So I don't know what others have experienced with gimbals/feet in shots but I've had a horrible time with legs ruining shots and other bad stuff happening.
Anywho, I have some experience building stuff but I thought I'd get some input here before I finalize a design. Once I choose an option (or if someone has a guide that's worked) I'll make it and post about it here if nobody else has already made it.
Option 1: wide legs
This would be a set of wider legs attached to the same anchor points (likely slightly offset to be aft of the camera) or cantilevered through the open spaces in the existing legs (which would then be cut). I did something like this a few years ago when I built this one quad and it worked. Drawbacks are potential changes in weight and rotational inertia. Benefits are easier editing (especially with wider shots) and better looking stuff in wind.
Option 2: no legs + landing rails
The idea here would be to either take off the front legs and move the compass to the back or to take off all of the legs and make some sort of springy/whiplike antenna and compass holder assembly (which would make landing on rails safer). Then make a pair of collapsible (aluminum?) bows with webbing to land on and some feet. This also solves the leg problem and because the legs weigh so little I don't think there would be flight issues. Potential problems could be with antenna issues that arise from moving them into more interference plus there's the additional weight of the landing system.
Option 3: retracts
I've made these before with servos but I don't know anything about triggering stuff using the Solo accessory port so I'd need another radio or some more hardware. In addition more weight means more power draw even if the legs are light. This is the mose expensive option but possibly the most robust (and cool looking obviously). The nice thing about retracts is you can put any kind of feet on them and you don't need to worry about the shot. Ex: skids for sand or snow, longer legs for tall grass and stuff and whatever else you want.
Let me know if anyone has opinions or tips and if I figure something out I'll keep you posted. I'm getting a knee surgery in a week so I'm gonna have a lot of time on my hands to work on this!
Anywho, I have some experience building stuff but I thought I'd get some input here before I finalize a design. Once I choose an option (or if someone has a guide that's worked) I'll make it and post about it here if nobody else has already made it.
Option 1: wide legs
This would be a set of wider legs attached to the same anchor points (likely slightly offset to be aft of the camera) or cantilevered through the open spaces in the existing legs (which would then be cut). I did something like this a few years ago when I built this one quad and it worked. Drawbacks are potential changes in weight and rotational inertia. Benefits are easier editing (especially with wider shots) and better looking stuff in wind.
Option 2: no legs + landing rails
The idea here would be to either take off the front legs and move the compass to the back or to take off all of the legs and make some sort of springy/whiplike antenna and compass holder assembly (which would make landing on rails safer). Then make a pair of collapsible (aluminum?) bows with webbing to land on and some feet. This also solves the leg problem and because the legs weigh so little I don't think there would be flight issues. Potential problems could be with antenna issues that arise from moving them into more interference plus there's the additional weight of the landing system.
Option 3: retracts
I've made these before with servos but I don't know anything about triggering stuff using the Solo accessory port so I'd need another radio or some more hardware. In addition more weight means more power draw even if the legs are light. This is the mose expensive option but possibly the most robust (and cool looking obviously). The nice thing about retracts is you can put any kind of feet on them and you don't need to worry about the shot. Ex: skids for sand or snow, longer legs for tall grass and stuff and whatever else you want.
Let me know if anyone has opinions or tips and if I figure something out I'll keep you posted. I'm getting a knee surgery in a week so I'm gonna have a lot of time on my hands to work on this!