Junglie Scout Posted January 7, 2016 Report Posted January 7, 2016 (edited) Got the straps etc and these are the pics I've taken so far. It includes the packets they came in but again I can't work out who the manufacturer is. I'll ask my stores chap tomorrow to interrogate the system and try to find out. I'm afraid thats all I've got for now. I'll try and see if I can get at least who makes these things; someone must know!!!!! Hopefully they may be of some help too?? Edited January 7, 2016 by Junglie Scout 2 Quote
ukswrath[Staff] Posted January 7, 2016 Author Report Posted January 7, 2016 The smaller of the two buckles looks like a TIFCO slider. You can buy them through americanplastics.com. As a matter of fact I believe TIFCO makes most the buckles for the armor suspension system I built for my FOTK. Though you could be correct I'm still not entirely sure this is the correct buckle. But then again we don't have the clearest of images to choose from at the moment. The strap looks spot on though. Quote
Haribon72[TK] Posted January 7, 2016 Report Posted January 7, 2016 I've spent the last week looking up ski binders or snowboard boot binders. Nothing yet for the TFA HW vest greeblies. Quote
ukswrath[Staff] Posted January 7, 2016 Author Report Posted January 7, 2016 I've spent the last week looking up ski binders or snowboard boot binders. Nothing yet for the TFA HW vest greeblies. Yea I'm pretty sure they're unique to the vest used, possibly even made specifically for Disney. The closest buckle that I've found besides what Andy has provided us above can be found her at americanplastics.com. http://americanplastics.com/catalog.asp?cat=829570950&p=4&c=14 Granted the strap is different the buckle looks spot on. This is a TIFCO buckle, other TIFCO buckles can be found used on other parts of the armor as well. 1 Quote
Vertex[TK] Posted January 8, 2016 Report Posted January 8, 2016 (edited) This buckle looks similar - think its somewhat odd - TIFCO vs NIFCO. http://www.nifco.com/ctl/buckle/04slide_buckle/sl1.html After seeing this pic (posted on another thread) I suspect the NIFCO buckle is actually closer to the movie used one. https://i.imgur.com/2vqe2jB.jpg I blew up a portion of the pic to point out how the buckle seems to me to be more right angled/straight edged than the TIFCO. Edited January 8, 2016 by Vertex 2 Quote
ukswrath[Staff] Posted January 8, 2016 Author Report Posted January 8, 2016 Very nice Serge, wow, I think you may be onto something here Now if we can only get the correct strap 1 Quote
ukswrath[Staff] Posted January 8, 2016 Author Report Posted January 8, 2016 Nifco buckle with the strap from Andy and we have a match 1 Quote
Vertex[TK] Posted January 8, 2016 Report Posted January 8, 2016 (edited) Nifco buckle with the strap from Andy and we have a match Thats what I thought as well. Edited January 8, 2016 by Vertex Quote
Haribon72[TK] Posted January 8, 2016 Report Posted January 8, 2016 Thank you Serge! Now how do we get them??? Quote
Vertex[TK] Posted January 8, 2016 Report Posted January 8, 2016 (edited) These guys seem to offer the nifco buckle. Unfortunately min order is 100 units and would have to ship from the UK. I'm guessing with shipping maybe $150-200 bucks. They do ship worldwide though. http://www.acesupplies.co.uk/acatalog/itw-20mm---25mm-surface_mount-side_releases__.html Edited January 8, 2016 by Vertex 1 Quote
ukswrath[Staff] Posted January 8, 2016 Author Report Posted January 8, 2016 I don't mind buying the 100 units as I know I can probably sell the excess, we need correct straps through. 1 Quote
Junglie Scout Posted January 8, 2016 Report Posted January 8, 2016 Working on it fellas. I got the manufacturer yesterday from my stores guy and had a quick look. They're based in the uk and make bloody all sorts. I left the name of it on my desk unfortunately and I'll have to pick up again on Monday. <br><br> Hopefully they'll put me in touch with a distributor otherwise the order numbers will be silly. The clip maybe a knats off but are we agreed the strap is right? Besides I can only see that the spring clips on the buckle are slightly different. My visual dictionary and recent hi res photos show that the difference is hardly worth worrying about tbh, well at least for now. We can continue to look for the grail in less rushed fashion then. Quote
ukswrath[Staff] Posted January 8, 2016 Author Report Posted January 8, 2016 Working on it fellas. I got the manufacturer yesterday from my stores guy and had a quick look. They're based in the uk and make bloody all sorts. I left the name of it on my desk unfortunately and I'll have to pick up again on Monday. <br><br> Hopefully they'll put me in touch with a distributor otherwise the order numbers will be silly. The clip maybe a knats off but are we agreed the strap is right? Besides I can only see that the spring clips on the buckle are slightly different. My visual dictionary and recent hi res photos show that the difference is hardly worth worrying about tbh, well at least for now. We can continue to look for the grail in less rushed fashion then. Thanks Andy. I think Serge's buckle version is more accurate though Andy. If we can find his buckle and your strap I think we would have a winner. Regarding "the difference worth worrying about", to be honest and with all respect, if I didn't care about the accuracy this quest for the correct components wouldn't exist. I would have settled for the cast buckles I already have installed. Again, this buckle and strap may be something Disney asked a manufacturer to create just for the movie however, in my quest to find the correct (exact) components used to build the armor suspension system some of the components are legit and readily available, I've seen them. BTW, I do appreciate everyone's efforts. If we come up with the correct components and the vest is built as accurately or very close the movie vest, then it will be something everyone else will model after and your names will be all over it. Something you can take pride in. 3 Quote
Junglie Scout Posted January 8, 2016 Report Posted January 8, 2016 No dramas, I can see the merit of getting it right first time. I agree that the buckles I have do have a rounded detailing on the upper surface which isn't right. I've submitted a request for a quote on ISO Parts for straps at a 100 units (each unit will have 2 straps on it). Lets see what they come up with regarding a price? Quote
ukswrath[Staff] Posted January 8, 2016 Author Report Posted January 8, 2016 No dramas, I can see the merit of getting it right first time. I agree that the buckles I have do have a rounded detailing on the upper surface which isn't right. I've submitted a request for a quote on ISO Parts for straps at a 100 units (each unit will have 2 straps on it). Lets see what they come up with regarding a price? Awesome, thanks Andy 1 Quote
Vertex[TK] Posted January 9, 2016 Report Posted January 9, 2016 Awesome guys. Really hoping we can get these. Quote
sandtrooper[501st] Posted January 9, 2016 Report Posted January 9, 2016 Amazing, amazing, amazing! (And the vest looks nice too ). Quote
ukswrath[Staff] Posted January 30, 2016 Author Report Posted January 30, 2016 10c. Shoulder Harness Cont... Unfortunately there still isn't any screen shots available for the rear vest shoulder strapping. Reluctantly I will have to follow the Toy version until new information comes to light. So I left off just after the upper buckle After this section we'll be adding a 1" black plastic "D" ring to the 1" nylon webbing and a 2" "D" ring buckle to the floor mat material subsequently ending this section of material. Cut the nylon webbing to 3-1/4" 10d. Feed it through the buckle from the bottom like so that approximately 1" is remaining. Using a leather punch or soldering iron punch a 1/8" through the nylon webbing only. Afterwards install a 1/8" x 1/8" pop rivet. 10e. Install 5" of nylon webbing through the 1 "D" buckle this time with the material flowing from top to bottom. Sew the nylon only where indicated below. 10f. Install another 1" "D" buckle 4" further down the belt like so. 10g. Cut off 1-1/2" floor mat material near the 1" buckle. Cut the 2" floor mat material 2" past the 1" "D" buckle. Feed 2" floor mate material through the 2" "D" buckle. Fold it back under all three materials. Sew all three material together. Should look like this when finished 10h. Now take a 14" section of 2" nylon webbing and feed it through the other side of the recently installed 2" "D" buckle. Sew together with the nylon on the bottom. 10I. At the opposite end of the 2" nylon webbing sew in a 1" x 8" nylon webbing. 10j. Install male buckle and adjustment slider. 10j. Install 1/4" neoprene foam with adhesive on main body of strip to keep from scratching armor. Finished!!! Test fitting. My son was kind enough to be my mannequin. 2 Quote
Robert P[501st] Posted January 30, 2016 Report Posted January 30, 2016 I need this vest in my life! I am still hoping someone will make them for others Quote
ukswrath[Staff] Posted January 30, 2016 Author Report Posted January 30, 2016 Well I would consider it granted I could get the correct front buckle assembly. Right now I'm at the mercy of buying it from the guy that actually makes and sells the vest of FB. You can always buy his version. Quote
The5thHorseman[501st] Posted January 30, 2016 Report Posted January 30, 2016 Ok, so if I trust the pretty hair, your son is Adam Driver. You could have told us that from the beginning! Vest is looking jolly great. Well done Tony. I love this kind of pionner work. 1 Quote
lithiumus Posted February 8, 2016 Report Posted February 8, 2016 Well done Tony, the amount of detail and accuracy is incredible! I'm considering giving the project a try but I'm worried I just don't possess the skills you have to execute it! Quote
shadan[TK] Posted February 28, 2016 Report Posted February 28, 2016 Hey Tony, is the floor runner material the same as that on the FO belt? Quote
ukswrath[Staff] Posted March 6, 2016 Author Report Posted March 6, 2016 Hey Tony, is the floor runner material the same as that on the FO belt? Technically, yes Quote
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