Off Trail In Utah
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  The Peroxide Files
  Behind The Rocks Trail
  Boys With Maps
  Go Fast on Flagstaff
  Racing 24 Hours of Moab
  Drinking in Durango
  Crashing in Peaceful Valley
  Andrew on the 14er Record
  Backpacking in Aspen
  Ride Durango


Headcam Detailed Instructions

The above exploded diagram shows the elements used to create the headcam mount. I have not drawn the mounting procedures for the water bottle cage on the other side so I will have to just explain them in written form at the end.

(I forgot to mention you will need 10-minute epoxy that bonds to plastic and steel, also the rubber-foam, #9, should be sticker type. Beyond this all I can say is that I may have missed steps or improvised without realizing it so use your own engineering creativity to double check the ideas)

Headcam Portion:

  1. Find a helmet you don't mind drilling into
  2. Get the supplies listed on the graphed diagram above (as you shop keep your helmet and camera with you as you shop so that you can visually piece it all together
  3. Mix the PC-7 on a paper plate and let it set until the mixture becomes quite stiff (multiple hours)
  4. Cut a square roughly the size of the end of the angled steel out of the plastic VCR tape case (the purpose of this is to create a flat surface to which the rest of the case will mount)
  5. Sand down the helmet and create flaws where the epoxy will adhere
  6. Push the 3/4 hardened epoxy into the helmet
  7. Sand both sides of the plastic plate
  8. Use the plastic square to press the epoxy flat
  9. Lay the helmet on graph paper on a table so as the vertical lines are matched to the front-to-back axis of the helmet
  10. Align the epoxy'ed plastic to the lines on the graph paper to ensure proper horizontal alignment
  11. Set a book on the table and up against the plastic plate to ensure that it is vertically square
  12. Remove the helmet and store in the sun or under a light (but as it sets over the next 4-8 hours occasionally remove the helmet and re-square the plastic plate)
  13. Let the set epoxy dry overnight
  14. (On the other pieces not related to the helmet) Drill a hole (if there isn't already one) in the angled steel near the top in order to accommodate the bolt (the diagram shows the hole too far down)
  15. Drill a hole in the bottom of the angled steel to accommodate the camera (be sure to reality check this against the camera)
  16. adhere the thin rubber-foam pad to the steel where the camera will rest on it
  17. make a pinhole where the tripod screw is (this way the bolt will be able to get to the camera yet the tight rubber-foam will hold the bolt in place when the camera is not screwed in)
  18. 10-minute epoxy the steel bracket to the tupperware lid (again, reality check this with the camera so that everything fits together)
  19. Adhere the hook velcro to the tupperware lid on the opposite side of the steel plate
  20. Drill the hole for the bolt to get through the velcro and tupperware
  21. Cut a hole in the tupperware case where the lens needs to peer through
  22. (optional step of securing some sort of glass over the hole in the tupperware for rock/dirt/mud/water/snow protection --I didn't do this)
  23. (the next day) Cover the plastic plate with the hook velcro sticker tape
  24. drill a hole in the middle of the plastic plate through the epoxy, through the helmet, and out the other side (the hole should be slightly smaller than the diameter of the t-nut)
  25. Bore/countersink a flat surface inside the helmet that the t-nut will fit into
  26. Set the t-nut in the helmet and screw the entire assembly together (trim an extra length of the bolt so it doesn't poke you in the head)
  27. Drip wax into the t-nut covering the end of the bolt
  28. Epoxy the t-nut into position (the wax prevents the assembly from becoming permanent)
  29. Screw your camcorder to the mount via the tripod screw (#8)
  30. Pop on the tupperware case and test that the camera doesn't see the case in the shot
  31. Improvise a strap system to keep you tupperware container closed in the event of a crash (I used elastic and velcro straps epoxy'ed between the velcro and the tupperware lid, but you can use duct tape if you'd like)
  32. Test and make adjustments as necessary
  33. Bolt #8 controls your horizontal aim, bolt #10 controls your vertical aim
The Water Bottle Counterbalance:
  1. Get a water bottle cage, 2 t-bolts, 2 bolts, and a water bottle
  2. Tape the water bottle cage in the desired position (I chose tip slightly angled up to avoid rain on sunny days) and mark drill holes
  3. Drill the bolt holes
  4. Bore/countersink the inside of the holes to make way for the t-nut
  5. Epoxy the t-nuts as you did the one on the opposite side to ensure a lasting and secure result
  6. Seat the t-nuts and bolt the cage to the helmet
  7. You will need to match water bottle size to camera weight (I fill the water bottle with water in case I run out figuring that I can always refill the bottle with sand and rocks if necessary)
All that's left:
  1. Start doing neck exercises because this is going to take some getting used to
  2. Take great footage, make great videos, and show me both pictures of your rig and the video too
can't see the video?   windows media player (free)   or   e-mail shane