Some 40+ years ago, I had the privilege of being one of the engineers and cameramen at the Universal Studios Hartland visual effects facility. One of the many things I designed and built there was a 3-axis motion control model mover. My friend Peter Anderson rescued part of one of these model movers and kept […]
A Visitor from the Past – the Hartland 3-Axis Model Mover Read More »
Way back in 2019, I was asked to rebuild the missing sections from the Dykstraflex camera moving system so that a working Dykstraflex could be demonstrated at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Galactic Innovations event. This project happened on a tight schedule, and in the middle of me moving my business across
Further Adventures with the Dykstraflex Read More »
While I continue my long and protracted battle with an Arri BL 4S, I wanted to take a moment to wish everyone a Happy Star Wars Day. As they say, May the 4th be with you! This got me to thinking about the ongoing work I have been doing for the Academy of Motion Picture
Happy Star Wars Day! Read More »
This past week I had the privilege of doing preventative maintenance on the Dykstraflex camera for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. I serve on the Academy’s Technology and History Subcommittee, and following the restoration of the Dykstraflex camera crane, subcommittee members were concerned that the camera may have developed problems after having
Dykstraflex Camera, Revisited Read More »
It’s a little late for Star Wars Day, but we wanted to share this latest project in anticipation of the premiere of “Obi-Wan Kenobi” tomorrow. Previously, in 2019, I completed a major restoration of the Dykstraflex camera crane for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The restored Dykstraflex was prominently displayed at the
Dykstraflex: Preparing to Service the Camera that Shot the original Star Wars Trilogy Read More »
The Dykstra-Flex made its first public reappearance at the Academy Science and Technology Council’s Galactic Innovations event last night after decades in storage. I am thrilled to have been instrumental in bringing this amazing piece of equipment back to life. My thanks to Joe Di Gennaro, Gene Kozicki, Joe Lewis, and Miles Lewis for their
The D-Flex at Galatic Innovations Read More »
It moves once more! The Dykstra-Flex pan, tilt, and roll device, referred to as the Trojan helmet, has been restored to working condition. We are preparing to reattach it to the main camera mover later this week and will have a complete, working Dykstra-Flex in a few day if all goes well.
Restoration work continues on the Dykstra-Flex. Drive components for the pan and tilt axes on the Trojan helmet pan tilt head have been restored and we are currently recreating the missing parts for the roll axis. Getting close to bringing all of the pieces of this project back together!
Dykstra-Flex Restoration Continues Read More »
We have been involved in an ongoing restoration project for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to bring back to life the Dykstra-Flex motion control camera system. The Dykstra-Flex was the ground breaking camera system used to create the memorable special visual effects seen the in original Star Wars trilogy, along with many
Project: Restoring the Dykstra-Flex Read More »
