Hunt
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Post by Hunt on May 31, 2014 22:26:28 GMT -5
Alright gents, this is something that I have been working on for the past month or so and I figured it was time to see if any of you have any input. If you guys don't know, I like to run things light, in fact, I don't even run a PC while playing because I think it is overkill. That isn't to say that I don't appreciate them, so I have been putting a lot of thought into this one before I decided to go "public" with it. The whole premise behind this PC is to make it completely modular. By that I mean multiple cummerbunds and multiple front flaps that can be changed at a moments notice. So, with that in mind, this is the AIO (Adapt, Improvise, and Overcome) Plate Carrier... As you can see, the front flap is a simple MOLLE configuration. What makes it special is that it simply clips into the vertical buckles and then Velcros down normally. This would allow one to have multiple different set-ups on different flaps and then change them at will. I am debating making the flap more streamlined by using G-hooks over side-release buckles. If there is interest in development of this idea, I will expand the front-flaps available. I am already developing a chest-rig that will integrate seamlessly into the PC. This will just offer more MOLLE space over the normal front flap. Future developments could be pre-sewn chest rigs (think HSP D3 Rig style) in both 5.56 and 7.62. Now on to the cummerbund. This is where the G-Hooks come into their full glory. Unlike traditional PCs which usually have a channel on the back plate section through which the cummerbund weaves through, my AIO rig will simply "G-Hook" into place on the loops of the back plate section. I will be adding a middle loops so that 2-band cummerbunds are possible. This cummerbund design does not allow MOLLE space on the kidney sections of a normal cummerbund because this is where the cummerbund has it's adjustment sections. This is only a prototype so things will be changing with the next one made. The changes will be... 1) Remove front Velcro from chest and add a third row of MOLLE 2) Add second loop to cummerbund attachment section to allow 2-band cummerbunds 3) Minor measurement differences that nobody but myself will ever even notice. 4) More front-flap variations 5) More cummerbund variations I would appreciate any comments or criticisms. Like I said, if there is a lot of interest in this idea I will be pursuing it further and adding more and more to the design. Well, if you made it this far, thanks for reading.
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Post by Puma1 on May 31, 2014 23:44:03 GMT -5
Hunt, this looks great. If you need anyone to test out the system I'll gladly help you out . First off, I like being positive so let me tell you some of the things I really like about this: 1) It's very simple and clean: I like the look. 2) The versatility (as you've planned it) will be a very valuable tool for people like me who can never make their mind up on just one load out. 3) The G-hook design is a great idea. It's easy to use and I'd imagine allows for some very interesting configuration abilities many other carriers lack. As stated: I say do it. The velcro should hold the kit in place and those buckles look very out of place (IMO) on a totally adaptive kit. Plus, the g-hooks (This is based on previous experience with buckles) probably won't crack or shatter from a bb impact as easily. Onto where I see problems in the future: The g-hooks themselves concern me. While the idea of seamless integration is very appealing I'm worried about the amount of force theses plastic hooks can take. Bigger guys like me tend to exert a lot of outward force on a plate carrier (I like mine to be a tight fit) which may lead to problems with cracked or severely weakened hooks down the road. If you feel these hooks are strong enough to stand up to the job then I find no other real problems with this design. Here's the one thing I'd like to see: -If possible I'd like to see some different arrangements of those shoulder pads. These are very simple and affective, yet I feel they lack the ability to be used with slings and/or coms. I like to have somewhere to tuck my wiring that's out of the way and usually i use the shoulder straps to do that. This is looking great so let me compliment you on your work this far. Like I said, The only problem I foresee is the ability of the g hooks to take the stress needed on the field.
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Hunt
New Member
I sew.
Posts: 955
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Post by Hunt on Jun 1, 2014 0:10:46 GMT -5
Thanks for the kind words, buddy.
I look forward to seeing where I can go with this.
Those G-Hooks are made of steel. If you are running your kit hard enough to crack one of those suckers you're probably doing it wrong.
I will likely be working out some sort of shoulder pad system for cable/tube management.
Once I make my next prototype this one will probably be going into the commerce. If nobody really wants it from there, maybe I could send it to you to try out.
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Post by Puma1 on Jun 1, 2014 0:25:03 GMT -5
Haha. I thought they were plastic. This makes a lot more sense now. I should of known you wouldn't cut corners. If you'd posted this yesterday I would have offered to buy it. I just grabbed a 6094 . If you get the ball rolling on this I may bite.
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Post by Phantom Reaper on Jun 1, 2014 8:27:59 GMT -5
I definitely plan to keep an eye on this as it has a good portion of my wants, I love the things I've seen you make and always love things that are modular/adaptive like this and will definitely be interested in buying one when you feel ready to sell. The best advice I can offer is take your time and keep us informed, I guarantee you'll have buyers.
Sent from my SM-T210R using Tapatalk
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Post by voodoo on Jun 1, 2014 9:28:35 GMT -5
I'm REALLY digging this! I'd love to see it with full side panels and in Coyote Brown! If you can make that happen I'd probably pick up one not to mention a few buddies/teammates that would as well. Just out of curiosity what price range are you thinking?
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Post by Legionnaire on Jun 1, 2014 9:45:53 GMT -5
My thoughts: The buckle system is not my favorite and I think could easily be improved upon. I would be interested in seeing a system similar (or the same) to the new/in development Eagle SOFBAV Aero Assault (pic linked below). Buckles tend to be bulky and take up space that could be utilized in other ways (ex. mounting a PTT). The SOFBAV system still leaves you all the benefits of being able to create swappable front panels without the bulk (and maybe even reduced costs?). If this route was chosen, my fancies would be tickled if you made a front flap with the SOFBAV mounting system that replicated the Mayflower triple 7.62 Placard (2nd link). soldiersystems.net/blog1/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Aero-SOF-Bav-front-flap-attachment-detail-440x503.jpgwww.mayflower-rc.org/store/7034/82/Triple-7.62-Placard.htmlAs for the cummerbund design, I'm pretty 'meh' about it. Plate carriers can only be so lightweight before they become asinine to other options out there. A plate carrier with little to no MOLLE space on the sides becomes nothing more than a chest rig (or less) with the option of mounting a hydro bladder (in terms of mountable/customizable MOLLE space). Even then, you have the option of running a chest rig and MAP, Yote, etc. Its for this reason that I'm a little confused at your description of the system. Will there be a MOLLE system with the two cummerbund/strap system? If there is MOLLE compatibility, that would be ideal but I honestly would love to see it run through a rear channel like on "traditional" plate carriers. It would be a VAST improvement on the JPC's awkward cummerbund adjustment system while still utilizing the sort of "airflow" design and maximizing mounting space. If it isn't MOLLE compatible, I don't really see the benefit of running two straps vs. the one. An idea would be to maybe include/sell separately different cummerbund options to appeal to both the market that likes the full cummerbund through the rear channel and the G-hook "slick" design? And even maybe a traditional non-airflow cummerbund. This could perhaps further play off your adaptive mentality of the plate carrier. As for shoulder strap channels for comms wires, hydro tubes, etc. Running 1-3 single MOLLE (or elastic preferably) slots over the shoulder strap could alleviate the issue while still providing the straps to be slick enough in the case of the user wanting to buy aftermarket shoulder pads. Other suggestions would be to maybe integrate a admin pouch into the chest portion of the plate carrier like on the JPC and add vertical/canted MOLLE slots on the chest for mounting PTT's. A final question I have is, is there a slot at the bottom of the PC for plates? Or is there just padding sewn in? I'm excited to see where this goes and hope that some of my suggestions helped.
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Post by blackhawkranger on Jun 1, 2014 10:44:37 GMT -5
Looks very similar to an LBT Slick and QRAP but looking good!
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Post by Combat Junkies Airsoft on Jun 1, 2014 18:19:15 GMT -5
I like the design so far. my suggestions are as follows. The front molle panel, you should move away from the pouch style flap and sew the Velcro to only one thickness of cordura. I would also say to make sure the loop Velcro it attaches to covers the lower portion of the PC from edge to edge to ensure the flap secures entirely. Also I would say swap the plastic buckles for G hooks. Onto the shoulder straps you should make them modular as well. Maybe use a cross between the skd PIG pc and 6094. G hook for the front attachment and the rear looped through plastic slide buckles on the rear panel. You could make a shoulder strap backed with 3D mesh for heavier loads and a basic strap for lighter loads. Also with the popularity of the GRG admin panel I would make an option to attach one.
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Hunt
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I sew.
Posts: 955
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Post by Hunt on Jun 2, 2014 2:11:00 GMT -5
Thanks for all of the comments guys. Like I said, this is a work in progress and all of your suggestions are helpful.
Just to clear up a few questions that have been posed-
I am going to make my next prototype able to accept front flaps via G-Hook as well as the SOFBAV premise to see what will work best for the rig.
There will be other cummerbund options that will allow MOLLE space. The whole premise behind the system (to me) is to be able to make the rig into exactly what you want. I am thinking that the cummerbunds that I will be starting out with will be...
1) Single-band (shown in OP) 2) 2-band skeletal (Crye style) 3) 3-band skeletal (Crye style) 4) Side plate carriage cummerbund OR a side plate pocket mountable to skeletal cummerbund
Other front flap configurations will be mainly of the pre-sewn variety. A lot like the placards that Mayflower just released.
I am thinking that the base carrier will come with the single-band cummerbund and the normal front flap for $110.00 in a single color and $120.00 in Multicam. Other cummerbund and front flap options will be priced at a later date.
The later prototype will have 3 rows and 4 columns of MOLLE on the chest area with two 5" vertical MOLLE strips, so there will be plenty of real estate on the upper chest. If I go with G-Hook'ed front flap then there will be even more room without the buckles crowding the area.
The plate carrier will be fully functional and will hold plates just fine. The pictures in the OP show the vest with replica SAPI plates in it.
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Hunt
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Posts: 955
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Post by Hunt on Jun 14, 2014 18:23:12 GMT -5
Just trying to keep those of your that are interested up to date with the changes that have occurred to the AIO PC. Things that I have done... 1) Constructed a front flap that attaches via G-hook 2) Constructed a 2-band cummerbund 3) Minor measurement changes and other small tweaks I know that we discussed different front flap attachment options previously in this thread. This is the alternative that uses G-hooks over the MOLLE mounted side-release buckles. I have the PC set up to try a MOLLEish mounted front flap I just have to get around to constructing it. That will be shown in a later update. These new pictures also show off another option for a cummerbund. This is the 2-band skeletal version. It allows MOLLE space on either side of the front flap, but doesn't allow for any MOLLE space on the kidney portion of the cummerbund. This is because this is where the girth adjustments take place. Things to expect in the future... 1) 3-band skeletal cummerbund 2) Side armor pockets 3) MOLLEish mounted front flap 4) 5.56/7.62 convertible chest rig that integrates right into the PC Let me know what you guys think. Thanks!
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Stache
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Post by Stache on Jun 14, 2014 19:17:25 GMT -5
Great job with the AIO Hunt. The real question is, how much will it cost?
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Post by voodoo on Jun 14, 2014 19:20:48 GMT -5
I really like were this is going! I'm super pumped to pick one up in Coyote Brown! I LOVE how versatile it is. I volunteer to do field tests!
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Zaraska
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Post by Zaraska on Jun 21, 2014 21:10:40 GMT -5
I'm very interested in this. I will be looking forward to it reaching Commerce when it's ready, if it does.
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Hunt
New Member
I sew.
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Post by Hunt on Jul 6, 2014 14:55:21 GMT -5
Sorry for the late reply to everyone, I has been difficult to find time to work on the AIO with all of my "real life" obligations, but I finally carved out some time to do some work. These pictures will show the carrier with the MOLLEish mounted front flap. The only revision that production models will have will be shorter tongues for the front flap mounting. The pictures will do most of the talking, so take a look... As you can see, this variation leaves the front of the carrier free of the other bulky mounting methods. It also will be most cost effective on my end, so I believe that this will be the best option for all parties involved. If the pictures didn't show it clearly enough, the front flap simply has 4 tongues that have Velcro on either side. Those tongues then run through MOLLE channels and then Velcro down to the abdominal Velcro patch. The whole thing seems very secure, but extensive testing has not been done as of yet. This testing is where a unique proposition opens up. I am thinking of loaning out this carrier and all of the other cummerbunds (single strap, 2-band, and 3-band), convertible 7.62/5.56 chest rig, M4 pouches, etc. to someone who is interested in using them all as a system for a duration of time and then giving me their feedback about the design, comments, criticisms, etc. I would only be loaning the system out and I would expect it to be returned. However, I don't want and wouldn't expect the gear to be babied. If there is a weak point the in design, I want to know about it and I want to address any of the issues. If you would be interested in possibly using this system for a period of time and giving me your honest thoughts about the application, use, and design, send me a PM and we will discuss things further.Any other comments or criticisms in this thread are welcome as usual. Thanks for taking a look.
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