![]() The boards are laid out flat on the shop floor, squared, and joined with the keystones and corner blocks. This allows for quick standing and striking of the set.īroadway or stage flats are generally constructed of 1-by-3-inch (25 mm × 76 mm) nominal ( 3⁄ 4 by 2 + 1⁄ 2 inches or 19 by 64 millimetres actual) pine boards. They are easier to construct than keystones, but not as strong due to their narrower dimension and reduced glue/nailing surface area.Ī coffin lock or screws may be used to join securely adjacent flats, or traditionally with a lash line cleat, where cotton sash cord is lashed around cleats installed on the flat's edges. They are 8 inches (200 mm) long and 2 + 1⁄ 2 inches (64 mm) wide (same as toggle) rectangles. Straps can be used in place of keystones. They are 8 inches (200 mm) long, and normally rip sawn to the same width as the toggles (usually 2 + 3⁄ 4 inches or 70 millimetres) on one end, and 3 + 1⁄ 2 inches (89 mm) on the other, forming a shape similar to the keystone of an archway. Keystones join the toggles to the stiles of soft-cover flats. They are most often made by ripping the plywood at 6 + 1⁄ 2 inches (170 mm) and then mitering it at 45 degree angles to create triangles with 9-inch (230 mm) legs. They are normally made of 1⁄ 4-inch (6.4 mm) plywood, and are triangles with corners of 45°, 45°, and 90°. The length of the toggles is the total width of the flat minus the combined width of the stiles (3 feet 7 inches or 1.09 metres, for a 4 by 8 feet or 1.2 by 2.4 metres, soft-cover flat constructed of 2 + 1⁄ 2 inches or 64 millimetres, stiles).Ĭorner blocks are used to join the corners of a soft-cover flat. The number and placement of toggles depends on the type of flat. Toggles are horizontal cross pieces that run between the stiles or studs. The length of the stiles is the full height of the flat, minus the combined width of the rails (7 feet 7 inches or 2.31 metres, for a 4 by 8 feet or 1.2 by 2.4 metres, flat constructed of 2 + 1⁄ 2-inch or 64-millimetre, rails). Stiles (or studs) are the vertical members of the frame. ![]() Rails run the full width of the flat (4 feet or 1.2 metres, for a 4 by 8 feet or 1.2 by 2.4 metres, flat). Rails (or plates) are the top and bottom framing members of a flat. Often affixed to battens flown in from the fly tower or loft for the scenes in which they are used, they may also be stored at the sides of the stage, called wings, and braced to the floor when in use for an entire performance.įlat construction A scenic painter at work at the Semperoper in Dresden, Germany. Usually flats are built in standard sizes of 8 feet (2.4 m), 10 feet (3.0 m), or 12 feet (3.7 m) tall so that walls or other scenery may easily be constructed, and so that flats may be stored and reused for subsequent productions. ![]() Hard-covered flats with a frame that is perpendicular to the paint surface are referred to as "Hollywood" or "studio" flats. Flats with a frame that places the width of the lumber parallel to the face are called "Broadway" or "stage" flats. Soft-covered flats have changed little from their origin in the Italian Renaissance.
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