Sorry for the long gap between post. But I find myself working on several different projects at the same time, and not finishing anything that I can report.
I would like to ask a question of my readers (Yes, Both of you ;-} )
Would there be any interest if I could supply a reproduction Apollo Bubble helmet, professionally cast from a mold of my real helmet bubble?
The only source I know of that sells a reproduction, gets $3800.00 for one.
I was thinking of pricing somewhere around $1500 if I get enough interest. Of course I would have to sell several to cover my cost at this price.
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The worst thing about putting on one of my suits is: by the time you get everything zipped, Velcroed and snapped. The helmet and gloves on, you are so hot the helmet steams up and the perspiration is pouring off of your forehead into your eyes. The padding and foam I use to create the pressurized look is so insulating you could die of heatstroke in the arctic.
My answer is the same one the guys at Hamilton-Standard came up with years ago. Cold water running through small tubes next to the skin.
I purchased some “net” fabric with holes just slightly smaller than the tubing I had. I the “threded” the tubing in and out of the shirt I had sewn. I divided the shirt into 4 “zones” . Each arm is one, and then the front and back. A small pump pushes ice water from a 1/2 liter bottel to a “header” that sends it to all 4 zones then back to another header and back to the bottel.
This should help me “keep my cool”. I’ll let you know the next time I put the suit on.
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The suit is nearing completion now, I assembled the whole thing in IV configuration and checked airflow to the helmet and the cooling shirt I made. Using a thermal underwear shirt and about 10 meters of 3/16 inch plastic tubing. And some very careful stitching. It looks like a plumbers nightmare, but it really helps. I have a small pump used to cool a computer from my Mac modding days, a 750ml water container filled with cold H20. The water is pumped around the torso and down each arm then back to the container in a closed loop.
The air flow is provided by a blower pushing through a can filter then into the suit. The duct runs down under the left arm then up the back to the neckring where it meets the headrest/air duct on the helmet. There is a secondary duct in the front of the neckring that leads down and out the blue gas connector on the right side.
The suit is so insulating, in the past every time I would put the helmet on it would quickly fogg up. The cooling has really helped.
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I have felt better these last few days and have been working off and on on the suit. As the pictures show, I have the aluminum neckring painted and installed. And the helmet visor on the LEVA is done.
I have also started installing the LS gas connectors, and have the glove disconnects in place.
And I have the UDC valve in place:
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