The first of a thousand questions about my build...

[Chopper]

45 minutes ago, RZill said:

I haven't quit, I just got really busy and tired with my new hours.  I'm still building, and have purchased a sewing machine and learned to thread and use it.  Now, on to the shoulder bridge.  The CRL says that for Level 2, I should use white fabric between .5 and 1 inch wide to cover the shoulder bridge.  Since I am not going for Level 2, is a 1.5 inch fabric acceptable?  Seems like that would give better coverage of the shoulder joint.

Yes, for Level 1/Basic Clearance, a 1.5" bridge cover is fine.

[kayelbe]

3 hours ago, RZill said:

I was skeptical at first but the 1 inch I used was more than enough.  The trick is how you attach it.  On my old scout I used more like 1-3/4 bridge covers and the plastic was always flopping out from underneath.  I had a lousy attachment method.  This time around I went with the max 1-inch (cuz I was skeptical), but followed the lancer tutorial and it works and looks so much better!

[RZill]

Nnnnneeext question - best method for the white cover over the shoulder bridge?  Is it just a sleeve that can slide over the bridge once the T strap is attached?  I appreciate kayelbe's advice on that strap, but since I am not going Lancer, I'm seeking an alternate method.

[Chopper]

I put some velcro on the ends of the cover, so that I could close it on the bottom of the shoulder bridge.

[kayelbe]

That’s the thing. My first go-round I just did a fabric loop that could slide back and forth.   That’s the reason it didn’t stay in place.  
 

i recommend doing it the “lancer” way (I can’t remember where I saw it but I’m sure you’ve seen the thread).  You just don’t have to keep it at the 1inch since you aren’t going lancer. 
 

also you don’t have to put the zip (or t-strap) right in the middle, which I think forces the way you do the bridge cover. 

[RZill]

I'm hoping to have the shoulder straps all done today, and tackle the side straps tomorrow.  A couple questions:

- should I be filing down the corners of the shoulder bridges?  I feel it poking into me, and I am guessing since they're covered by the elastic strap over the bridge, it's fine to file those down.  But, it looks like kayelbe's corners are still sharp.

- it also seems like both of you have an elastic cover strap that is open ended, then wraps around the shoulder bridge, and is connected underneath with velcro??

 

[Chopper]

13 minutes ago, RZill said:

I'm hoping to have the shoulder straps all done today, and tackle the side straps tomorrow.  A couple questions:

- should I be filing down the corners of the shoulder bridges?  I feel it poking into me, and I am guessing since they're covered by the elastic strap over the bridge, it's fine to file those down.  But, it looks like kayelbe's corners are still sharp.

The corners are going to be underneath the bridge covers anyhow, so it's not a problem to round out that corner edge on the shoulder bridges.

13 minutes ago, RZill said:

- it also seems like both of you have an elastic cover strap that is open ended, then wraps around the shoulder bridge, and is connected underneath with velcro??

Mine wrap all the way around and then secures to itself, while Kayelbe's appears to connect to the velcro on the underside of the bridge. Either way will work.

[RZill]

About how much space between the shoulder bells and the shoulder bridge?

[Chopper]

Generally, it would be about 1/2" to 3/4"

[RZill]

Before I attach the bicep straps, whatcha think?  Obviously, the bottoms are flaring a bit because I've not done the chest to back straps yet, but do the shoulder bells look good?

And... I may get shot for this one... but, I've heard other Scouts talk that they don't often wear the vest while trooping.  Of course, I'll keep wearing it for pics, fittings, and approval, but...

 

 

 

[Chopper]

What scouts choose to do locally is between them and their local garrison.

For your shoulder bells, I'd actually let them out another 1/2" and see how it looks.

 

[RZill]

Just now, Chopper said:

What scouts choose to do locally is between them and their local garrison.

For your shoulder bells, I'd actually let them out another 1/2" and see how it looks.

 

OK, cool.  I have enough velcro strap to let them out more.  Thanks 

[Retrofire]

8 hours ago, RZill said:

Before I attach the bicep straps, whatcha think?  Obviously, the bottoms are flaring a bit because I've not done the chest to back straps yet, but do the shoulder bells look good?

And... I may get shot for this one... but, I've heard other Scouts talk that they don't often wear the vest while trooping.  Of course, I'll keep wearing it for pics, fittings, and approval, but...

Make sure you check with your command staff/GMLs to make sure it's ok. I live in AZ and I wear the vest every time as it's part of the costume and it imparts a certain look but you got to look out for your health as that's paramount.

[RZill]

10 hours ago, Retrofire said:

Make sure you check with your command staff/GMLs to make sure it's ok. I live in AZ and I wear the vest every time as it's part of the costume and it imparts a certain look but you got to look out for your health as that's paramount.

I am going to cut my flight suit in half where the belt and cumberbund will cover it, and extend the suit another couple inches taller.  With that, the vest will not make a big difference, and I can still wear it.  I'll probably troop in a TK around here in the summer, anyway, as it is still cooler (temperature-wise) than the Scout.

[RZill]

Ok, next questions - attaching the two inch wide strap on the back of the belt.  I know there is a rivet to hold the strap to the belt, but I assume I should use velcro to reinforce holding the strap to the belt?   

Then for holding the straps for the drop boxes to the belt, I see a snap method by Pandatrooper - snap plates (male end) glued to the inside of the belt, and female end sewed into the drop box straps.  Seems like this method would allow them to hang and sway more naturally, but is it necessary?  Would velcro be a good option here?   Whatcha' all think?

[Chopper]

1 hour ago, RZill said:

Ok, next questions - attaching the two inch wide strap on the back of the belt.  I know there is a rivet to hold the strap to the belt, but I assume I should use velcro to reinforce holding the strap to the belt?  

Yes, using only a single rivet is a known stress point.

1 hour ago, RZill said:

Then for holding the straps for the drop boxes to the belt, I see a snap method by Pandatrooper - snap plates (male end) glued to the inside of the belt, and female end sewed into the drop box straps.  Seems like this method would allow them to hang and sway more naturally, but is it necessary?  Would velcro be a good option here?   Whatcha' all think?

If you're talking about the plastic part of the belt, no it's not necessary. Just fold over the webbing and stitch it onto itself.

On the back side, I used snaps to attach the rear drop box straps to the 2" webbing in the back for that same reason. Also, if the straps get tangled or twisted, it makes for an easy fix. (This is an older photo, so I don't recommend using velcro to keep your detonator box on -- I abandoned that idea early in my trooping life.)

Others have sewn or used a rivet to attach their drop back straps to the 2" webbing.

[RZill]

On 4/3/2022 at 10:52 AM, Chopper said:

Yes, using only a single rivet is a known stress point.

If you're talking about the plastic part of the belt, no it's not necessary. Just fold over the webbing and stitch it onto itself.

 

On the back side, I used snaps to attach the rear drop box straps to the 2" webbing in the back for that same reason. Also, if the straps get tangled or twisted, it makes for an easy fix. (This is an older photo, so I don't recommend using velcro to keep your detonator box on -- I abandoned that idea early in my trooping life.)

Others have sewn or used a rivet to attach their drop back straps to the 2" webbing.

 

Thanks!  I was planning on the fold over and sew method for the front strap.  I was referring to the rear of the belt, and how the strap in the back attaches to the belt itself.  I know it requires a rivet on each side, but is the rest of that strap velcroed to the inside of the belt?  It looks like it's attached somehow, and I am guessing it's a personal preference thing.  Or, should I go with velcro in case it needs to be adjusted?

 

[Chopper]

Anything that isn't outwardly visible on the costume is totally personal preference. I velcroed my webbing inside the belt. Honestly though, I've never had a reason to remove or adjust it, so it was probably overkill at the time of my initial build. Others have glued theirs in and that's fine as well.

[RZill]

This is one photo of the belt rivet.  It appears to not be centered between the end of the belt and the last box.  On Pandatrooper's thread, it does appear to be centered.  I would prefer it not so close to the edge, if it's acceptable to center the rivet in this spot.  Is this ok?

[Chopper]

I think you'll be fine if you center the rivet.

[RZill]

I'm looking at fitting the back-chest underarm straps.  Looks like the cumberbund always fits underneath the chest/back armor, correct?  I know to leave a lot of velcro to account for adjustments of the strap, but I just want a guide for it.  Thanks!

[BikerScout007]

14 minutes ago, RZill said:

I'm looking at fitting the back-chest underarm straps.  Looks like the cumberbund always fits underneath the chest/back armor, correct?  I know to leave a lot of velcro to account for adjustments of the strap, but I just want a guide for it.  Thanks!

You got a pretty good guide for it in your post above:

You know the side strap is 1.5 inches, so that should give you an idea how much bund goes under the armor.  

[RZill]

Is there velcro holding the two parts of the strap together that make the bridge between the back and chest?  Hard to tell in pics and the build threads I've seen.  Or, is it just velcro on the inside of the armor after you wrap it through?

 

[BikerScout007]

I suppose you could velcro or sew it.  We don't specify either way as it's an unseen detail.  

You can velcro on the inside of your armor.  That's what I did on my first build.  

On my current armor set, I ran the strapping as a belt that runs through the entire chest and back

 

[Aradun]

Is there velcro holding the two parts of the strap together that make the bridge between the back and chest?  Hard to tell in pics and the build threads I've seen.  Or, is it just velcro on the inside of the armor after you wrap it through?
 

That’s how I have mine set up. It loops through the slot on the chest armor and then folds back and Velcros to the band spanning the back and chest armor. You can see the square stitching for the Velcro on the second photo below circled in red. Velcro is also used to attach the band to the inside of the back armor as it passes through to the other side as seen below.