer of the Magiqcam and stressed to him the importance of making the pitch of the arm adjustable, which he has apparently incorporated into the latest version. No-one should have to expend valuable energy reigning in their rig, it should just float in front of you.

While attending the NAB show in Vegas this spring, I was walking in the garden of the Flamingo with my girlfriend when we spotted a small Betacam shoot going on. The cameraman was walking around with an SK rig getting B-roll, while the producer and director etc. chatted. I felt for the guy. It was easy to spot that the arm was pitching out at a significant angle and he was trying to compensate with his body and arms, and had worked up quite a sweat. Luckily they finished up soon after and I hope the producer bought him a cold one for all his hard work!

Poor guy. I totally understand. Can you image if he had to do it over... ;)

Clay, no one said it was going to be easy. It's never easy trying to build something like this and get good results, but nothing is impossible. The builders on HBS(including me) have worked on their rigs for no less than six months to a year. Some longer. The whole point is to learn the plus and minus attributes that come along with trying to build one. This in turn helps to appreciate this type of device and it's inventor's( the great Garret Brown) vision.

It kinda gives one the idea why it cost so much to make with absolutely (almost) with less +/- tolerance.

Glad to hear Cody's plans are back!

Hi Charles K.! I was just viziting the HBS forum and saw there's no activity, no new post! Now that I've seen your post about Cody's plans, I went back to the forum and noticed I was not loged in... Stupid me! See you on the forum! :-)

Hi there Cos. Great to hear from u. Yep, it's great news and I'm happy for him. :) :) On top of that, some good responses.

That footage freaked me out... I've had a Glidecam V8 on the last few projects I've been on and it looks A LOT like Cody's design... Our only problem is that the guy who shows up with it is the guy who uses it and so far I'm not too impressed with his camera work. Cody's camera work is breathtaking!

Every time I've used the V8 I've noticed that it ALSO wants to swing the cam out away from your body... not violently, but you must stay aware of this force or else you can let your DVX or XL1s fling into something when you let go of it... So that issue wouldn't deter me from building one of Cody's stabilizers...

6 months to a year? Now that deters me... I'd want to have this done in a month of free time... sound nuts? I may attempt it.

One thing I can say with absolute certainty is that we have NEVER had footage that good with the Glidecam V8... but of course let's not forget that a good steadicam operator is hard to find... Every time I hear that song, "... I need a man with a slow hand ... with an easy touch ..." I think they needed a steadicam operator.

Totally agree with you Matt. A steadicam or a stabilizer is useless if you don't have an operator who can operate fully. Cody has done a great job and as you can see by his clips, his been doing a lot of practice.

Just a note. If any of you have tried accessing the HBS website and it comes up negative, it's because I have to upgrade the site due to it's over use bandwidth. I am presently in Cyprus and wouldn't be home until the 4th of january. so until then hope you can bear with me until I can sort this out when I get back home. It's kinda expensive paying for the website from my own pocket.

Another thing. cody is planning on putting a how to video out soon. So keep on the alert.

hey, im thinkin about buying this "Cody's plans"

but i just need a few yes or nos

does it tell you how to make vest?

does it tell you where to buy vest?

does it teach you how to do the arm (with springs)?

how much weight can his final rig support (or are there different types?) (i have a fully loaded xl1s)

if i have a glidecam 4k, should i sell it or can that be part of the rig from cody's book?

thx sooooooo much for the help.
-arthur

Arthur, if you have questions about it you can email Cody directly, when I had questions he would answer within 24hours. His email is plans@codydeegan.com.

It tells you how to make the vest.

It tells you how to make the arm and what springs to get for different loads (up to 37lbs)

All you would need to adapt the Glidecam is to make the connection between glidecam handle and the end of the arm. I would think this could be done and using the machined gimbal would be better then making one yourself. Check with Cody to see what he has to say before selling the thing.

BTW I bought the plans a few months ago for $65 and was very pleased with them. $35 is a great deal.

Cheers,
Brian

"BTW I bought the plans a few months ago for $65 and was very pleased with them. $35 is a great deal."

A very good deal but remember the pics in the new book arer't in color. If it was then the price would be much more. The plans you bought had color pics therefore the price was more. Generally, it's not that important.

Brian, hope to see some pics.

"does it tell you how to make vest?

does it tell you where to buy vest?

does it teach you how to do the arm (with springs)?

how much weight can his final rig support (or are there different types?) "

Well Arthur, if it didn't tell you then it won't be much of a plan now would it? ;)

hehe sorry, im paranoid like that

It's okay. I'm like that sometimes :) I would like to see some pics if you're going to get it.

I would just like to say that I've ordered the plans from Cody.
I'm not sure if I'm up to the task of actually building something
like that, but I thought the guy did very good work and therefor
bought it. Thanks Charles & Cody!

Glad to hear it Rob. If you have any questions just go to HBS and ask Cody at his forum I made for him. He's always happy to answer any questions you might have.

Good luck Rob.

This might be a good site to chek out.

www.homebuiltstabilizers.com

Funny you should mention that, it's Charles' site!

Well, bad news. After waiting two months the plans still haven't
showed up. That's the first time something has gone wrong with
ordering from the US. I've just e-mailed them. Let's see what
happens....

sounds weird Rob. I'll check with Cody on this issue. So far he hasn't gotten any compliants.

Well somehow they sent it to the wrong housenumber (that
number doesn't exist here in the street and I assume the package
was sent back). After a couple of times e-mailing with Cafepress
they resend the package with no additional costs and it finally
arrived today. Pfew. I'm not sure how the housenumber went
all screwy, but it is the end result that matters. Just wanted to
let everyone know!

thanks Rob for the update.

Welp, I've done it! ..I've just ordered my very own copy of Cody's how-to-manual. I'm feeling a rush of emotions. Excited, nervous, worried, happy, stressful. The question looms, "will i be able to build my own camera stabilizer?" ...I have dreams of cracking open Cody's manual and seeing pages full of super easy to follow diagrams, with a minimal amount of text, and whatever text the manual contains, it is written at a 3rd grade level, so that I will be able to understand it. But then, I have this horrible feeling that I will open the manual and see page after page of text, intertwined with algebraic formulas and quantum mechanic theories, at which point I will stack the manual on top of my ever growing pile of books from which ..at one point ..I felt like I wanted to be smart so I would make these desperate runs to Barnes and Noble to pick out 2 or 3 books on string theory or the discoveries of radiation emitting black holes, racing home and reading the first 3 pages of the foward and realizing there were only 3 pictures in the entire book, at which point i would close it and toss it in the closet. Maybe just maybe, I will be able to follow Cody's manual? Maybe for the first time in my life I will actually be able to see something through? I have these visions of me running through my apartment complex with the Camera Stabilizer strapped to my body, boldly ignoring the curious stares and intermittent giggles from my fellow residents. I won't care, because I will feel cool. Empowered by the tangled mass of metal extended from my bony body. Knowing that every crack i step on, every curb I jump from, every step I climb, smoothness will defeat it all. Is it just me, or do you feel like you would have the courage to approach that hot girl you always see working the kiosk in the mall, if you had the camera stabilizer strapped to your waist? Even if she would laugh at me, I would say to her "Go ahead and laugh, pretty girl, But just know that I will have silky smooth footage of you, laughing at me. I can tell you, that I will base the rest of my life on the outcome of the home built camera stabilizer. I just thought I'd share with you all, my excitement and thoughts on my upcoming challenge of building a worthy camera stabilizer courtesy of Cody's book.

Chris.

Amen Chris. Talk about craze excitment :). I am sure you will be very satisfied. Make sure you check his forum on the HBS website.

Chris,

In a few days, your dreams will come true! The cody's plans are so clear, well written and plenty of easy to catch diagrams! It is a great work from Cody! You will understand his plan without problems and perhaps in a few weeks, you will approach that hot girl "armed" with a third arm!

Have fun with your project!

Guys, here's proof positive (http://homepage.mac.com/chupap/GBThankyou/iMovieTheater17.html) that flying a stabilizer is irresistible to women! Enjoy...

Say Charles, after 15mins in the rig, do you still care about the girls? :)

Priorities, baby, priorities!

Hey Charles

You're a natural in front of the camera as well.

You must have had an afternoon to kill.

Believe it or not, Norman, we shot that in exactly 35 minutes (seriously, we timed it)...! The opening part was actually filmed on the set while it was being lit, and I "snuck away"; I had the dolly grip park the dolly at the far end of the ICU and we banged out that scene in about 10 minutes and then went back to work. It was a little (read: a lot) stressful, especially with the other guys on the crew wandering over to heckle me.

Then I convinced the background girls to stay for half of their lunch by promising them they could walk after twenty minutes. One, maybe two takes of everything, and no dicking around inbetween. The last shot was them running down the hall; before the second take, I told them to just keep running right to the lunch line!

Finally the "lonely man" shots, 5 minutes.

My Instant Films background stood me in good stead on this one, I forgot to count the number of setups but it's something like a new one every 90 seconds! A record I hope to never break, if you know what I mean.

That was just too funny! Thanks for putting a big grin on my
face today Charles!

Cool Charles!

Is this funny clip will be in your instructionnal steadicam video? :-)

Hopefully the video will have funnier stuff than that!

Sign me up for your tape ...

Hey Charles how about doing one of those late night info-commercials where we see you strapped up in your rig running around demonstrating the unit and promoting your tape. Then "fake" reaction shots of the audience (all babes) "ooohhing" and "aaahhhing".

If Ron Popeel can do it ...

Oh my god Charles, I just looked at your IMDB profile. I can't beleive you were stedicam op in some of my favorite stuff.

Office Space and Action (my fave tv show ever!).

A big hello from the UK :)

Hello back!

I just re-watched my tapes of "Action" with my girlfriend who had never seen the show. That was a fun show, some great writing!