TDKR "no sew" vest / belt, boots and gauntlet

[ahoudini]

I took them all off, but you are right, the front armor plate covers where a lot of them would have been. If you think the plate will lay flat, I see no reason why they have to be removed. (Except maybe heat and weight!)


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[JGR74ZAP]

Can you guys post some pics of the Molle RRV vest and how your piecing it out? I am just not getting it on how to cut and piece it together. Thanks

 

[ahoudini]

My recommendation is to make a paper pattern that fits you well and then lay it on the vest (or vice-versa) and you will see what to cut away. The pieces you cut away get added back on to go around the sides, if memory serves. Remember, it is pretty short, top to bottom. It ends where the top of the battle belt begins. It does not go under the battle belt.

Hope this helps,

Steve


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[stricky1]

How good do the glued on armor-plates hold up? Do you have much of a seam, or does the glue manage to hold them tightly onto the fabric?

 

[ahoudini]

Hot gluing the plates onto the "slick" surface of the waterproof RRV did not work well at all and so, as detailed in the build, I used pop rivets in each corner to hold them on securely. No problems now!


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[theinsaniac]

My recommendation is to make a paper pattern that fits you well and then lay it on the vest (or vice-versa) and you will see what to cut away. The pieces you cut away get added back on to go around the sides, if memory serves. Remember, it is pretty short, top to bottom. It ends where the top of the battle belt begins. It does not go under the battle belt.

Hope this helps,

Steve


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Thanks for the tip. I'm having trouble with this too! Is the top-most part with the Velcro pouch used? Also, I guess I'm also wondering how to blend the straps in. I get the part about saving the bias and re-finishing the edges. IDK hard to explain...

Coldnetwork, JGR74ZAP: How are you Molle "armour" vests coming? Any more advice would be appreciated...

 

[Coldnetwork]

I am considering using the velcro pouch for the parts that wrap around the sides ends, I have not done this yet but they look about the right length and shape. I have cut my over vest out, but am still working on pads.

Ahoudini did you use scissors to cut your styrene sheets or a glass cutter?

 

[ahoudini]

I used an X-acto knife to score it heavily (by running the knife along a metal ruler) and then the styrene will snap cleanly right along the scored line.


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[theinsaniac]

So once you've got this, you relocate the straps more central, giving it a kind of v-neck, and redo the bias to complete the edges?

 

[ahoudini]

Not quite that easy, Insaniac, unfortunately. I did not use the straps. Instead, I split the vest and pouch and just used them as a source of fabric and bias tape and pieced together the necessary shape. Go back and look at the photo of the completed armor vest. Remember, it is just a short front and the two wraparound sides.


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[theinsaniac]

Alright, last question before I get dirty...
So the pouch & vest are separated. Then the pouch is used to extend the sides? Or is the pouch used to make the shoulder strap pad area.

I guess I'm asking particularly about the neckline/shoulder strap area...

Thanks again for all the help & clarification!

 

[ahoudini]

I really can't remember for sure. I ended up with a male snap at each shoulder, which comes in handy later, if that helps to sort out which part goes where. You can always add the snaps so it is not critical, but that fact might help you figure out which part goes where. The bottom line is that we are really just using the vest as a source of fabric and bias tape that are the right color and weight. Leave the pieces as big as possible and move them around until it looks right (and try to end up with a male snap at each shoulder).

Sorry I can't do better but there is no way to tell by looking at the vest now.

Good luck!

Steve




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[theinsaniac]

I really can't remember for sure. I ended up with a male snap at each shoulder, which comes in handy later, if that helps to sort out which part goes where. You can always add the snaps so it is not critical, but that fact might help you figure out which part goes where. The bottom line is that we are really just using the vest as a source of fabric and bias tape that are the right color and weight. Leave the pieces as big as possible and move them around until it looks right (and try to end up with a male snap at each shoulder).

Sorry I can't do better but there is no way to tell by looking at the vest now.

Good luck!

Steve




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Thank so much, that answers my question!The snaps are located at the top of the pouch. So you must have divided it in half to make the shoulder strap/pad areas.
I'll keep ya updated as to my progress.
Thanks again!