I am expecting some better documentation on the pressure garment, so until that arrives I thought I’d work on some of the smaller items. The IV gloves or Intra-Vehicle gloves are todays project. I have been unable to locate a good source for the black rubber bladders, so we need to get a little creative.
So first head for the local home center or hardware and buy a pair of the large black chemical resistant gloves. You will also need: a small piece of thin black leather (Large enough to cover both palms and backs of both gloves) about 16 inches of 1/2 inch black nylon strap and buckle. Also something to represent the glove side disconnect. I use plastic castings.
The first thing you have to do is make a pattern for the leather that acts as the palm restraint. Here is what I did: I took an old pair of gloves, while examining the pictures of Armstrong’s IV gloves on the Apollo Lunar Surface Journal, I laid out the cut lines to make the restraint. I grabbed my scissors and cut the fingers and thumb off. Then I adjusted the holes to match as best I could the restraint area. (You only need one glove for this) Then I split the seam on the sides so I could lay it out flat. Trace this onto the leather and flip it over to do the other glove.
Stitch around the openings, and stitch up the sides. A strong sewing machine helps.
Next you want to cut two small vertical slits, just big enough for the nylon strap to slip through. One on the palm side, just above the thumb and one just inside below the “pinky” or smallest finger opening. Slip the strap through the slits, keeping it on the palm side. Then attach the buckle on the end nearest the little finger. Wrap the strap around the back of the hand and pass the free end through the buckle so it lays back over itself. attach Velcro to hold the loose end of the strap to itself.
Now on to the white nylon cloth. the circumference of the glove side disconnect is 14 inches. And the distance from the disconnect to the bottom of the leater is about 6 inches.
There are several seams and stitching deatails on these small parts, so in order to have plenty of clothe to go around: cut two pieces 24″ by 8″
Measure up 5/8th to 3/4 inch from the bottom and lightly mark with a pencil. This will end up being the bottom seam. Measure 15″ from one end and fold the cloth back on itself. Pin and sew a seam here. Fold about 1/2″ of the shorter piece back on itself about half way and make a seam. Tuck under the loose end of the short piece and sew it down making a third seam.
Insert the disconnect in the end of the black glove and wrap the cloth inside-out around the glove and connector. Pin the ends together tightly and sew up the seam. Turn the cloth right-side-out and slip it over the glove an pull it down over the end of the disconnect covering the black glove.
Slip the leather/nylon strap assembly over the glove and cloth. Pin the leather to the cloth and remove to stich on the machine.
You now have a pretty good representation of an Apollo IV Glove. Lather, rinse and repeat for the other glove.
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