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| Functional Sea Trooper | |
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| Topic Started: Oct 3 2006, 05:24 AM (2,335 Views) | |
| kurtweinreich | Oct 3 2006, 05:24 AM Post #1 |
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Newbie
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With all the information floating around and the need for some original projects, I ran across a little inspiration... As an avid scuba diver (I am actually training for my Master Scuba Diver status), I couldn't help myself to want to create one of these. Previous projects from other troopers for this costume also inspired me with their great work...    The main difference in my version will be THAT IT WILL WORK! That's right, I am going to attempt to make a fully functional Sea Trooper. How? Here is the plan... ARMOR: Obvious similarities to the biker scout, which I will be getting locally. I am not convinced the actual leg armor is the TK leg. I may model it after the Galactic Marine leg armor and add the dive knife unless someone has a better idea. After that base, the next step will be to make it functional. I consulted with my dive shop/club to see if this would even be possible. My plan was to just take some cool pictures and maybe some video in the pool, but they want to go all the way and take to the depths (over 30' deep) into the reservoir. This requires some adjustments including... REGULATOR: I will be installing a dual-hose regulator to the helmet. This will allow obvious "accuracy" but mainly keep the bubbles from coming out into the helmet. This is also a real regulator which will attach to a real tank.  HELMET: To achieve total accuracy, the helmet would have to become the mask. But for equalization, that is not safe. So I will be wearing a low-profile dive mask under the Bikerscout mask. BELT: To descend to depth, you need weights. I am modifying weight belt to compensate for that and it will be colored white. I can also use a black weight belt and color the weights white. The armor will have to worn accordingly and possibly attached to the weight belt...  BUOYANCY: The other issue is Buoyancy control to ascend and descend. This is usually accomplished by an inflatable vest which will "balloon" and look really weird. I am overcoming this with a REAR inflatable, in which the air inflates from BEHIND and will not effect the front armor at all. ACCESSORIES: Other items need for actual diving include a compass, depth gauge, backup regulator, and dive computer which is usually on an extra hose. The compass and dive computer can go on the wrist, but for safety the backup regulator will have to hang around. That's the plan. It should be fun. Obviously putting it together comes first. Cal is helping with that part. There are some items I need to paint white (any ideas on good paint that will last underwater?). The dive shop is helping with the technical aspects and is very excited. They will have students learning underwater photography and videography filming my tests, which Phase I will be in the pool and Phase II will be at the Aurora Reservoir diving around a plane wreck they have there. This will be an interesting challenge. Any help and/or suggestions are welcome. Maybe when it is all done, it might make the magazine, website, or even a demo tank at CIV.... |
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| COS_Vader | Oct 3 2006, 01:09 PM Post #2 |
Detachment Leader
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Hey Kurt - welcome aboard! I have your bookplates from Karen Traviss and they should go out to you tomorrow. I believe someone else is working this project as well, and it'd be cool to see it take off. I think the only hurdle is the helmet (it'd be really nice if it sealed, but if a regulator fits, it'll work somehow. It's the visibility that worries me. I do remember the story of a shark guy who wears TK armor to fend off/discourage them, but it sounds like a very cool and involved project. Keep us updated! Kev Christley Spec Ops DL |
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| MrFett | Oct 22 2006, 05:04 AM Post #3 |
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Member
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That would be amazing. Can't wait to see the progress on that!!!!!
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| Nocturne | Apr 14 2007, 11:14 AM Post #4 |
Advanced Member
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He's not a shark guy, he's a squid guy. He dives with Humboldt Squid. Scott Cassell I think His armour is based off the TK, but made (I think) of tough fiberglass - and for (I assume) visibility reasons he colored it yellow. Dude this looks like a really cool project. I hope it takes off for you. |
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| Col_Phlandor_Xixran | Jun 7 2007, 02:24 AM Post #5 |
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Newbie
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My personal slant on the Sea Trooper is that the helmet locks on like a Commercial Dive Helmet. And that the backpack is a re-breather rather than a bubbler. I will talk with a commercial/Military Hard hatter and see what he thinks about the idea maybe he and I can create a semi commercial workable Sea Trooper dive helmet. |
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| crazas | Jun 7 2007, 03:11 PM Post #6 |
Captain of the Guard TX 3758
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That whould be sooo cool!! The idea of making a fully functional sea trooper is awesome!! I know nothing about scuba, so here is my "stupid" question, is it really possible to make this thing work??? |
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| Col_Phlandor_Xixran | Jun 9 2007, 01:02 AM Post #7 |
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Newbie
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YES WE CAN MAKE IT HAPPEN |
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| BadGass | Jul 29 2007, 04:12 AM Post #8 |
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Newbie
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I am a newbie but I was drawn to this topic as I am by trade a commercial "Hard hat" diver. So on a few of the ideas technical issues I might be of use, I'd really love to see a working system. * Presumably the Sea Trooper is expected to be covert in many operations. This goes hand in hand with your idea about using a rebreather for the gas system. Apart from the training rebreathers are usually pretty expensive however there are military type pure O2 units available, mainly from Itlay, which are somewhat cheaper. They are employed in final approach/beach recce's by the forces and because of oxygen toxicity are limited to a maximum safe depth of 6-7msw. There is an even cheaper option, build your own...... there are one of two websites dedicated to this activity. I think most of the surv iving members have almost all their own brain cells left.  http://www.divesafe.net/omg_military_rebreathers__cmk4_.htm http://users.bigpond.net.au/harry_online/r...ther%20page.htm Search for OMG as they produce a varietry of compact rebreathers & historical artices on Itallian ARO models. * The Mistral is a nice retro looking piece, I've not tried one but it has the beauty of rear exhaust bubbles. However the price is steep but less than a rebreather. * On the mask front most rebreather divers recommend a seperate face mask so you can switch easily to open circuit in an emergency. There are "docking" systems around to fix the rebreather loop to a standard half mask though & a couple of Scandinavian firms make rebreather full face mask for cold water diving. If you don't go down the rebreather route there are several full face masks that could be used as part of the rig quite easily, Avon military, AGA diviator 1 or 2 or the Exo 26 commercial are fairly common. However the Oceanic Neptune 2 has something of the Sea trooper look and is designed for ease of use with recreational dive gear. For reference you use a snot block in a fullface/hard hat to equalise, usually this is a metal rubber block you press you nose against whilst clearing your ears. Inevitablly the last guy forgot to clean it after use. It's possible to learn how to equalise without holding your nose anyway.I would recommend against using a full commercial "hat" be with a neck dam (or even a band mask model) for several reasons; expense, availiblity, bulk/weight and they really require a tender (assistant) to dress in/set up correctly for safe use. They also tend to increase gas comsumption partly because of the large internal volume and the regulators often have a lower cracking pressure and free flow readily as a safety measure as a working diver in a hat is basically on an unlimited gas supply from his umbilical. Best of luck. |
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| BadGass | Jul 29 2007, 04:22 AM Post #9 |
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Newbie
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Another option is to use a compact HABD, aircraft ditching escape bottle for the gas supply They are about 0.5l volume and should easily fit in the small back pack. The hose is easily concealed in one of the fake corrigated breathing tubes, this would combine nicely with a low profile free diving mask. Low profile & reasonably cost effective. A design of full face mask that has potential to be fitted into a helmet mold is the Cressi sub-seal full face mask. This mask easily integrates with both a single hose two stage reg, double hose single stage or a rebreather loop. With most of the above fullmask masks proving a second independant air source isn't straight forward when they are built into a helmet. The Oceanic model comes as standard with fittings for a second regulator however. To solve this potential safety issue it is possible to use an open ended low pressure feed inserted under the skirt of the mask as a freeflowwing air supply. This is how some of the earliest self contained breathing systems worked and it is still employed as an emergency measure in commercial diving. If a small stage cylinder & a first stage regulator were used this would provide a compact short duration back up air source that could be used (in a similar way to a Habd/spare air bottle) without having to remove the helmet. |
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| SpitFireScout | Aug 22 2007, 07:50 AM Post #10 |
Advanced Member
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I totally was thinking of the full face mask you mentioned BadGass, as i was reading this.My brother is a fully liscensed diver, and my dad dove frequently as well. If the full face mask is too expensive, couldn't you intigrate a diving mask into the helmet? You mentioned this i think but said for safetly reasons you would want it separate. I would imagine you could remove the lens of the Sea Trooper helmet, and then rework some of the interior so a dive mask meshes properly behind it, while still being two separate pieces. Would probably increase visibility by not having to look through two layers of lens, i figure that would be a bonus since water isn't always nice an Hawaiian clear. Does the face plate and visor on your helmet flip up? I've seen Rubies (a.k.a. Don Post) Vinyl helmets (i believe) that do that i've been having trouble with posting images so you can see it here also (sorry for the invconvenience: http://bp0.blogger.com/_nyvwaivjOOo/Rsvpc0...lipUphelmet.jpg If you have the flip up option then you could have the mask under the helmet, remove the lens from the helmet and make a few adjustments so the dive mask fits properly and looks good. When you need to equalize its easy enough to flip u the visor and reach your face. Good luck with it, very cool, look forward to hearing more. Yeah i found that squid guy you were talking about, his armor does look remarkably like TX material doesn't it? http://diver.net/seahunt/fend/f_scottc.htm (scroll down its the 2nd picture) He doesn't have the helmet though  Some of those Single Lens Masks look alot like the Sea Troopers lens http://www.gosportsspex.co.uk/images/Hydro...dDivingMask.jpg http://www.wintechsnorkeling.com/images/ot...ask103black.jpg http://casanova.spinweb.net/catalog/watersports/MS6.jpg |
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