Adie1979 Posted August 4, 2013 Share Posted August 4, 2013 So I attached the grey shoulder straps with velcro thinking that would hold, only to discover they didn't. Never expected so much movement between the front and back plate in this area and was wondering how others have attached them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Death Recon Posted August 4, 2013 Share Posted August 4, 2013 I used industrial strength Velcro, I have Velcro on the ends of the chest/back pieces PLUS on te top of my T-Connectors that connect the chest/back/sholders... The T-Connector is a trick from Grumpy, I added padding so you don't get armor bite. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Death Recon Posted August 4, 2013 Share Posted August 4, 2013 Here's a good pic tutorial... Make a T-Connector (make sure it's big enough to leave a gap between your chest/back & the sholder strap is long enough to drop it where you want it... add Velcro to top of the chest/back connection strap, & add snaps to all 3 ends: Add a snap at the top of your sholder bells: Add snaps the the underside of your chest/back: Add Velcro to top ends of chest/back & underneath your grey straps: Paint it all black and then this is the end product all connected: Hope this helps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adie1979 Posted August 4, 2013 Author Share Posted August 4, 2013 Superb My shoulder pads are only velcro'd on so this makes a lot of sense. What did you use for the grey strip, mine are too short which gave it even less hold and another reason they came off so easily? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Death Recon Posted August 4, 2013 Share Posted August 4, 2013 Kitty litter box Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bselphfsu282 Posted August 4, 2013 Share Posted August 4, 2013 Kitty litter?!?!? That's fantastic! I did the same as Recon, but I used Velcro instead of snaps. My straps are a but longer, going farther down the back and chest for more Velcro and grip. I used a dense foam pad that I got from the hardware store, found it in plumbing, for the grey strips. Paint is holding up well on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
comm tech Posted August 5, 2013 Share Posted August 5, 2013 DR it looks like you are using a nylon webbing for the chest to back part of the 'T strip" and then it looks like you are using a black elastic to go from the top of the "t strip" down to the shoulder bells. Is this correct? I was going to do it all in nylon webbing, but it seams like elastic to the shoulder bell might work better. But then I have the biceps attached to the shoulder bell via nylon webbing as well, so I am afraid of the added weight on the elastic. Also on your shoulder bell, I see you still have the elastic strap from the knee pad (I assume) still intact, does this attach around your upper arm, and hold the bell in place? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Death Recon Posted August 5, 2013 Share Posted August 5, 2013 My T-Connector is all nylon webbing, I have it doubled up for durability. Yes the elastic strap is still connected to my knee pad in my sholder bell, and yes this is to wrap around my arm. This helps keep the bell from jumping around while moving but still giving it some give (again while moving) Just for clairification you guys know I ment a "plastic kitty litter pale" right? it's basicly just abs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bselphfsu282 Posted August 5, 2013 Share Posted August 5, 2013 I did the same as Allan. I was considering doing elastic, but it was not working out well. The nylon holds great without pulling down on the shoulder too much. I kept the knee elastic as well and it wraps just under my arm. I added no Velcro to my shirt and just held with the 2 straps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
comm tech Posted August 5, 2013 Share Posted August 5, 2013 Thanks for the clarification guys Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drewid Posted August 5, 2013 Share Posted August 5, 2013 I have the t-strap on the underside, too, and I ended up using gray nylon webbing for the top strap too. I couldn't get the rubber to bend so I nixed it. Printed some plastic "guards" and attached those. They looked decent but limited mobility a bit. The webbing top straps look pretty close to the references too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bselphfsu282 Posted August 6, 2013 Share Posted August 6, 2013 Drew, that's why I went with the dense foam. It flexed with movement and held up to paint pretty good. A little cracking when I flex it too much, but looks worn. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drewid Posted August 6, 2013 Share Posted August 6, 2013 I thought about using EVA foam for it and haven't ruled it out. I think gray neoprene might look better than foam though. For now I'm happy with the webbing, though I could stand to shorten them up a bit. When I had to re-acquire the chest and back plate I rushed on the sizing a bit to get it ready in time for SDCC. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Death Recon Posted August 6, 2013 Share Posted August 6, 2013 Ok... You gave me the idea to do them out of neoprene so I took my drink cozy and cut it up: Neoprene Plastic (what I had on for approval) What do you guys think I should use? I'm almost leaning towards the neoprene, just need to figure out how to weather it better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drewid Posted August 6, 2013 Share Posted August 6, 2013 I think if the neoprene had a coat or two of gray plastidip it would look perfect. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bselphfsu282 Posted August 6, 2013 Share Posted August 6, 2013 Agreed. Plasti dip would work, or any rubber spray/ Flex Seal stuff would work. It seams the cozy is a little less dense that I had, and maybe a bit softer, so the spray would firm it up a bit. I do like it better than the abs since it looks to move better, and wouldn't scratch up that nice paint job. Great idea with the cozy though. Kick myself for not thinking of that when I have tons of them around, instead of going out and buying foam. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Death Recon Posted August 6, 2013 Share Posted August 6, 2013 yeah I useualy look around my house for crap to destroy rather than going out and paying for something to destroy It was actualy 3" from my hand when I was reading Drewid's post. Im going to try and coat it with "something" to give it more of a smoother look rather then the neoprene (Plasti dip up here in Canada costs an arm and a leg.... $30 a rattle can) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admiral Targeta Posted August 21, 2013 Share Posted August 21, 2013 You used grey plastic, would grey vynal work just as good? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Death Recon Posted August 26, 2013 Share Posted August 26, 2013 I actually used blue plastic then painted... Take a patch of whatever you think will give the look and try it out, can't hurt. Everybody has used something different for these "shoulder pads" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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