A little update...

Sony HVR-HD1000P with DXA-4 mounted on the back.

Singapore Airshow 2010 Event Highlights

Singapore Airshow 2010 Event Highlights

The Singapore Airshow 2010 is a 6-day event, taking place from 2 to 7 February 2010 at Changi Exhibition Centre in Singapore. The first 4 days are exclusively for trade attendees while the final 2 weekend days are open to public.

http://www.singaporeairshow.com/

SGDrifters - Drift Emulation 2010 - Trailer (HD x.v.Color)

 
1 Minute trailer for upcoming radio controlled drift music video. Combining cinematography with music and drifting cars.

http://www.sgdrifters.com/

Drift Vengeance 2009 SGDrifters

Drift Vengeance

All drifting in this video are performed by team of SGDrifters.
Locations in this video consists of Yishun Drift Meet and Jurong Drift Meet in Singapore. Further details can be found on SGDrifters official website.
Singapore's very first RC Drifting community.

http://www.sgdrifters.com/

Untitiled

Untitled

Cam: Sony HVR-HD1000
NLE: Sony Vegas 9.0
- Color corrected
- 24p

Steadicam Tests

Steadicam Test

Cam: Sony HVR-HD1000
NLE: Sony Vegas 8.0
- Color corrected
- 24p


Steadicam Test 2

Cam: Sony HVR-HD1000
NLE: Sony Vegas 8.0
- Color corrected
- 24p

Steadicam

New steadicam I bought recently. Kinda late post. Done a couple of video tests to it, should be uploading them soon. Well, nothing much to explain.
Pictures as follows.

Above: Body Vest

Above: Steadicam

Above: Spring Arm. (Strength of spring can be adjusted by turning a knob at one end)

Above: Camera Baseplate and Adjustable mount.

Above: Steadicam Counterweights. (adjustable in several variations and positions)

Sony HVR-HD1000

Specifications:

Supported Resolutions: 480i; 1080i

Sensor: ClearVid 1/2.9" CMOS

Aspect Ratio: 4:3; 16:9

Min Shutter Speed: 1/2S

Max Shutter Speed: 1/10000S

Min Illumination: 0 Lux

White Balance: Custom; Preset; Automatic

Exposure Modes: Manual; Automatic

Zebra Stripes: Off; 70; 100

Infrared Nightshot: On; Off

Media Type/Storage: Mini DV (HDV)

Recording Speed: LP; SP

Carl Zeiss Lens

Focus: Manual; Automatic

Zoom: 10x Optical Zoom

Focal Length: 4.4mm - 54mm

1 x Component video output

1 x Composite video/audio output

1 x S-Video output

1 x HDMI output

1 x IEEE 1394 (FireWire/i.LINK)

1 x Audio input

1 x Headphones

1 x Control-L (LANC)

1 x USB

1 x DC power input

Expansion Slots: Memory Stick Duo

Matthews M25

Specifications

Load Capacity: 15lbs (7kg)
Balance Plate: Sliding, 3 inches movement
Counter Balance System: Yes
Pan/ Tilt Drag: No
Pan/ Tilt Lock: Yes
Leveling Bubble: Yes
Bowl: 65mm
Leg Sections: 3
Minimum Height: 30" (765mm)
Maximum Height: 5' (1520mm)
Folded Length: 31" (78.7mm)
Weight: 7lbs (3.2kg)

Strengths

• Durable
• Adjustable camera mounting plate
• Lightweight

Weaknesses

• No adjustable drag

NATAS Travel Fair 2009 - Jolin Tsai & Wu Nian Zhen

National Association of Travel Agents Singapore
NATAS Travel Fair 2009 at Singapore Expo
28th August to 30th August

Jolin Tsai & Wu Nian Zhen
Sponsored by Taiwan Visitors Association

Copyright 2009 © Blase Concepts, KELVINTWT

NATAS Travel Fair 2009 - Drawing Show

National Association of Travel Agents Singapore
NATAS Travel Fair 2009 at Singapore Expo
28th August to 30th August

Drawing Show
Sponsored by Korea Tourism Organization

Copyright 2009 © Blase Concepts, KELVINTWT

SAMPLIFY Film Editing Forum

NEW LECIP EDS on Double Deck Buses

VOLVO OLYMPIAN 3AXLE with LECIP EDS in order of introduction of EDS on bus.
June 15 - SBS 9618K (168 AMDEP)
June 26 - SBS 9661J (5 BNDEP)
July 31 - SBS 9631X (17 BNDEP)

The Roses @ Crawlspace

The Roses will be having their 5th gig near bugis and the band line up will be doing without bryan lum as he is busy on that day. Instead it will feature:
Keenan Gan-vocals
Dillon Keshvani-guitar
Eugene Soh from st pats and st stephens-bass
Dennis Cheah-bass
Kumarr-drums

The Rose will be playing a set of 35 mins, around 6 or 7 songs, mostly hard rock with bands ranging from led zeppelin and thin lizzy to oasis and U2.

Host:	The roses
Type:	Music/Arts - Performance
Network:	Global
Price:	free

Date:	Sunday, August 23, 2009
Time:	7:30pm - 10:30pm
Location:	Crawlspace 766 north bridge road. Singapore 198734. Nearest mrt:bugis
Street:	North Bridge road singapore 198734
City/Town:	Singapore, Singapore
	View Map Google MapQuest Microsoft Yahoo

Phone:	81033266
Email:	kumarr_suraendher@hotmail.com

Michael Ozaki Flower Photography Course

Contact Michael Ozaki at 65+81270756 for arrangements.

August

This actually is quite accurate I should say.

eDIT - Focus on Cinematography

eDIT - Focus on Cinematography


BSC Film and Digital Image Evaluation 2009

An updated BSC Film and Digital Image Evaluation 2009 encompassing 18 different film and digital cameras and different film stocks was filmed at Pinewood in February 2009. This material will provide information for the industry which will enable film makers to assess the options open to them in today's ever changing world. A comprehensive, unbiased guide from Budget to Post for industry professionals. A summary will be presented and discussed at eDIT 12. Filmmaker's Festival by Ms. Sue Gibson, president of BSC

SEE MAKING OF HERE
http://www.bscine.com/evaluation09.asp

The Unique Camera Technology of SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE

A customized camera support and recording package had to be built to meet the unique form factor demands of the Slumdog shoot. Pille Film of Wiesbaden, Germany created a custom solution which included a gyro stabilizer for the base of the SI-2K Mini. Instead of using the traditional film-style camera body, they elected to use Apple Mac book Pro notebook, running Windows XP, for the recorders, and built them into ruggedized backpacks, to be worn inconspicuously.
Uli Fischer of Pille Film discloses more tricks and details at eDIT 12. Filmmaker's Festival.

SEE LINK HERE
http://www.pillefilm.de/Products/details/7533/en
SEE CAMERA INFORMATION HERE
http://www.pstechnik.de/en/digitalfilm-si2k.php

The IMAGO Tribute 2009: Ricardo Aronovich on cinematography

Renowned cinematographer and IMAGO Tribute-Winner Ricardo Aronovich will speak in a public interview about his work with the likes of Costa-Gavras (Missing), Ettore Scola (Le Bal), Louis Malle (Murmur of the Heart), and Philippe de Broca or Jeanne Moreau. And on how the cinematographer's job has changed during the years of his career.

Shooting Day for Night - Developments in Cinematography and Beyond

The cinematographers' challenge of shooting night at day remains - but technology has given us innovative tools to cope with the problem. This panel is designed to give an overview of past, present and future 'day for night' approaches.
Presented by AFC, the French association of Cinematographers, with amongst others Robert Alazraki, Richard Andry, Ricardo Aronovich

The Cinematography of OCEANS, DICTATOR and more….

Further presentations on cinematography at eDIT 12. Filmmaker’s festival will feature:
OCEANS - In 2010 the film OCEANS will be launched in Europe. The documentary costing 50 million euros was shot worldwide over five years. It features amazing photography, using 35mm above the water and HD below. Philippe Ros supervised the cinematography and reports along with daring cinematographer Luc Drion.
DICTATOR - the first postwar feature film from Iraq, shot and digitally postproduced in HD by Louis-Philippe Capelle.
Metadata do offer control throughout the post process. An important issue for cinematographers that evolves at great speed. Update on the technical specification in digital imagery as discussed in Oslo and L.A. by Kommer Kleijn SBC, Director of Photography, IMAGO.
Camera and Animation at Aardman. Tom Barnes and Dave Alex Riddett will speak about cinematography on Nick Park's last short film A MATTER OF LOAF AND DEATH and restoration of Wallace and Gromit short films.
And many more shows on animation, editing, production or visual effects from outstanding international filmmakers.

SEE TRAILER OF OCEANS HERE
http://disney.go.com/disneynature/oceans/

An overview of the program category"Cinematography"
http://www.edit-frankfurt.de/index.php?id=271&no_cache=1&L=1&tx_editfestival_pi1%5bcat%5d=44

The full Festival program is now online at www.filmmakersfestival.com

eDIT 12. Filmmaker's Festival
04. - 06. October 2009 in Frankfurt am Main


eDIT 12th Filmmaker’s Festival

eDIT The Filmmaker’s Festival is an international platform for filmmakers from all
production disciplines to meet and share ideas.
The goal is to advance specific parts of the production process with a common
purpose of creating better storytelling through understanding. Exceptional worldwide
filmmakers present their work to educate, entertain and inspire their fellow artists in a
warm and personal state of the art environment.
eDIT The Filmmaker’s Festival is all about the process of filmmaking in the digital age.
We keep an eye on all of the changing technology whilst never forgetting that it is the
artist who paints the canvas.
Also the challenges of this evolution are never excluded: the “Digital Dilemma” lies
within the rapid change of formats and the fleeting nature of data in the modern age.
The festival program offers a wide range of presentations and panels on visual effects,
animation, cinematography, editing and other - production areas for film, television
and commercials. eDIT The Filmmaker’s Festival is proud to have as its presenting
partners the American Cinema Editors (A.C.E.) and the European Federation of
Cinematographers (IMAGO). The eDIT 12th Filmmaker’s Festival takes place from 4th
– 6th October 2009 in Frankfurt.

eDIT 12. Filmmaker’s Festival ist eine Veranstaltung von
Hessische Ministerium für Wissenschaft und Kunst

Hessische Landesanstalt für Privaten Rundfunk und neue Medien

Stadt Frankfurt am Main

IMAGO update news

Traditionally the Societies of Imago, the International Federation of Cinematographers have been proud to display the Imago Logo on events with which they are associated. Imago represents the family of Cinematographers under an umbrella Federation which is fighting for recognition and respect for the role of the cinematographer throughout Europe and improvements in Authors Rights and working conditions everywhere.

The AFC Micro Salon always displays with pride the Imago Logo, the Norwegians organised the recent European Digital Conference in Oslo with pride as an Imago event as did the Danes with their "Inspiration" Master Classes last October in Copenhagen despite giving 30,000 euros to fund it.
The Australians were proud to display the Imago Logo for their 50th Anniversary.
It is therefore with some regret that Imago notes the decision of one of our founding members, the BSC, to remove their Logo from their Film and Digital Image Evaluation brochures. These comprehensive Seminars have taken place recently in the UK in London and Bristol and will be presented at the eDIT Festival in Frankfurt on October 5th and later probably worldwide.
Nationalistic thoughts should to be balanced by a more generous understanding that Imago belongs to all our Societies. Whether we like it or not we are all dependent upon one another. Imago needs all the recognition and assistance it can get. It has virtually no income. It is organised voluntarily. Imago belongs to us, fighting to improve many aspects of standards and the working life of the Cinematographer and our crews.


Don't reject the Imago Logo. Display it with pride It cannot be expected that Brussels beaurocracy will recognise Imago if its own member Society do not give it their support. However as one opportunity closes, it seems another opens.

The rejection of the submission by Imago for an International Conference to be held in Copenhagen in October 2010 on a technicality was a disappointment. The substance of the submission has not been questioned and the EU rejection came with their hope that we would resubmit our proposal for a World Conference. As your President I have been heartened by the many messages of encouragement received personally to keep fighting to make beaurocracy work for us and for the ultimate justice of our cause. Time is running out but [there will almost certainly be another EU Proposal for Imago to present next year. With this experience behind us I am confident we will succeed for 2011. The Presidents and Societies of Denmark, Ukraine and Australia have to be thanked for their assistance and encouragement in presenting the Proposal.

The window, which has opened, comes courtesy of the Spanish AEC who has announced a Conference on Authors Rights is to be held in Seville on 5th November to November 8th. Following the memorable Authors Rights Conference of 2005 in Huelva this Spanish initiative represents an opportunity for cinematographers to meet and evaluate the present situation of European Authors Rights issues, discuss strategy for a Camerimage debate which is being organised by the BvK in late November and, importantly for Imago, gather information to present to the EUXXL Conference in Austria next March, the results of which will be monitored by Brussels.

The Manaki Festival has decided to Honour Peter Suschitzky ASC with their Lifetime Achievement Award for 2009. Peter is well known for his collaboration with the Canadian Director David Cronenberg as well as being part of a family trilogy with his father Wolfgang Suschitzky BSC (Get Carter) and his son, the talented cinematographer Adam Suschitzky.


Imago is honouring the 30th Anniversary of the Manaki Film Festival, the oldest Festival in the World dedicated to the Art of Cinematography by organizing a Master Class between Billy Williams OBE BSC (Ghandi, On Golden Pond, Women in Love) and Seamus McGarvey BSC ASC (Atonement The War Zone) in Bitola, Macedonia, on October Ist. The Manaki Festival was the favourite Festival of the late Freddie Francis BSC. What greater accolade! A discussion between Billy Williams, at the youth of his eighties and Seamus McGarvey, a BSC, ASC baby at 32 years of age should prove one of the highlights of the Festival.

The eDIT Festival begins on October 4th in Frankfurt when Imago plan to hold a Board Meeting to which Aleksander Shiganov, the President of the Ukrainian Society has been invited to attend to strengthen Imago's effective representation in Eastern Europe. Imago has collaborated with eDIT, as it did so effectively last year by contributing events for the Festival.

The AFC and Imago will honour Ricardo Aronovitch AFC with the Imago Honour. This was awarded for the first time last year was to Guiseppe Rotunno AIC cinematographer to Fellini and many other great Italian Directors. The AFC will present a demonstration of "Day for Night" and the BSC will present the findings of its Film and Digital Evaluation. Aardman animation will also be demonstrating the secrets of its magic.

The World's first all Female Master Class has been re-arranged by the Imago Master Class Committee to take place in Oslo in mid-November. This will follow the Conference on European Authors Rights in Seville, which starts on November 5th. There each member Society will be invited to bring two delegates with the internal costs in Spain being met by the AEC and the Seville Festival Authorities.

The EUXXL Festival in Austria in March 2010 will be dedicated to Cinematographers and issues, which affect their working lives. This may well prove to be the most important Conference to date involving Cinematographers and Imago. The recommendations are forwarded through the EU representatives who report directly back to the EU. Imago in conjunction with the AAC will be organizing a Series of Master Classes for Austrian Film Students.

The Annual General Meeting of Imago will be scheduled for Mid-April 2010 after further discussions with Cincecitta Management who have generously offered their facilities in Rome. The Korean Society of Cinematographers has been invited to join Imago.

Nigel Walters President of IMAGO

Universal Rod Support

and of course this doesn't come cheap. Should be building one in near future.

DOF Adapter - First test

First test of my homemade depth of field adapter on my NV-DS11 with Canon EF70-200mm f/2.8L lens.
Ground glass used - Piece of frosted plastic sheet.
I will be trying out several other materials for making the ground glass.
Might also be converting this static adapter to a vibrating one to reduce grains seen on the ground glass.
Edited in Sony Vegas 8.0.
No color corrected.

Manaki Brothers Festival

"Manaki Brothers" on Saturday, September 26 at 7:30pm.

Event: Manaki Brothers
What: Festival
Host: Cinematography
Start Time: Saturday, September 26 at 7:30pm
End Time: Friday, October 2 at 10:30pm
Where: Bitola

To see more details and RSVP, follow the link below:
http://www.facebook.com/n/?event.php&eid=122446984360&mid=e95d51G25714b80G23fd6a6G7

Finally.

NV-DS11 with Depth Of Field adapter sitting on SZ Tripod and Heiwa head.
Probably one of the most dangerous and weirdest camera lens mounting in mankind's history.
Will be uploading some sample footage soon.

- D.I.Y. Depth Of Field Adapter with homemade canon lens mount.
- Canon EF70-200mm f/2.8L lens

Canon HV20

Pretty amazed by this small consumer looking camcorder. Shoots in true 1080 HD with CMOS sensors also featuring cine mode of 24p with Super range O.I.S. Also features external mic, headphones jack, HDMI output. Additionally, manual audio gain control function is also included in this camcorder. Advanced Accessories Shoe will accommodate external video light and microphones without the use of external power source or wires. Last but not least, it comes with a fairly reasonable price tag of $850 to $1100 for a real proper HD camcorder.
A few pictures of how it will look like being pimped up.




The adapter makes an upside-down image. HV20 mounted upside down.

Two students killed after being knocked down by train

SINGAPORE: A young couple died after they were knocked down by a train at the KTM railway track near Upper Bukit Timah Road early Saturday morning.

19-year-old Goh Sheng Yao and 20-year-old Lee Jing Yu, both Republic Polytechnic students, were pronounced dead by paramedics at the scene at about 6.00am.

It is believed that the train driver had signalled to both of them to move away from the track, but they failed to do so.

The train was heading towards Malaysia and was not carrying any passengers at the time of the accident. Train services were disrupted for nearly two hours before resuming at around 7.40am.

Police have classified the case as unnatural death and investigations are underway. Witnesses with information on the case can contact the police at 1800-255-0000.


- CNA/so
08 August 2009

August 7th 2009

On August 7th 2009. At 34 minutes and 56 seconds past 12. The time will be
12:34:56 07/08/09
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

D.O.F. Adapter

Upcoming project for myself.
Wouldn't bother explaining much as no one will be bothered to read. Lol.
So here's an idea of what the final product will be like.

For those who are interested, click on the wikipedia link below.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Depth-of-field_adapter

Civil Defence - The Day The Bus Stood Still

Civil Defence - The Day The Bus Stood Still
Educational Short Film

Asteroid Impact

Watch how the world might come to an end.

All you need to know about RC Drifting.

What is RC?

RC stands for Radio Control. Commonly known as Remote Control and is a growing hobby. Don't be fooled by toy grade stuff(E.G. QD car). Hobby grade RC requires much more settings, tunings to the car itself just like a real car. Here you'll find information on how to get started, what u need and what u need to do. Most information available are for beginners to this sport. If you feel that I've missed out any important details or wish to know more or add more to this note, feel free to send me a PM.


What is RC DRIFTING?

RC Drifting originated from 1:1 Scale Drifting Scene from Japan which involves the car to go sideways when entering a turn, it's not the fastest way around a track but it sure is the most stylish way to do it. Due to the unavailability of a track and legal issue in Singapore, we drifters turn to a more scaled down, cheaper and safer means to drift. That is how RC Drifting in Sunny Singapore started.
In the world of Real Racing you need the skills, the car and the looks plus lots of money to be comparative. Same goes for RC Drifting, skills come with practice and patience. That's something others can't help you out pretty much. RC Drifting certainly does brings you as much fun as what real cars can give, only at a lower cost.


What Kinds of RC Cars can DRIFT ?

All RC cars are drift-able as long as it is a 4WD car.


What is a Radio Controller (TX) ?

A Controller is a hand held device that lets you control your car using radio waves. There are of 2-9 channels(Like in a TV Channel) of Radio Controller available, for RC Cars 2 channel would be enough. 1 for throttle control and 1 for the steering(Servo).

There are two different types of Radio Controller available, Stick Controllers and the Wheel/Gun Controllers, which the later one being more popular in Singapore due to the ease of use and also getting the hang of it.

Most Entry-level Radio Controller are in AM (Amplitude Modulation) frequencies, where as intermediate and much more expensive Radio Controller are in FM (Frequency Modulation), PCM (Pulse Code Modulation) and the latest DSM Radios (Digital Spectrum Modulation). The later produced controllers provides a stronger and clearer signal to the Receiver. It does not matter if your Radio Controller is in what kind of Frequency/Modulation as most drift track in Singapore are reasonably small. Your controller's signal strength will have more than enough power to transmit signals to your receiver on the car.

Most Radio Controllers requires eight 1.2 volts AA Batteries or 11.1 volt Li-Po Battery. Getting eight rechargeable batteries will be better in the long run. There are also different brands and models of Radio Controllers to choose from.
E.G. Sanwa (Airtronics), Futaba, KO Propo and Spektrum.


What is a Receiver (RX) ?

A Receiver is a device that is fixed onto your car which receives signals from the transmitter and processes the information then sends it to the Servo and Electronic Speed Controller. The Receiver itself can be powered by separated batteries or the built in Battery Eliminator Circuit (BEC) in the ESC. It allows the standard 7.2 volts used to power the car to also power up the Receiver and servo which uses 6 volts without using separated batteries packs.


What is a Frequency Crystal?

A Frequency Crystal is small interchangeable "Chip" in a radio system that determines frequency that the radio will operate on. You will find one crystal in the Radio Controller and another in the Receiver with the same frequency. E.G. Radio Controller (TX 27.045 AM), Receiver (RX 27.045 AM). The labels TX means Transmission Crystal and RX Means Receiver Crystal.


What is a Motor ?

As the title suggests, a Motor is a device that drives the car forward and reverse. There are different sizes of Motor than can be used for 1:10 RC Cars. The most commonly used motors are the 540 size motors. In general, the three types or Motor that can be used are the Stock Motors, Modified Motors and Brushless Motors.

Stock Motors normally have up to 27 or 23 turns with a fixed timing of 24 degree which produce a good balance between performance and costs.

A Modified motor normally have around 20 turns or less with an adjustable timing. Modified motors are usually used for performances only and is not recommended for drifting due to the higher cost and a higher maintenance level.

A Brushless Motor looks a lot like a brushed motor that has been turned inside out with its magnets attached to the armature instead of the motor's casing. A Brushless Motor provides lots of torque and speed and is almost maintenance free. Brushless Motors requires an ESC that supports Brushless systems. However, due to the high pricing, it is seldom used for drifting.

More FAQ on Stock and Modified motor
Coming Soon


What is a Servo ?

A servo is a device used to operate the steering of the RC car like the steering wheel of a real car. A typical Servo comes in a shape of a rectangular box with one motor shaft coming out of one end and three wires out of the other end. These three wires consists of; Power, Ground, and Signal. Servos works with voltages between 4 and 6 volts. There are 2 different kinds of servo; Digital Servo and Analog Servo.

Digital Servo being a better servo due to the higher speed and torque. Due to the cost, it is not recommended. A Standard Servo would be good enough in handling a drift car.


What is a Battery Pack ?

A Battery Pack consists of 6 individual, 1.2 volts battery to form a pack of 7.2 volts battery that is used as a main power source to power the car. There are several types of Batteries; Ni-Cd (Nickel Cadmium), Ni-Mh (Nickel Metal Hydride), Li-Po Battery (Lithium Polymer) and Li-Ion Battery (Lithium Ion a.k.a A123)
(Li-Po and Li-Ion batteries are widely used in mobile phones, palm tops, laptops etc.)

Ni-Cd is one the most commonly used batteries for electric RC Cars due amount of power they provide. Ni-Cd batteries have a limited lifetime due to the low capacity, heavy and very prone to what some might call, "memory effect" which refers to recharging a Ni-Cd battery that has not been fully discharged and it "remembers" the old charge amount and continues from there till next time you use it. The memory effect is caused by crystallization of the battery's substances and can permanently reduce your battery's lifetime, even making it useless. You should completely discharge the battery and fully recharge it again at least once every few weeks.

Ni-Mh batteries are the later introduced batteries to replace Ni-Cd batteries. Ni-Mh batteries is less affected by "memory effects" than Ni-Cd and thus require less maintenance and conditioning. The capacity of a Ni-Mh is approximately twice the capacity of Ni-Cd. On the other hand, Ni-Mh do cause problems at very high or low temperatures. Nevertheless, they can still be used for RC drifting.

Li-Po batteries have a lower weight due to the lightweight material used in construction which in turn increased in play time. Some Speed Controllers can be calibrated to prevent excessive discharge during use. Excessive discharge can damage the battery. Li-Po chargers are also required to be used and that may bring up the cost of using Li-Po batteries.

Li-Ion batteries have generally lower punch/power due to its norminal voltage around 6.6v. However, the battery is robust and rarely needs to be balanced. It can be used without worrying about over-discharging. Therefore, its means that you can fully discharge it on your car. In fact, Li-Ion batteries will power down immediately if it ran out of power. Li-Ion chargers are also required to be used and that may bring up the cost of using Li-Ion batteries.


What is a Speed Controller ?

A Speed controller is a device that controls the amount of power that goes to the motor. There are two types of Speed Controller available; Mechanical Speed Control (MSC) and the Electronic Speed Controller (ESC). We will not go into details on MSCs as it is rarely used.

ESC stands for Electronic Speed Controller. It is an electronic component that controls throttle input by regulating the current being sent to the motor. ESCs regulates the on/off timing in milliseconds, of the output to vary the speed. Hence saves power compared to MSCs which use resistors to bleed off excess current. ESC's also save space and weight and most importantly there is zero moving parts as compared to a MSC.


What kind of Motor is suitable for DRIFTING ?

Most motors can be used for drifting. To keep the cost low, use a Tuned Silver Can Motor or a Tamiya Sport-Tuned motor.


What kind of Servo can be used for DRIFTING ?

Any standard size servo can be used: E.G. Futaba 3003, Tamiya TSU-01, Sanwa 102,103,112 etc.


What kind of tires can be used for DRIFTING ?

There are several types of drift tires in the market today: E.G. Yokomo Drift Tires, Tamiya Drift Tires, HPI Stage D T-Tires, Kawada Drift Tires and last but not least, PVC Drift Tires.
We prefer to use the PVC Drift Tires due to the low cost, better control over the car and lower wear rate compared to other tires.


What is Pinion and Spur ?

The Pinion gear is the smaller metal gear attached directly to your motor shaft and the Spur gear is the larger gear which the pinion meshes with. There are 2 types of pitch for the gears; 48 Pitch or 64 Pitch. The number defines how many teeth there are on the gears for a fixed circumference. 48 Pitch has fewer teeth per centimeter and is stronger as a result.


What it means by Gear Ratio ?

The Gear Ratio tells you how many times your motor is going to have to turn in order to make the wheels turn by one complete round/revolution. In other words, if the gear ratio is 1.0 then for every round/rotation of the motor, the wheels would go one complete round/revolution. Getting the correct gear ratio for the motor is probably 1 of the most important aspect of your car's set-up and it will also affect your car's run time.

If you get the gear ratio wrong, it will not just make your car slower but also damage the motor by causing it to overheat. Most damage to the motor and brushes are caused by "over gearing", in other words, setting the overall gear ratio to too small a number. This is because at lower ratios the motor is trying to get the wheels moving to a high speed as soon as you push it to full throttle. This puts a lot of resistance on the motor and it heats up very quickly. - It has been known for motors to get so hot that it causes internal parts to melt causing serious damage or even fire.

It is a huge challenge to find the exact Gear Ratio for each motor. One may ask around how others geared their cars and see what ratios they are using and then choose the correct gear ratios for your own car.


How do I calculate my Final Drive Ratio ?

First and foremost, you must know what is your car's Internal Gear Ratio varies from car to car. E.G. Yokomo CM, CGM, SSG, Black Special and RaySpeed is 2.35.

So now lets calculate the Final Drive Ratio by taking the Spur Divided by the Pinion and Multiply the Internal Ratio.

Example:
Spur: 70 teeth
Pinion: 30 teeth
Internal Ratio: 2.35

70 Divided by 30 = 2.33
2.33 Multiply by 2.35 = 5.48

Final Drive Ratio = 5.48


What Gear Ratio should i use for a Silver Can motor?

It is advised to get a Final Drive Ratio of 5.00 to 5.50.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Credits:
Written by www.SGDrifters.com (Singapore's First RC Drifting Community)
Summarized By kelvintwt

BMW 325i Convertible

Short intro for my almost 10 years old BMW 325i Convertible model.

The Impossible Record - J C Sum and Magic Babe Ning "World Record"

Event covered by me. Not the full length video.

"The Impossible Record"
J C Sum and Magic Babe Ning
"World Record 15 illusions in 5 Minutes"

On 27 Jun 2009 at 9.40pm, J C Sum & 'Magic Babe' Ning set an official world record for most number of grand illusions performed in 5 minutes by presenting 15 illusions within the stipulated time period.
After the successful record attempt, J C Sum & Magic Babe Ning were presented with the official record certificate by the President of the Singapore Book of Records. The President of the International Brotherhood of Magicians Ring 115 also presented them with a special achievement award.
Dutch illusionist, Hans Klok, who presented 10 illusions in 5 minutes last year during a TV studio recording, set the previous un-official record.
J C Sum is one of the very few mega illusionists in Asia. Since late-2002, J C has developed seven original mega illusions & mega escapes that are each unique, distinct and spectacular.

If you are a potential partner who would like to work with J C & Ning to stage a Mega Event in Asia, contact them at jcsum@conceptmagic.biz

Official Website
httpwww.jcsum.com

ConceptMagic
httpwww.conceptmagic.biz

Ueo Ownage

D1gp in odaiba. Not sure which year/round is this.

SGDrifters Challenge 2009 12/07/2009 Results

SGDrifters is organising a RC Drift Challenge next month. Details will be as follow.

Date: 12/07/2009
Day: Sunday
Time: 10am
Location: 170 Ghim Moh Road, Ulu Pandan Community Centre
Tires: Drifter Street F2 tires
Fee: SGD$15
Rule and Regulation: OPEN to any 1:10 chassis, motors and batteries. Mini 1:10 chassis are not allow.

Note:
Drifters who wish to purchase the tires on the spot, please bring a set of your favourite 24mm or 26mm rims.

Payment of Fee
For local drifters (Singaporean), you may pay during Ulu Pandan Drift Meet.

For overseas drifters, you can pay on the actual competition day itself.

Extra
On that day, Ulu Pandan CC is having their Youth Extravaganza & Sports Festival. Many youth events will be held there as well, for example Archery, Wrestling, Netball, Street Soccer Competition, Modern Pentathlon, Cheerleading, GRC Torch Relay, Wheelchair Basketball and of course our very own RC Drifting Challenge.

Guest of Honor will be Mr Lim Swee Say, Member of Parliament for Holland-Bukit Timah GRC and Secretary-General of the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC).

SGDrifters crews hope to see you there!



Results as follows:

SGDrifters Challenge 2009 12/07/2009 @ Ulu Pandan Community Center.
Results as follows.

Pos. Nick Name / Real Name / Car
1st. Alan / Alan / Tamiya TRF 416
2nd. Kido Seishirou / Billy Lim / Yokomo MR4TC
3rd. Vwongjj / JJ Wong / Yokomo MR4TC

Top Qualifier:
Kido Seishirou / Billy Lim / Yokomo MR4TC

For more information, visit
http://www.sgdrifters.com/forum/

Supported by:
People's Association Youth Movement
People's Association
Ulu Pandan Community Cub

SGDrifters Challenge 2009 12/07/2009

Yishun Circuit 07/02/2009

Yishun Circuit 07/02/2009

Tsuyoshi Tezuka vs Nomura Ken - D1GP in Odaiba 2009

BEST twin drifting ever seen in my entire life..

Some updates

FINALLY I've got my GOODYEAR sticker on it after a year of drifting. cracks and scratches everywhere...

the real B324R below

and here's my BLITZ 2008 FC3S. Decals made by me again.

the real ER34 below

SGDrifters Challenge 2009 12/07/2009

SGDrifters is organising a RC Drift Challenge next month. Details will be as follow.

Date: 12/07/2009
Day: Sunday
Time: Around 10am
Location: 170 Ghim Moh Road, Ulu Pandan Community Centre
Tires: Drifter Street F2 tires
Fee: SGD$15
Rule and Regulation: OPEN to any 1:10 chassis, motors and batteries. Mini 1:10 chassis are not allow.

Note:
Drifters who wish to purchase the tires on the spot, please bring a set of your favourite 24mm or 26mm rims.

Payment of Fee
For local drifters (Singaporean), you may pay during Ulu Pandan Drift Meet.

For overseas drifters, you can pay on the actual competition day itself.

Extra
On that day, Ulu Pandan CC is having their Youth Extravaganza & Sports Festival. Many youth events will be held there as well, for example Archery, Wrestling, Netball, Street Soccer Competition, Modern Pentathlon, Cheerleading, GRC Torch Relay, Wheelchair Basketball and of course our very own RC Drifting Challenge.

Guest of Honor will be Mr Lim Swee Say, Member of Parliament for Holland-Bukit Timah GRC and Secretary-General of the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC).

SGDrifters crews hope to see you there!

Formula Drift Judge Andy Yen explains Qualifying to Best 16

Interview with Mr. Andy Yen, one of the 3 judges of the recent Formula Drift Pro-Am Series 2009 held at the Changi Exhibition Centre in Singapore.
Saturday, July 4th to Sunday, July 5th

Oh oh, oh oh
So much for my happy ending

Oh oh, oh oh
So much for my happy ending

Oh oh, oh oh, oh oooooh....

Let's talk this over
It's not like we're dead
Was it something I did?
Was it something you said?

Don't leave me hangin'
In a city so dead
Held up so high
On such a breakable thread

[Pre-Chorus:]
You were all the things I thought I knew
And I thought we could be

[Chorus:]
You were everything, everything that I wanted
We were meant to be, supposed to be
But we lost it (but we lost it)
All of the memories, so close to me
Just fade away
All this time you were pretending
So much for my happy ending

Oh oh, oh oh
So much for my happy ending (Oh oh, oh oh)

Oh oh, oh oh

You've got your dumb friends
I know what they say
They tell you I'm difficult
But so are they (So are they)
But they don't know me
Do they even know you? (Even know you)
All the things you hide from me
All the shit that you do (All the shit that you do)

You were all the things I thought I knew
And I thought we could be

[Chorus:]
You were everything, everything that I wanted
We were meant to be, supposed to be, but we lost it
all of the memories, so close to me, just fade away
All this time you were pretending
So much for my happy ending

It's nice to know that you were there,
Thanks for acting like you cared
And making me feel like I was the only one
It's nice to know we had it all
Thanks for watching as I fall
And letting me know we were done


[Chorus:]
He was everything, everything that I wanted
We were meant to be, supposed to be, but we lost it
And all of the memories, so close to me, just fade away
All this time you were pretending
So much for my happy ending...

[Chorus:]
You were everything, everything that I wanted
And we were meant to be, supposed to be, but we lost it
And all of the memories, so close to me, just fade away
All this time you were pretending
So much for my happy ending

Oh oh, oh oh
So much for my happy ending
Oh oh, oh oh
So much for my happy ending

Oh oh, oh oh, oh oh....
Oh ooooh....

Camera Jib Crane Test Shot

Test shot with my new camera jib.

The Cinematic Orchestra - All Things to All Men

The Cinematic Orchestra - All Things to All Men

Shot in Taman Aman; Alor Star; Malaysia
on 16th June 2009

Panasonic NV-DS11
f=3.8~76mm
Centron CRX1030 0.6x Wide Angle Lens
Edited in Sony Vegas

The Cinematic Orchestra - To Build a Home

A short video I made to keep myself occupied over the weekend. All footage taken around Bukit Batok.
Singapore of course. Thanks for watching!
Song is 'To Build a Home' by The 'Cinematic Orchestra'.

RB26 DETT

Displacement - 2568 cc , 156.70 cu in.
Combustion chamber - Pent roof type
Valve arrangement - DOHC belt drive
Bore x Stroke - 3.386 in x 2.902 in
Compression ratio - 8.5
Compression pressure - 171 psi /300 rpm
Dimensions (L x H x W) - 34.25 x 26.18 x 26.57 in
Idle Speed - 950 rpm
Ignition timing - 20 deg BTDC / 950 rpm
Engine oil - 7.5W - 30 or similar
Oil Pan Capacity - 4.5 liter , 4 imp qt
Oil filter capacity - Approx.0.4 L , 3/8 imp qt
Total engine coolant capacity - Approx. 9.0 L , 7 7/8 imp qt

Nissan GT-R

Between 1969 and 1974, and again between 1989 and 2002, Nissan produced a high performance version of its Skyline range, called the Nissan Skyline GT-R. This car proved to be iconic for Nissan and achieved much fame and success on road and track. The Nissan GT-R, although no longer carrying the "Skyline" badge (because it's designed from the ground up) has heritage in the Nissan Skyline GT-R. Like the Skyline GT-Rs R32 through R34, the Nissan GT-R is AWD with a twin-turbo 6 cylinder engine; however, the evolutionary, incremental changes between Skyline models R32 through R34 have been done away with. The four-wheel-steering system has been done away with, plus the traditional straight-6 RB26DETT engine has been replaced with a new V6 VR38DETT. Because of the GT-R's heritage the chassis code for the all-new version has been called CBA-R35, or 'R35' for short.

Motorsport

The GT-R's success in motor racing was formidable, particularly in the annual 1,000 km race at the Mount Panorama circuit in Bathurst, Australia, where the winner in 1991 and 1992 was a GT-R (despite receiving additional 100 kg in weight penalties and a turbo pop off valve in 1992), and in the Japanese GT series where it has remained dominant for many years. The Skyline GT-R line were retired from the JGTC series(later changed Super GT Series) in 2004. And the successor Nissan GT-R will return in Super GT in the 2008 season.
No other race victories by the GT-R could escape without controversies. At the 1998 Macau Grand Prix Guia touring car race, the factory backed R32 driven by Masahiro Hasemi led the race from the start to the finishing line which caused a wave of protests by the European entrants. The following year, the car was forced to carry a weight penalty of 140 kg and was up against the more competitive DTM BMW M3 and Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.5-16 Evolution II. A disgruntled Hasemi was forced to settle for fourth place. For the following and final year the weight penalty was reduced and works backed Hasemi returned with another privateer R32 that crashed in the race, while Hasemi would retire with engine failure.
In the UK, Andy Middlehurst took the Nissan Skyline GT-R (R32) to two consecutive championship wins in the National Saloon Car Cup. Other championship titles include the 1992 Spanish Touring Car Championship.
Akira Kameyama has taken the GT-R to the Pikes Peak International Hillclimb race on three occasion winning in each Open Class for production cars he entered, one in 1993 with the R32,[2] another in 1996 with the R33[3] and again in 1998.[4] For the following year, Rhys Millen took a R33 Skyline GT-R to win the High Performance Showroom Stock category[5]
At the 1994 Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona, the GT-R would make its US debut when Nismo entered a sole Group A specification R32 for the GTU category, the car would finish 20th.[6]
In 1995 Nismo developed the Skyline GT-R for endurance racing with a pair of JGTC specification R33s for the 24 Hours of Le Mans. In order to meet homologation regulations, a street legal version had to be built, although Nismo only required one example. This Skyline GT-R LM has been held by Nissan UK since its creation and has never been sold as a true production vehicle.[citation needed] The two racing cars were able to achieve some success at Le Mans, with one car achieving 10th overall, and 5th in its GT1 class, being beaten only by the more developed McLaren F1 GTRs. For 1996, the Skyline GT-R LMs would return, this time carrying enlarged RB26DETTs, now displacing 2.8 litres. Again competing in GT1, they would finish 15th overall, and 10th in class. However, with the cars in GT1 exploiting more and more loopholes in the rules, Nissan was forced to abandon their production-based Skyline GT-R LMs and instead turn to the purpose-built Nissan R390 GT1 for 1997. In honor of the success of the Skyline at Le Mans, Nissan marketed a limited edition R33 referred to as "LM Limited", only available in a competition blue.
In 2007 Automotive Forums became the first ever to compete with a Nismo R34 Z-Tune in the United States, participating in the Speed World Challenge GT series. Team: Driver and President of Automotive Forums.com Igor Sushko, Crew Chief Sean Morris, Team Manager Victor Reyes, Mechanic Josh Mitchell, and Engineer Merritt Johnson. Tentative plans are in place for the 2007 season.
In 2007 the Heat Treatments Drag Skyline GT-R driven by Reece McGregor of New Zealand, broke the world record for the fastest 4WD over a 1/4 mile with a 7.57@ 305.96 km/h at the Willowbank Dragway in Australia, a record previously held by the HKS Skyline GT-R with a 7.67.
Nowadays, the car is popular for import drag racing, Time Attack and events hosted by tuning magazines.

Power-train

The GT-R of the 1990s included a 2.6 L straight six-cylinder twin-turbo engine producing 206 kW (276 hp). The turbo-chargers were of a hybrid steel/ceramic design allowing them to spool up faster due to the light nature of the ceramic exhaust wheel.
Power was delivered to all four wheels using an electronically-controlled all wheel drive system referred to by Nissan as the ATTESA-ETS system. The ATTESA-ETS system uses two G-Sensors mounted underneath the centre console, which feed lateral and longitudinal inputs to the ECU. The ECU would then control the feed of power by allowing a limited amount to be delivered to the front wheels via an electronic torque split converter. In 1995, the ATTESA-ETS Pro was introduced as an option for R33 GT-R customers, and came as standard equipment in GT-R V-spec models. It was later standard equipment in all GT-R models for the R34 Skyline GT-R. The ATTESA-ETS Pro added an Active Limited Slip Differential, which was controlled by the onboard ATTESA computer. This was only for the rear differential, as the front differential remained as a normal Limited Slip Differential. The ATTESA-ETS Pro was also advertised in brochures as adding an electroniclly controlled 4-channel ABS brake system. Although it is not related to the all wheel drive system, it uses much of the same sensors, and the same computer. It is said the R32 could be switched from AWD to RWD by removing a fuse (unknown), but R33 and R34 models had to have the front driveshaft removed.
The car also had computer-controlled all wheel steering system referred to as HICAS. The HICAS system activated when the vehicle exceeded 80 km/h and controlled the steering of the rear wheels in the same direction as the front to improve turn in on entry to corners. It should be noted however that this feature is often seen as more of a hindrance than help in race applications. The system tends to favour less advanced drivers, and can make the rear suspension unstable during high speed cornering. For this reason many kits are available to override this system usually by looping it's hydraulic lines back on themselves. This is seen to make the car much more predictable when driving at the limit of grip.
While the published figures from Nissan were as quoted above, practical tests showed the car had a factory power output of closer to 330 ps (325 hp) at the flywheel. The lower published figure was Nissan's response to the need to abide by a gentleman's agreement between the Japanese auto manufacturers not to release a car to the public exceeding 280 ps (276 hp) of power output.

RB26DETT V6 TWIN TURBO

N1 engines

The N1 engine was first developed by Nismo for Group A racing purposes. The standard RB26DETT, although known for its durability, proved to require too much maintenance for Group A racing conditions. The N1 engine is built from the standard N1 block. The water cooling channels in the block are enhanced for better flowing. The block, and internal components are also strengthened. The pistons have 1.2 mm top rings, but otherwise as standard. The connecting rods are the same as standard, and the crankshaft is standard but balanced. The specifications of the camshafts were also improved for power. The N1 engine uses the same parallel twin turbocharger layout but with improved turbochargers. The N1 engine also received an upgraded oil pump and water pump, to improve the cooling and lubrication of the engine. The N1 engine is identified by its 24U number stamped on the block, as opposed to the 05U stamp on standard RB26DETT engines.
The first model of the N1 engine was the R32 N1 engine. It uses a pair of larger turbochargers compared to the standard R32 GT-R. The turbine wheels on the new turbochargers are made from steel, rather than the weaker ceramic used for all standard GT-R models. The R33 N1 engine was slightly revised, with larger turbochargers than the R32 N1 engine, supporting more power if the engine were to be modified.
The R34 N1 engine saw further improvement. The camshafts were slightly improved for even more potential power, the turbochargers were about the same size as the R32 N1 turbochargers, except now they use ball bearing technology, which operates much more quickly than any other model used.
The most improved N1 engine is the R34 Nür engine. It is based on the R34 N1 engine. The camshafts were further improved for power, and the crankshaft was further balanced for higher engine speed. There were 1000 Nür engines made by Nissan and all were used in the R34 V-spec II Nür, and R34 M-spec Nür models. They were advertised as making the same 280 PS (276 hp) as the standard model, but with the lighter engine parts, and more efficient turbochargers, the engine would make closer to 350 hp.

Nismo R34 Z-Tune

Nismo originally designed the concept of the Z-tune in 2002 when Nissan was putting an end to the R34 Skyline production. The first Z-tune was built in 2003, using a used 2002 Skyline GT-R V-Spec II. It was built with a concept RB26DETT 'Z1' engine. The cylinder diameter was bored out, and the crankshaft was designed with a longer stroke. The engine was now a 2.8L, and produced about 600 hp.
Nismo was then given the approval from Nissan to build 20 Z-tune models. For the 20 production models, the 2.8L engine was revised to allow it to reach 9000 rpm. The turbochargers were supplied by IHI in Japan. The engine is advertised as making as much as 600 hp. This second revision of the Z-tune engine is called the 'Z2'. The bodywork is designed with the same functional components used in Nismo's GT500 racing cars, such as engine bay vents on the hood and fenders, as well as wider fenders for wider wheels. The Z-tune is also improved with an aggressive suspension setup, and a specially designed Brembo brake setup.
The entire car is essentially handmade, with the car being completely stripped and re-built from the chassis up. Engineers reinforced and stiffened the chassis in key areas, completely redesigned the suspension, drivetrain, engine, gearbox and other components so as to work at maximum efficiency and reliability as is expected of a road-going vehicle. Only 20 units exist worldwide and is often regarded as the most expensive (prices for some have been known to exceed AU$500,000) street legal GT-R ever built.

NISMO Z-Tune Front View


NISMO Z-Tune Engine RB26DETT V6 Z2

1999–2002 (R34)

The R34 Skyline GT-R and GT-R V-spec models were released in January 1999. The R34 GT-R was also made to be shorter (from front to rear), and the front wheels were made closer to the front. The valve covers were also painted glossy red, rather than dull black.
A new feature on the R34 GT-R is a 5.8" LCD multifunction display on the center of the dashboard, which shows seven different live readings of engine and vehicle statistics such as turbocharger pressure, oil and water temperature, among others. The GT-R V-spec model added two extra features to the display, the first being a measurement of lateral g-forces, and the second being a lap timer, to time laps on a track event.
Like the R33, the new R34 GT-R V-spec models come equipped with the ATTESA E-TS Pro system, while standard GT-R models come with the non-Pro system. The V-spec model also had firmer suspension, and lower ground clearance. The V-spec model also included a plastic front air diffuser (covering the underside of the engine), and also a rear carbon fiber air diffuser, designed to keep air flowing smoothly under the car.
Another special model of the R34 GT-R is the M-spec. It is similar to the V-spec, but has softer suspension, and a leather interior. M-spec stands for - Man - spec. As in it was more of a sophisticated car for men, not as much a boy racer any more.
At the time of the R34's release, like the R32 and R33, Nissan released an R34 N1 model. The R34 GT-R N1 was equipped similar to the R32 and R33 N1 models. It was sold without ABS, air conditioning, audio equipment, rear wiper, or carpet in the trunk. The new R34 N1 was also given the new R34 N1 engine. Only 45 R34 N1 models were produced from the factory, 12 of which were used by Nismo for Super Taikyu racing. The rest were sold to various customers, mostly racing teams, and tuning garages.
In August 2000, Nissan released a newer V-Spec II GT-R model. The V-Spec II has increased stiffness in the suspension (even stiffer than the original V-spec). It also comes equipped with a carbon fiber hood, which is lighter than the aluminum that all other GT-R hoods are made from. Also different on the V-Spec II is the darker color of the center console in the interior. The seats were also made with black cloth, rather than the grey cloth used on other R34 GT-R models. From this point, the standard trim level GT-R also received the new black seats.
In February 2002 Nissan released a final production model of the R34 GT-R called the Nür. It was sold in 2 different models: the Skyline GT-R V-spec II Nür and the Skyline GT-R M-spec Nür. The Nür was named after the famous German Nürburgring racetrack, where the Skyline was developed. The Nür model featured an improved RB26DETT based on the N1 racing engine, used by Nismo in Motorsports. The V-spec II Nür is based on the regular V-spec II model, and the M-spec Nür was based on the regular M-spec model. Other than the addition of the Nür engine, the Nür models also included a different color of stitching on the interior trim, as well as a speedometer reading up to 300 km/h.

Production Figures
Standard Cars = 3,964
V-Spec = 7,301
N1 Race Version = 45
Total = 11,310

V-Spec Model