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Posted (edited)

8. Chest & Shoulders cont...

 

8b. Strapping. Each trooper is unique in their size and and shape. This particular section though some of the measurements will be unique to the trooper whom this is being built for, the procedure and general guide can be used by anyone.

 

NOTE: In this build the left shoulder strap is permanently fixed to the back and chest plates on the left side, and the back plate on the right side. The right side chest plate is the only section to have a snap connection. 

 

Canon reference photo.

 

RS%20back.jpg

 

 

Start off with cutting two strips of 50mm (2") wide white elastic, approximately 170mm (6-1/2").

 

NOTE: The length of the elastic was determined at the time of fitment seen here. The overall gap between the front and back plates was approximately 80mm (3-1/8"). Approximately 35mm (1-3/8") will be used at each end to connect the strap to the back or front plate via glue or snap.

 

IMG_0985b.jpg

 

 

Cut two sections from elastic.

 

 

IMG_0999.jpgIMG_1000_1.jpg

 

 

Fold one approximately 30mm (1-3/16")

 

IMG_1001_1.jpg

IMG_1003.jpg

 

 

Hand sew or use sewing machine to secure the folded section as shown.

 

IMG_1005.jpg

 

 

Using the same hole punch that was used to make the snap holes for the strap mounts, center and punch a hole in the loop area.

 

IMG_1008_1.jpg

IMG_1007.jpg

 

 

Install female snap. Insert the head side of the snap on the folded side of the elastic. 

 

IMG_1010.jpg

IMG_1011.jpg

 

 

Place the female portion on the other side and set.

 

IMG_1014.jpg

IMG_1016.jpg

IMG_1017.jpg

Edited by ukswrath
  • Like 1
Posted

I could afford to trim some off the back, mine has a lot more return than the kidney. I have plenty of room where I glued my snaps that I can experiment. 

 

Then go for it.  :duim:

Posted (edited)
8. Chest & Shoulders cont...

 

8c. Installing shoulder elastic snap.

 

I'll be sewing in the female snap at approximately 89mm (3-1/2"), or (54mm (2-1/8") seen here in the following pictures. The offset is 35mm (1-3/8") 

 

IMG_0985d.jpg

IMG_0999b.jpg

IMG_127b.jpg

IMG_1220.jpg

 

 

Mark location and begin sewing in snap.

 

IMG_1271.jpg

IMG_1267.jpg

IMG_1272.jpgIMG_1283.jpgIMG_1285.jpg

IMG_1287.jpg

 

Check with shoulder bell strap to confirm snap placement is correct.

 

IMG_1320.jpg

IMG_1306.jpg

 

 

8d. Glue straps to back plate and left front plate at approximately 35mm (1-3/8")

 

IMG_1221.jpg

IMG_1290.jpg

 

 

Let dry.

Edited by ukswrath
  • Like 1
Posted (edited)
8. Chest & Shoulders cont...

 

8e. Installing strap snap mounts.

 

Top right mount - Center of snap to outer chest plate edge is 20mm (3/4")

 

Lower left and right mounts at 110mm (4-3/8")

 

IMG_1208_1.jpg

 

 

After glue has dried attach right shoulder snap. apply glue to left side chest strap. Position approximately 35mm (1-3/8") from edge

 

IMG_1326-crop.jpg

 

Let dry.

 

 

8f. Install shoulder cover retainers (elastic bands).

 

IMG_1338.jpg

 

 

Start by wrapping a 5" section of 1/8" of white elastic material around the cover strip and back plate. 

 

IMG_1340.jpg

 

 

Tie in a knot.

 

IMG_1341.jpg

 

 

Slide over cover strip.

 

IMG_1342.jpg

 

 

Flip cover over and remove excess elastic from knot. Center large flat washer with 1/2" hole over knot and apply clamps. This will secure the knot while drying.

 

IMG_1344.jpg

IMG_1345.jpg

 

Apply CA glue then use Zip Kicker to cure bonding the 1/8" elastic with the 2" shoulder elastic.

 

 

IMG_1349.jpg

IMG_1353.jpg

 

 

Remove any rough edges.
Edited by ukswrath
  • Like 1
Posted

4. Ab cont....

 

4m. Back to the Ab, kidney, side rivets and 22mm notch you all though I forgot about lol  :laugh1:

 

NOTE: It is not required to add the 22mm notch if your armor didn't come with it. At this point it is only being done to increase the accuracy of the build.

 

In the beginning I knew there may be additional trimming needed in the final fitment and I was correct. Later I'll discuss where I had to shorten the posterior and kidney plated, but the point I wan to make is I needed to add cover strip material to the kidney and posterior to give the armor some rigidity in those areas lost in trimming. At that time I decided to reinforce the ab along the kidney lines to assist in the rigidity, as well as give the interior a more uniformed look.

 

With that said, I measured and installed internal cover strips 30mm (1-3/8") in width and 165mm (6-1/2") in length at the ab to kidney seem edge. The split rivet holes were measured, drilled and talked about already so after the reinforcement material was added the holes were re-drilled and split rivets installed.

 

IMG_0854b.jpg

IMG_0951.jpg

Posted

13. Kidney

 

After fitment trimming the 22mm notches were measured and cut out.

 

IMG_0775.jpgIMG_0779-crop.jpg

 

 

30mm reinforcement strip added.

 

IMG_0794.jpg

 

Right side

 

IMG_0847.jpg

 

 

 

Side rivet holes measured and drilled, left side.

 

IMG_0782.jpgIMG_0783.jpg

 

 

Install split rivets. 

 

IMG_0850.jpgIMG_0851.jpgIMG_0853.jpg

 

 

13a. Taking a break from the split rivets, measure and installed snap mounts. All mount were positioned 20mm from the edge of the kidney and to the edge of the webbing.

 

IMG_0910.jpg

 

 

Let dry

Posted (edited)

4. Ab & 13. Kidney Side Rivets

 

Holes drilled, rivets installed. Measure the distance from ab rivet center to kidney rivet center. It should be 20mm.

 

IMG_0951.jpg

IMG_0952.jpg

 

 

Measure and cur 3/4" webbing to 60mm. 

 

IMG_0954.jpg

 

 

Establish center of cut sections then measure out 10mm in each direction. Mark and punch holes with snap punch.

 

 

IMG_0957.jpgIMG_0958.jpgIMG_0959.jpgIMG_0961.jpg

 

 

Cauterize holes using a lighter or similar. This will assist holes from expanding. The reason I don't use the soldering iron technique is because I can't be precise with my measurements, but that's just me.

 

Place webbing on rivets and add washer. Place head of rivet on a old shirt and place it on the concrete floor, something that will NOT budge. Using a punch and hammer drive a wedge in the split rivet. Finish crushing flat with the hammer.

 

IMG_0962.jpgIMG_0964.jpg

 

 

Split rivets are finished.

Edited by ukswrath
  • Like 2
Posted (edited)

13. Kidney cont...

 

Install functional right side to ab strapping.

 

Measure and install right side mount approximately 55mm (2-1/8") from kidney (ab side) and 15mm (5/8") from top edge.

 

IMG_1030.jpg

 

Let dry.

 

Measure from kidney mount to previously install right side ab snap approximately 75mm (3").

 

IMG_1029.jpg

 

 

Measure and cut 125mm (4-7/8") section of 3/4" black elastic.

 

Starting at one end measure and punch a hole at 15mm using the snap punch tool. Install female snap. Measure next hole at 85mm (3/8").

 

IMG_1032.jpg

 

 

Install second snap and recheck distance.

 

IMG_1034.jpg

Edited by ukswrath
Posted

13. Kidney cont...

 

Measure and finish strapping from kidney to back and posterior.

 

IMG_1035.jpgIMG_1037.jpgIMG_1038.jpgIMG_1039.jpg

 

 

Kidney strapping finished

 

IMG_1428-crop_1.jpg

  • Like 2
Posted

5. Posterior cont.... and final

 

5c. Fitment adjustments, install strap mounts and final pics.

 

During the final fitment check it was recommended the posterior be cut back at the location where the connecting rivets to cod are located, the actual height of the posterior was reduced by 1/2" also and correct the angle of the ab side of the edge.

 

First let measure and remove the original lower snap mounts.

 

IMG_0189_2.jpg

 

 

New location. First rivet at 15mm the second at 35mm.

 

IMG_0858.jpg

IMG_0859.jpg

IMG_0862.jpg

IMG_0863.jpg

 

 

5d. Measure and trim off 1/2" of upper edge. 

 

IMG_0563b.jpg

 

 

5e. Install strap mounts. 20mm from edge of upper posterior to edge of webbing. Starting at 8mm from the forward facing edge.

 

IMG_0871.jpgIMG_0872.jpg

 

Double checking the kidney mount location to make sure it matches with the posterior.

 

IMG_0873.jpg

 

 

.. and measuring 20mm from the top edge.

 

IMG_0874.jpg

 

 

Install mounts

 

ff7207c2-1728-4e1c-868f-524b60b14c62.jpg

 

 

Finished as seen in previous post.

Posted

4. Ab& 8. Chest cont...

 

Final strapping from ab to chest.

 

Measure and install ab to chest mounts (ab side)

 

IMG_0990.jpg

 

 

Secure chest to ab at fitment marking using clamps.

 

IMG_1229.jpg

IMG_1230_1.jpg

 

 

Secure chest to ab with clamps.

 

IMG_1239.jpg

IMG_1238.jpg

 

 

Measure distance between ab and chest strap mounts.

 

IMG_1235.jpg

 

 

Make strapping.

 

IMG_1246.jpg

 

 

Finished

 

IMG_1427.jpg

Posted (edited)

11. Belt cont... & final

 

11b. So I was made aware just after the belt was assembled this version AM belt may not fly at the Centurion level, BUMMER!

 

Long story short it was replaced with one from ATA. Apparently the little (illustrated) indents are reminiscent of armors gone by. No bueno!

 

IMG_0757.jpg

 

Cont... tomorrow

Edited by ukswrath
Posted

I had a 50% chance of using the wrong belt to make Centurion?  I chose... well!

  • Like 1
Posted (edited)

11b. Belt cont... & final

 

So, continuing on... ATA belt

 

After removing the return edge I was left with the final trimming. At each end remove outer edge until I had 48mm (1-4/3") remaining from edge to the last box. Trim the corners 45 degrees and find the center of the belt at all three mounting locations.

 

IMG_1460.jpg 

IMG_1455.jpg

IMG_1472.jpgIMG_1448.jpgIMG_1447.jpg

 

 

11d. Drill holes using 1/8" drill bit.

 

IMG_1449.jpg

 

 

11e. Center on cloth belt using previous ammo pack measurements and rivet belts together. Note: Though not needed I use aluminum washers with the rivets to strengthen the attachment area.

 

IMG_1473.jpg

IMG_1475.jpgIMG_1477.jpg

 

11f. Trim river covers.

 

IMG_1435.jpgIMG_1437.jpgIMG_1441.jpgIMG_1445.jpg

 

 

11g. Install rivet caps using E600 and large clamps.

 

IMG_1478.jpg

 

 

Finished.

 

IMG_1501.jpgIMG_1502.jpgIMG_1505.jpgIMG_1515.jpgIMG_1521.jpgIMG_1523.jpg

Edited by ukswrath
  • Like 1
Posted

Final pictures (non-submission). Some you've already seen before.

 

Helmet%20front.jpg

Front.jpgLeft.jpgRight.jpgBack.jpg

Left%20close.jpg

Belt%20right.jpg

Right%20close.jpgBack%20close.jpgFront%20close.jpg

 

Cod%20amp%20posterior.jpgTorso%20back.jpgChest%20upper.jpgView%20inner%20left.jpg

View%20from%20top.jpgView%20inner%20right.jpgView%20chest.jpgView%20from%20bottom.jpgView%20open.jpgAction.jpg

  • Like 2
Posted (edited)

Thank you all for your comments, correction suggestions & kudos. 

 

Next project, finish my dang TFA.

Edited by ukswrath
Posted

Amazing work! This thread have been an inspiration and a lot of help on the way.

 

Congratulations with job well done.

Posted

Awesome job, Tony!  Lots of valuable information contained within this thread!

 

Amazing work! This thread have been an inspiration and a lot of help on the way.

 

Congratulations with job well done.

 

Thank you very much.

Posted (edited)

Whew! All that measuring made me dizzy!!!

 

Another great TK comes to life.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Edited by russellr2d2
Posted (edited)

Nice work Tony! Lots of solid pointers in this build.

Edited by Khazid

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