Apollo A7L Moon Suit

[kenlandrum]

Loving the pattern! This is probably the only one in existence online, so I applaud you.

I do have a question though. In the glove assembly from the moonwalk one video, and from the 3D scans, it appears that the Fingers on the Chromel-R abrasion cover are one solid unit, and are on not multiple pieces.

Are you able to confirm?

Do you mean the little pieces I have labeled as "Knuckles"?

 

[immortalverse]

Do you mean the little pieces I have labeled as "Knuckles"?

Ha yeah. I didn't think that that was a separate piece.

 

[kenlandrum]

Ha yeah. I didn't think that that was a separate piece.

I't's faint, but I do believe there is one there. It's kind of in a fold a bit...

 

[immortalverse]

I't's faint, but I do believe there is one there. It's kind of in a fold a bit...

Hmm I kind of see it. If it was one whole piece, I figured it would be patterned something like this for like the middle and ring finger (you'll have to flip it):

Let me know what you think.


As far as the pattern goes, seriously great job!

Now if we could only tell how everything is placed under that back palm flap. I'm convinced the palm flap is like a 4" piece that's folded in half. The part I'm having difficulty with though is that opening where you get the palm restraint buckle and 1/2" nylon web coming through. That buckle is nearly impossible to source. Do you know a guy?

-also, is your pattern to scale/will it include a measurement scale on it?

 

[Kokanee]

I'm torn between ordering velcro for my suit either in white or natural (beige) colour?? Anyone have thoughts? Depending on the photo, it could go either way.

 

[immortalverse]

I'm torn between ordering velcro for my suit either in white or natural (beige) colour?? Anyone have thoughts? Depending on the photo, it could go either way.

Per Ryan Nagata (seriously the best out there), the Velcro seems to be a 1" wide unnapped loop velcro, with Nomex component. Don't know where you'd be able to source that kind of material or color match the color nowdays. This was primarily the Velcro found on the EVA gloves, so I assume assume it would be nearly the same for the rest of the suit.
Maybe a unnapped loop beige would work? It looks slightly more yellowish though.

 

[Kokanee]

beige loop it is! thanks for the confirmation.

 

[immortalverse]

I't's faint, but I do believe there is one there. It's kind of in a fold a bit...

Here's a closer view on the backside of the EVA glove fingers (there's a little tear fixing shown, but they look like one whole piece from the hand to the finger tips):

Let me know on your thoughts for the pattern.

 

[kenlandrum]

Here's a closer view on the backside of the EVA glove fingers (there's a little tear fixing shown, but they look like one whole piece from the hand to the finger tips):
View attachment 1083946

Let me know on your thoughts for the pattern.

Well today I did a version 2 and made a full size paper mock up, did a bunch of tweaking...looks like I’ll have to do a version 3 next week! Shouldn’t be too difficult.

 

[immortalverse]

Well today I did a version 2 and made a full size paper mock up, did a bunch of tweaking...looks like I’ll have to do a version 3 next week! Shouldn’t be too difficult.

Looks so good!! Can't wait to see it all together. Are you going to post a ruler to the pattern, so it can be scaled for printing?

Check out this stuff for the Chromel-R (closest stuff you'll come to, and has a little polyester in it, so you can bake it and crinkle it. Currently using it right now):
On eBay, search for: "EMF RF Blocking Conductive Tent Bag Heavy Sturdy Fabric Nickel/Copper 39"X43" in"
It's pretty durable stuff and has a very miniscule amount of light bleed through, so you might have to double up on another coated material when you cut your pattern out and use an adhesive to back the two materials together.

Currently I'm looking at light batting solutions for the interior of the glove (to mimic the layers of non-woven Dacron and Perforated aluminized mylar- which I don't have access to) maybe some thinsulate or even Primaloft gold. Ultimately, I'd still like to dip some kind of nylon or Kevlar fabric glove in neoprene and then insert it into Chromel-R cover, like the real thing, but I still am having a difficult time sourcing the 1/2 nylon webbing palm restraint buckle. Any thought kenlandrum ?

 

[kenlandrum]

Looks so good!! Can't wait to see it all together. Are you going to post a ruler to the pattern, so it can be scaled for printing?

Check out this stuff for the Chromel-R (closest stuff you'll come to, and has a little polyester in it, so you can bake it and crinkle it. Currently using it right now):
On eBay, search for: "EMF RF Blocking Conductive Tent Bag Heavy Sturdy Fabric Nickel/Copper 39"X43" in"
It's pretty durable stuff and has a very miniscule amount of light bleed through, so you might have to double up on another coated material when you cut your pattern out and use an adhesive to back the two materials together.

Currently I'm looking at light batting solutions for the interior of the glove (to mimic the layers of non-woven Dacron and Perforated aluminized mylar- which I don't have access to) maybe some thinsulate or even Primaloft gold. Ultimately, I'd still like to dip some kind of nylon or Kevlar fabric glove in neoprene and then insert it into Chromel-R cover, like the real thing, but I still am having a difficult time sourcing the 1/2 nylon webbing palm restraint buckle. Any thought kenlandrum ?

View attachment 1084144

Your project is way beyond what I’m shooting for. I may put a fake buckle and strap under the velcro flap but that’s it. No plan for an under glove or anything... not at this point at least. I really want to focus on creating an open source complete suit pattern along with printable hard part files. Like other free patterns I’ve done, folks can modify the source to whatever extent they like. Also thanks for the ruler suggestion! I will include it on v3.

 

[immortalverse]

Your project is way beyond what I’m shooting for. I may put a fake buckle and strap under the velcro flap but that’s it. No plan for an under glove or anything... not at this point at least. I really want to focus on creating an open source complete suit pattern along with printable hard part files. Like other free patterns I’ve done, folks can modify the source to whatever extent they like. Also thanks for the ruler suggestion! I will include it on v3.

Ha no worries! Still honored to help out and throw ideas around! Can't wait for version 3. Let me know if you plan on getting that EMF shielding fabric! It looks and feels amazing.

 

[kenlandrum]

Ha no worries! Still honored to help out and throw ideas around! Can't wait for version 3. Let me know if you plan on getting that EMF shielding fabric! It looks and feels amazing.

Is it like (or a better choice) than the ironing board fabric?

 

[immortalverse]

Is it like (or a better choice) than the ironing board fabric?

Oh yes definitely. The ironing fabric gets fuzzy after a little, and doesn't have much strength to it - frays and rips easily.

 

[kenlandrum]

Finger tip models test printed... Pattern revised. V3.1
enjoy!

 

[Kokanee]

Awesome stuff!

In case anyone wants a great quality replica fingertips set, Global Effects is selling some surplus sets on evilbay. Search for "APOLLO SPACE SUIT EVA GLOVE FINGER TIPS "

 

[postmanpat]

Finger tip models test printed... Pattern revised. V3
enjoy!

Awesome work Ken and thank you for sharing your pattern for the glove. Space suit patterns are impossible to find anywhere which has been the biggest thing holding me back from building my own suit. Also, I printed out your chest buckle file and it turned out perfect!!! Thanks once again.

 

[kenlandrum]

Organizing the first page post in this thread to make for easy access to all A7L related files and patterns.

enjoy!

 

[Lear60man]

Ken you are killing it. And FIW I have a set of Global Effects finger tips. Im fairly certsin they are sillicone and for the life of me cant find a sutible glue to bond them to rubber gloves.

 

[lmgill]

Ken you are killing it. And FIW I have a set of Global Effects finger tips. Im fairly certsin they are sillicone and for the life of me cant find a sutible glue to bond them to rubber gloves.

Lear60man,
They are latex. But, we sew them in. This can be done with either with a glovers needle (which is sharp), or using a hole punch, punch holes along the edge and sew them with a standard needle.