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<div>How large is the upper platform? Is it free standing or is there another set piece attached to it?</div><div><br></div><div>The thought I had is you build the upper platform with sockets where you slide in appropriately long pieces of schedule 40 inch and a half pipes as the legs. </div><div><br></div><div>The bottoms of the pipes are screwed into flanges which are firmly attached to a low platform with the same footprint as the upper. Some X bracing or a more solid wall unit bolts into the back face and one of the side faces to provide stability. </div><div><br></div><div>I haven't worked out the math to be sure, but pipes on the four corners should hold weight of platform plus one actor. If the actor is dancing or there are more than one of them, then add more vertical pipes. </div><div>Assembly and disassembly would want some kind of lift to tip the thing upright. And whatever the tipping axis is should have additional X bracing to resist the twisting and racking of the tipping up. </div><div><br></div><div>For extra points, design into the underside of the upper platform storage pockets for the pipe and X braces. The bottom sheet can strap to the upper platform to make a nice truck friendly unit. Add a couple of casters to make it easier to roll onto the truck. Probably on the skinny edge so it can just roll on and get strapped to the wall of the truck. </div><div><br></div><div>Dale</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div id="composer_signature"><div style="font-size:88%;color:#364f67" dir="auto">Sent from my Verizon 4G LTE smartphone</div></div><br><br>-------- Original message --------<br>From: Paul Anderson via Stagecraft <stagecraft@theatrical.net> <br>Date: 2/8/17 09:38 (GMT-05:00) <br>To: Stagecraft Mailing list <stagecraft@theatrical.net> <br>Cc: Paul Anderson <panderson@hope.edu> <br>Subject: [SML] Platforming to go on the road <br><br><div dir="ltr">I work for a small 4 year college and basically build scenery that sits on the stage till strike. The only shows I've built for packing in a truck were already designed with that in mind. <div><br></div><div>Our current production is being entered for ACTF participation and is being designed by what are basically not designers. So far they have a platform setup that is 8 feet in the air. The thought of raising heavy platforms that high scares me.</div><div><br></div><div>Not having done this I'm not sure what my options are. One thought I suppose is that there could be some sort of legging system put on each platform while upside down, then roll those assemblies upright one at a time and tie together. Some sort of folding gate legs and simple plywood tops instead of framed platforms is something I've also seen done.</div><div><br></div><div>There is some masking underneath which could be load bearing. But one corner is to be black scrim with some action to be revealed under the platform. And one platform has to have a trap to get into this underneath playing area.</div><div><br></div><div>Any suggestions welcome.<br clear="all"><div><br></div>-- <br><div class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature">Paul Anderson<br>Technical Director for Theater<br>Hope College<br>Holland, MI<br>616-395-7104</div>
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