Dan’s ESB Build-Anovos

[DocDan[TK]]

Placed and glued on the snaps on the underneath of the chest to receive the white elastic strap.

 

[DocDan[TK]]

Had a con weekend here in VT so lost time building.

In the process of glueing more of the snaps in the ab and kidney sections.

 

 

 

[gmrhodes13[Staff]]

One thing to note is try to have your snap plates closer to the edges of armor, this cuts down on the amount of elastic and how much it will stretch, the longer the elastic the more it stretches, if that makes sense. 

[DocDan[TK]]

Got some work done on the shoulder straps. Used the marker method from @Cricket to get my cut points for the holes.
 

 

 

[JBar[TK]]

When you get to this step I put my shoulder bell snap close to my neck to prevent sagging from the shoulders tugging on the elastic:

[gmrhodes13[Staff]]

If you have a soldering iron handy (or something sharp you can heat on the stove) you can use one to add the holes to elastic, seals the sides of the holes and prevents snap from coming out 

 

For your shoulder bells if you add the snaps a little closer to the front it helps bring your shoulder bells inwards when you move your arms. I also use double snaps as I had one fail many years ago and having the two allowed me to still troop 

[JBar[TK]]

20 minutes ago, gmrhodes13 said:

 I also use double snaps as I had one fail many years ago and having the two allowed me to still troop 

 

This is why I always bring a safety pin too! Helps in case of emergencies or for other troopers

[DocDan[TK]]

I’m trying to get the length for the shoulder straps. How does this look for spacing and placement?
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[gmrhodes13[Staff]]

Looks ok. You will find this position/gap may change once you have the chest/back joined to the kidney/abdomen, as it tries to pull down.

 

 

 

[DocDan[TK]]

16 minutes ago, gmrhodes13 said:

Looks ok. You will find this position/gap may change once you have the chest/back joined to the kidney/abdomen, as it tries to pull down.

 

 

 

 

Ok-great @gmrhodes13! Knowing that, I will place the snaps in the shoulder strapping for the placement and add the retainment strap elastic x2.

Felt good to actually wear something... I can finally start to put this thing together now!

[DocDan[TK]]

Worked on adjusting the shoulder straps and getting them to the proper length for my build/torso.

 

Then moved on to the elastic to hold down the top ribbed shoulder straps…tied them in a knot then applied some e6000 to hold them in place…

 

 

[gmrhodes13[Staff]]

Looking good. I ended up sewing mine to the elastic, but glue works just as well, as long as there is enough room for the shoulder strap to fit under the elastic.

 

They actually sat just in front of the position of the snaps, but won't cause any issues with approval 

 

[DocDan[TK]]

I was able to try something on for the first time. I’m trying to get the sizing and gap correct for the black elastic thigh straps.
 

How does fitment look before I go ahead and glue the straps to the inner front thighs and then stich the top parts to make a sleeve for the under belt to slide through?

 

 

 

 

 

[gmrhodes13[Staff]]

Your belt is a little high at the back, angling downwards to your front. If like me you are too skinny sometimes adding a little foam behind your abdomen helps to keep the ab/kidney from pulling inwards too much.

 

You will find once you have your chest and backplate attached things may still move so you may want to hold off gluing. Many of use a belt and straps to the thighs, this is so you can make adjustments if they are needed. 

 

Some glue the strapping to the thighs but I like to use snaps, in the event I ever have to change the elastic. I also have braces which help keep them level. There's no wrong way, some attach directly to the abdomen.

 

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7002/6721424513_dfc95a8334_b.jpg

 

 

Position of the belt under the large ab plate

For level 3 approval:

 

                   1.   In order to fully support the holster/E-11 the canvas belt must be firm/sturdy in appearance (no wrinkling or sagging).

 

                   2.  Canvas belts can not contain patches of any sort.

 

                              

 

3.  The top of the ABS belt shall sit at or just above the bottom of the central and vertical ab button panels.  A slight overlap is suggested, but not required. 

 

    

 

  Notes:  The bottom of the canvas belt should ideally sit above the bottom of the kidney plate and not overlap the kidney/posterior plate connection.

[DocDan[TK]]

11 hours ago, gmrhodes13 said:

Your belt is a little high at the back, angling downwards to your front. If like me you are too skinny sometimes adding a little foam behind your abdomen helps to keep the ab/kidney from pulling inwards too much.

 

You will find once you have your chest and backplate attached things may still move so you may want to hold off gluing. Many of use a belt and straps to the thighs, this is so you can make adjustments if they are needed. 

 

Some glue the strapping to the thighs but I like to use snaps, in the event I ever have to change the elastic. I also have braces which help keep them level. There's no wrong way, some attach directly to the abdomen.

 

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7002/6721424513_dfc95a8334_b.jpg

 

 

Position of the belt under the large ab plate

For level 3 approval:

 

                   1.   In order to fully support the holster/E-11 the canvas belt must be firm/sturdy in appearance (no wrinkling or sagging).

 

                   2.  Canvas belts can not contain patches of any sort.

 

                              

 

3.  The top of the ABS belt shall sit at or just above the bottom of the central and vertical ab button panels.  A slight overlap is suggested, but not required. 

 

    

 

  Notes:  The bottom of the canvas belt should ideally sit above the bottom of the kidney plate and not overlap the kidney/posterior plate connection.

@gmrhodes13 I like the snap idea! About where do you place the snaps on the thigh? Up high or a bit lower?

 

I have plenty of foam so will try a piece in the back. Again, this was the very first time I have worn it.

 

I’ll make sure the belt is down in the back as well and think it will help to have the TD and the holster on.

[gmrhodes13[Staff]]

7 hours ago, DocDan said:

@gmrhodes13 I like the snap idea! About where do you place the snaps on the thigh? Up high or a bit lower?

 

I have plenty of foam so will try a piece in the back. Again, this was the very first time I have worn it.

 

I’ll make sure the belt is down in the back as well and think it will help to have the TD and the holster on.

Upper top of the thigh, you can just see in this image

I use adjusters on the elastic too, but usually once you have them placed right you don't need to adjust again.

 

Here's a prototype I came up, has some adjustment

[DocDan[TK]]

I got some time on this rainy day so I sewed the buttons on to the shoulder straps. I placed them inwards towards my neck a bit more as @JBar suggested.

 

 

 

[gmrhodes13[Staff]]

If you bring the connection further towards the front it will help pull in the shoulders when moving your arms.

 

[DocDan[TK]]

Got a neighbor to stitch my thigh elastic! I may try to install snaps on these instead of glueing them to the thighs. I also bought a pair of suspenders to try that method for extra support.

 

 

[gmrhodes13[Staff]]

Very nice. I do find the suspenders help so the belt isn't digging into your sides with the weight of the thighs, anything to make it more comfortable to wear 

[DocDan[TK]]

Started working on the shoulder bell strapping.

Used a white paint maker to find the snaps.

 

 

 

Also got the spacing for the screen accurate snaps and sewed them on.

[gmrhodes13[Staff]]

I've heard these snaps can be a pain if they are on an angle but I've never encountered an issue.

[DocDan[TK]]

Added some snaps to the thigh straps.

 

[DocDan[TK]]

Did a test fit of the the abdomen piece and thighs.

 

 

[Doggydoc[Staff]]

Hey Dan,

 

Overall, sizing looks good.  A few things to note however.

 

You will want to get your belt a bit lower in the back.

 

 

The top front corners of your posterior plate are flaring out.  This can be corrected with strapping there or "V tabs"

 

 

  

 

Finally, you may want to trim back the return edge on the tops of the thighs.  This could cause some pretty uncomfortable pinching.