A Jawa's Scout Build (aiming for Lancer!)

[Chopper]

Would it be possible to get someone to take some further out photos of how the straps look from the back? The close + angle makes it hard to both judge the issue and come up with potential solutions.

[LittleScout]

8 hours ago, Chopper said:

Would it be possible to get someone to take some further out photos of how the straps look from the back? The close + angle makes it hard to both judge the issue and come up with potential solutions.

Here are better pictures of the issue. Looking at it, that IS an awful angle... my bad there!

Since then, I've been able to improve the issue somewhat, but the back buckle is still trapped under the belt corner. The dropbox is also at a slight slant, with the back a little lower than the front, but having them hang a little lower could probably fix that.

The side view:

Halfway between the side and the back:

And finally, the back, where the issue really is:

Thanks in advance for any tips you all have! At this point, all I can think of is having them hang a bit lower, which would help the box's slant but probably wouldn't do a whole lot for that buckle. Sigh, short trooper problems... 

[Chopper]

Okay, so I think you have some wiggle room to work on this issue.

First off, I'd remove the 2" clips that connect the back of the belt together. Overlap the 2" webbing and use velcro to connect the back strapping instead. Do you have enough excess to securely overlap the back?

Again, it's hard to tell from the angle, but with some slight dropping of the side boxes, and if you move where the rear drop box strapping attaches slightly inward, then that might alleviate your issue.

 

[LittleScout]

3 hours ago, Chopper said:

Okay, so I think you have some wiggle room to work on this issue.

First off, I'd remove the 2" clips that connect the back of the belt together. Overlap the 2" webbing and use velcro to connect the back strapping instead. Do you have enough excess to securely overlap the back?

Again, it's hard to tell from the angle, but with some slight dropping of the side boxes, and if you move where the rear drop box strapping attaches slightly inward, then that might alleviate your issue.

 

I do have a bunch of extra velcro for that! Man, I do love that buckle, but maybe I'm too small to have that AND the right straps. Ah well...

Thanks for the feedback! I'll get working on that today. You're right, because looking at it, that does seem to be what would solve the problem. The boxes can be dropped a little more while still sticking close to the 1-inch requirement, so that will help too.

[Chopper]

No problem. Just remember, the CRL says "Drop boxes hang approximately 1 inch from the belt." The key word is "approximately", as an exact measurement is not called for here and you have a little leeway for adjustments.

 

[LittleScout]

Success! Using your ideas, the buckle clears the belt. Thanks @Chopper and @DukeOfNachos!!

I was about to give up the entire buckle when the Duke mentioned that removing the buckles' triglides could probably open the space needed to hang the back straps a little further from the belt, getting the box strap buckles further away. Note to self, bulldog-clip the velcro where you want it to go BEFORE sewing, so you can try the setup on properly in advance 

Like Chopper said, the space is still close enough to about an inch to fit the CRL just fine. To keep the excess strap material in place now that the triglides are gone, I'll velcro it to the inside of the belt. 

I've attached the straps inside the dropboxes with velcro too, so if the space needs further adjustment in the future, they can be moved around a little:

The next task is the second dropbox, now that the first is done properly, and then it's on to the armor elastic in preparation for the soft goods. Woohoo!

[Aradun]

Nice work!

[Retrofire]

Well done Victoria. I did the same thing in my drop boxes too so I could adjust them if needed. Good thinking!