http://apollospacesuits.com For Al, Dick and Pete "Apollo 12" for proving you can be Good, AND Colorful ----By David Jackson Sat, 04 Jul 2009 21:06:02 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en I got busy last weekend and built a small loft in my shop. Storage is always a problem in a small shop, so I decided to go Up to solve the problem. This had some unexpected advantages. Since I set the bottom at the same height as my door, its ... http://apollospacesuits.com/2009/07/04/my-shop-gets-a-make-over/ Here are some photos I took at the mill shop that is making the Helmet rings for me. They are as obsessed with details as I am. When compaired to the originals, they are exact reproductions. Getting very close to having the worlds best reproductions of the Apollo pressure helmet. ... http://apollospacesuits.com/2009/07/03/ring-around-the-collar/ The following pictures illustrate the steps I use to make a headrest/vent duct for an Apollo helmet. The process is vacuum forming, and I am using a heavy ABS plastic. The vacuum source is my shop-vac. [caption id="attachment_451" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Form or Plug"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_452" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Side view"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_453" align="alignleft" width="300" ... http://apollospacesuits.com/2009/06/18/just-a-place-to-lay-my-head/ Here are some photos of the seal arrangement between the pressure helmet and the ring on the suit. In photo 1 you can see one of the latches that are located around the ring. Just below it is the rubber seal. This is not an "O" ring in the normal ... http://apollospacesuits.com/2009/05/23/how-does-that-seal-or-what-keeps-the-space-out/ I have an acquaintance that runs an internet company involved in the sale of Space exploration related merchandise. Toys mostly and some "replica" space suits. These are mostly low fidelity generic looking Apollo and Shuttle suits. And every so often he will call or email wanting to buy one of my ... http://apollospacesuits.com/2009/05/22/this-is-what-i-am-about-a-little-rant-sorry/ [caption id="attachment_426" align="alignleft" width="748" caption="Gas connector expanded view"][/caption] I have spent a great deal of time studying the connectors and hardware on the Apollo A7L.  And having a question on the last post regarding the function of the connectors, I thought we could remove some of the mystery. In the illustration above ... http://apollospacesuits.com/2009/05/22/gas-connectors-and-disconnects-how-do-they-work/ [caption id="attachment_415" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="Sole of the pressure suit shoe or boot"][/caption] I have been off my feet due to some minor surgery, so I have been working on some details of the boot soles on the ITMG. Above is my version of the sole. [caption id="attachment_416" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="Irwin training suit"][/caption] Above ... http://apollospacesuits.com/2009/05/21/these-boots-are-made-forwell-sticking-to-the-floor-of-the-lem/ Here is a nice photo of Amanda Young on the cover of Smithsonian Magazine. She takes care of the suits that went to the moon. And most of the prototype suits leading up to the famous A7L. Amanda is a true expert on space suit development, and just a sweetheart. ... http://apollospacesuits.com/2009/05/16/cover-girl/ Here are a few pictures of the right arm being sewn from some "new material" I have started to use. Also today I spoke with the plastics company that is doing my helmet bubbles. They said they are starting to form the bubbles, but need to develop the proper technique. ... http://apollospacesuits.com/2009/05/12/things-are-starting-to-come-together-now-maybe/ Its been a while since I updated the blog here. But not to worry, progress is still being made. I have been working closely with the seamstress in an attempt to perfect the layout and patterns for the A7L. We are on the second full prototype. The first version was ... http://apollospacesuits.com/2009/05/05/updates/