A couple of pictures of the major assyembly. The ITMG inplace over the inner suit. No hardware yet. And not finished. Just wanted to check the assyembly and location of the pockets etc.
Still need to finish the arms at the connector locations. And the back zipper/flap and abrasion patch.
Next some photos of the LEVA I am working with. Still looking for some options on the visors both clear and gold.
Things are comming together. I have applied some lessons learned from privious projects.
Popularity: unranked [?]
I decided it was time to test fit the major parts of the ITMG to the inner suit. I had just
finished sewing the front to the two back halves.
I need to hem the bottom of the legs. Also the arm holes need to be larger. Then I’ll start working on the neck and the the rear entry flap/zipper. The last cone on the sleeves that tapers down to the glove disconnects, and of course I need to cast and paint all the various hardware items and attach them.
Sounds like a lot, but I have the biggest part finished. And its down hill from here.
To this:
Popularity: unranked [?]
I have heard it said that “God is in the details”, well I doubt if God cares about replica space suits. But I certainly do! So I have been working on the small details I wished I had added the last time around.
Its hard to know how much is enough,
If it where feasible, I’d have every stitch, snap and fitting in exactly the right place.
But this is after all, just a replica.
Here are the close-up pictures of the boots I mentioned last time, the seams are more visible here:
And I changed the shoulder area on the inner suit:
I think this will create a more realistic shape after the ITMG is attached.
With luck it will give that distinct A7L look I strive for.
Popularity: unranked [?]
I covered the tops of the boots in the Cordura nylon I am using for the ITMG and sewed them to the inner suit. The leg of the ITMG layer will come down to about the ankle, covering most of the top of the boot. Sorry for the lousy photos. When I get more time I’ll take some detailed pictures so yo can see the seams and the different parts.
In the second photo you can see part of the PLSS in the background. Also how do you like the new page layout?
Popularity: unranked [?]
I received the white boots I ordered, with the gum colored sole. I have been unable to locate anything with the exact sole the original had.
A small milestone, I made a decision on which suit I am going to do. I like to pick a certain crew-member and try to replicate (as close as I can) their suit. This time its going to be…Ed Mitchell’s Apollo 14 Suit.
Why? you may ask, well several reasons. Not the least of which is Ulli’s wonderful photo album over at the Apollo Lunar Surface Journal
This week I pinned the ITMG major parts together and test the fit on the inner suit.. That is when I realized I needed to move the UDC cover. I also was not happy with the shoulder area. I am working on a solution for that. I’ll post some photos when I get it fixed.
Oh, one last thing, I received the 36 inch white #10 zipper I ordered for the ITMG. Its the longest I could get in a number 10. It should be fine, the last suit had a 32 inch and it was ok.
Thats going to do it for today, I’ll post some pictures tonight.
Remember, if all else fails…try SCE to AUX
Popularity: unranked [?]
My new LEVA with a fresh ITMG and paint on the sun shield. It had a commanders red stripe. I am doing a LMP version.
I am temporarily using a lexan visor I had, it does not fit very well.
Popularity: unranked [?]
Started early in the week laying out the pattern for the main part of the ITMG. Here I am cutting out all 6 peaces for the back. Six pieces? you ask. Yes, two cordura nylon for the outside, two cotton duck for the inside and to help keep the shape, and two pieces of batting to keep that pressurized look.
These get stitched together to form two sub assemblies, or the two halves of the back and legs. A similar process is used for the front halves.
Next I started to make the strap on pocket loops. These are placed just below the knee reinforcement patches on either side of the legs.
Popularity: unranked [?]
Its been a few days since I last updated. So I have a lot of ground to cover this time.
The above photos detail the sequence for assembling the “flexible pleats” on the elbow of the ITMG. I doubt that ILC did it this way, but it looks pretty close.
Photo 1 shows the finished arm.
In photo 2 you see the fabric pined for the first seam. I measured the circumference of the arm, which in this case is 22 inches. Then I measured the length and added 2 inches to allow for a hem on the bottom and some fabric to reach passed the band on the lower shoulder assembly.
I divided the circumference in half to get the finished measurement for the back half of the arm/elbow, which is 11 inches. After some trial and error, I found that 2 3/4 inch pleats look about right. So I cut the fabric at 24 inches by 12 inches and marked 2 and 3/4 inches until I ran out of cloth to mark.
Photo 3 shows the first seam being sewn. Be sure to stitch toward the short side, in other words, keep the finish side up when folding. Seam every third mark.
The next photo shows the pleats folded and pined for the seam that goes on each side and holds the pleats in place. I folded the seam past the first 2 3/4 inch mark tho the second one making a 2 3/4 inch pocket or pleat. Then fold over the edge and seam it to hold everything in place.
Photo 6 is another view of the finished arm. Photo seven shows the solid front half ready to be joined to the back half.
Popularity: unranked [?]
Recent Comments