What the thread found

• A custom junction box can adapt a Donkey Box III top stage to a Master Series sled while maintaining modularity by housing connectors and providing a secure mounting interface between the different hole patterns.
• The Donkey Box III top stage provides significantly better rigidity than the original Master Series stage, eliminating micro-vibrations that occur during long lens work or dynamic camera movement.
• Modular sled design allows operators to swap individual components like top stages without sending entire rigs for service, reducing downtime and shipping costs.
• The upgrade can be performed with minimal modification to the original sled, preserving the ability to restore it to its original configuration if desired.
• Installing a thicker junction box and Donkey Box III raises the camera position by approximately 1 to 1.5 inches, requiring adjustment to crane sled length or use of low-profile mounting plates.

Depends on

• The design was tested for 7 months by one operator on a 2011 Master Series sled and may not be applicable to other sled models or years.
• The junction box thickness of 0.9 inches is constrained by the large Size 2 LEMO connectors on the Master stage; a thinner design would require rebuilding all stage cables.
• The solution requires cutting and reconnecting wires at the post, which is not a completely non-invasive modification despite claims of minimal changes.
• No pricing or commercial availability was established; custom solutions depend on individual operator specifications and budgets.

Gear in this thread

Master Seriescatalog

Parts

Top Stage, Donkey Box

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