Homemade Rig (In Progress)

[mirage13]

I spending 300 on upgrades for my Glock, so I'm going to try to be as cheap as possible, and spend $0.00 in the making of this piece... Not that I can't afford the .50, just that it will be more satisfying after if I can look at it and say, "It was free!"

Plus, I'm really curious to see how it turns out using just the old stuff I have laying around.

:cheers:

[yanhchan]

I like it...make 3point sling now

[Haggis]

I think if you make a rig thats functional for your needs during play and it doesnt impose any danger or risks to you or other players then GO FOR IT...not everyone has an endless budget and your right not to get sucked into the image of having the most expensive gear like some gearwhores who couldnt hit an elephant on the ass with a banjo from 3 feet never mind fire a weapon. In the British Army (certain units) are encouraged to take their S.I.A.E and customise it ( within reason) to suit the individuals needs in the field. Some of todays great Fieldwear comes though experimentation such as yours...good luck and I look forward to seeing your final creation. It might not look like it cost $500, and the good thing is...it wont have thus leaving you more $$$ to buy a good weapon which ultimately wins the match (user abillities considered), whether you keep your mags and compass in your hat or up your ass , as long as you get them in your weapon, full and send them in the right direction at the right time is what this simulation relys on for winning the game. Keep us all up to speed.

[mirage13]

Originally Posted by Haggis

GO FOR IT...not everyone has an endless budget and your right not to get sucked into the image of having the most expensive gear like some gearwhores who couldnt hit an elephant on the ass with a banjo from 3 feet never mind fire a weapon.

:lol:

Good luck and I look forward to seeing your final creation. Keep us all up to speed.

Thank you, here's a bit of progress:

Front / Back (as of January 28, 2006 @ 10:30pm)


The white stuff on the back beneath the webbing is duct tape. Obviously, it's just temporary until tomorrow, at which point they will be riveted :twisted: I'll pound the rivets down with a hammer, and then add another layer of padding (so that if I am on my back, I'm not laying on the heads of 30 or 40 rivets! :roll: )

I have basic plans for the front, but that happens after I finish the base unit, which seems to be just the back piece, shoulder straps, webbing and buckles. Just so you all know, all the straps and webbing on this piece are fully adjustable. The tightest setting fits me perfectly when I'm wearing just a t-shirt, very solid, and at it's maximum limit, I guessing I could fit a sweater and winter coat.

Anyways, just thought I'd keep you all updated! More pics to come as soon as I have something worth showing!

Again, I'd like to thank Kokanee, Haggis, and yanhchan for their support! Honestly, your comments (and suggestions!) helped push me to keep working at it (even though at the beginning it looked pretty hopeless!)

Peace guys,
Mirage

EDIT - Oh yeah, the two horizontal strips on the top of the back piece are velcrow
EDIT 2 - Looking at it now, I should just wear it backwards, and use the back as the front, and be done with it! :lol: But what fun would that be :razz: Okay, back to work! :salute:

[yanhchan]

add something onto the strap for a radio...or a powerbar...lol

[mirage13]

The webbing on both shoulder straps act as the "something" that holds the pouch/holster of the radio... Or you could just clip the radio straight onto the webbing...?

Regardless, I don't play seriously enough to warrant using a radio anyways, so, meh.

[BC_K]

Originally Posted by mirage13

The webbing on both shoulder straps act as the "something" that holds the pouch/holster of the radio... Or you could just clip the radio straight onto the webbing...?

Regardless, I don't play seriously enough to warrant using a radio anyways, so, meh.

Radio's are great to have on the field, Even if your not using it to communicate with others, you can listen in. :wink:

[Guardian]

Originally Posted by mirage13

...spend $0.00 in the making of this piece... Not that I can't afford the .50, just that it will be more satisfying after if I can look at it and say, "It was free!"...

I applaud your ingenuity but spend the 50 cents if you have to…
I’ve made or moded every piece of kit I play with to make it fit my own needs.

[mirage13]

Thanks, Guardian!

30-40 rivets

Ok, so it's 52... At least I was close! :P

This is, according to photoshop, what it will look like after I rivet the webbing onto the back... Looks awfully bright, and in reality, will be shiny... That's not good... Why don't I just wear a big sign above my head "Shoot right below this sign" :lol:

Any other ideas (besides sewing) for how I should go about this :???:

Thanks,
Mirage

EDIT - Hmm, maybe I'll try cutting slits in the back fabric and attempt to weave the webbing through, like basketweaving!
EDIT 2 - Or just paint them black after...? (Thanks for that idea, Calvin. :cheers: I can't believe I didn't think of that... I need sleep... :zzz: )

[firemachine69]

For what ever reason, everytime I see the pistols and that rig, it just automatically lights up a CS Terrorist alert in my head. :lol:

Not bad, let's see if it holds up now.

[Bigmatty]

I think I saw the Toecutter wearing that...you need football shoulder pads or old, used, cut-up ATV tires to complete the look....

the shame!!!!

[HellRanger]

Not that I know much about making gear or anything... But I think the rivets might just rip out. Like I said, I might not know what I'm talking about.

Also, shouldn't the channels be lined up? Or if there is a specific purpose for making it the way you did, I would like to understand why.

[mirage13]

Originally Posted by HellRanger

Not that I know much about making gear or anything... But I think the rivets might just rip out. Like I said, I might not know what I'm talking about.

Also, shouldn't the channels be lined up? Or if there is a specific purpose for making it the way you did, I would like to understand why.

The rivets would probably fall out under normal circumstances, however, I'll put a smal metal washer on the head of the rivet before I tighten and snap the stem off. This will provide something to hold onto on the other side of the fabric, that is much larger then the hole.

As for the channels not being lined up... I have been thinking about this ala night, infact, I think lost sleep over it, cause I couldn't quit thinking about it.
Originally, I did that for cosmetic reasons, as I probably won't find myself using the webbing on the back for anything anyways...
However, I'm pretty sure I will end up reworking the layout of the webbing on the back to provide for a more realistic, functional piece.

[Adrian]

Shine on you crazy diamond.

What is the spacing you used on the webbing? The PALS standard (if you care) is 1" webbing, 1" between rows and 1.5" between bartacks..... Or rivets, I guess? :P

[mirage13]

Originally Posted by Adrian

Shine on you crazy diamond.

What is the spacing you used on the webbing? The PALS standard (if you care) is 1" webbing, 1" between rows and 1.5" between bartacks..... Or rivets, I guess? :P

Yep, using those exact measurements...the longest piece of webbing on the back is 10 inches, same as all of the webbing on the back of the HSGI.

I didn't know those measurements, so I found them by scaling down a picture of my rig to the same size as a pic of an HSGI, puttting them side by side (in Photoshop), and copying the spacing exactly.

I'm still trying to think of an alternate method of attaching all that webbing... Sigh