Well, I have been working on converting my CinCity vest into a clone 3A vest.... or at least as close as I can. Attached are the shots of my leather straps and my paper prototypes. Well, first I looked at piles and piles of pictures, made paper prototypes to check the layup, then cut up some plastic pieces to better check the layup. I was able to score some leather which I traced onto from the plastic. The leather might be a little too thin, but it might work.... Next up is stitching the straps onto the leather. I have some wore out vest pads I am going to use to make up my own pads after the straps are done.

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SSGT "Giggles" W.A.L.
SN A11/TQ2.0.72140G1
USS Columbia, Heavy Weapons Section
"If you are going to die, die with a real weapon. Not a little sissy gun like that. "

And after dismounting the CinCity foam and trying to line up my 3A foam pads on my leather pieces, the angles are a little off... I'll have to make new plastic templates and try again on leather. Glad I bought plenty.

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SSGT "Giggles" W.A.L.
SN A11/TQ2.0.72140G1
USS Columbia, Heavy Weapons Section
"If you are going to die, die with a real weapon. Not a little sissy gun like that. "

Well the block two vest is looking a little better. My drawings were a little off. the back straps look like they are way too two low against the pads...

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SSGT "Giggles" W.A.L.
SN A11/TQ2.0.72140G1
USS Columbia, Heavy Weapons Section
"If you are going to die, die with a real weapon. Not a little sissy gun like that. "

Very cool. I may be scratch building one of these puppies myself at some point so I'm taking a few notes!

Its a bit of a pain, but I will gladly give pointers/help where I can. All the metal parts are from a CinCity Vest and Arm combo I got.

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SSGT "Giggles" W.A.L.
SN A11/TQ2.0.72140G1
USS Columbia, Heavy Weapons Section
"If you are going to die, die with a real weapon. Not a little sissy gun like that. "

I think one of the main points ie say to bigbisont is if ya going to do a rep of the vest have a good look at the original

I hacked mine with the angle grinder to get the vests metal breast plate to look right, and so the straps sit as the original, my "leather" back straps are 4mm thick with a cross section of car seat belt webbing underneath for extra strength as I am carrying a converted real MG42 and 20kg load arm.
I am just finishing mine at no with adding lamp plate and thicker pull cable.
this is mine on and the back

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SSGT Andy "Rocket Man" Taylor A04/TQ1.0.12139E1
Wee folk carry BIG GUNS

For my block 2 vest I'm currently using 2mm (5oz) leather with 2" cargo strap for my vest and it does well around the house for an hour. But my load is under 30lbs for arm and gun. I experimented with sewing 2mm polyethylene to the inside more like a 3A vest design but I will need a commercial or heavy duty sewing machine. For the block 3 vest design I'm going with 10oz leather and having to outsource the sewing. I think I fixed the strap dimensions and I'm making new rib pads this weekend. After I finish my econ homework.

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SSGT "Giggles" W.A.L.
SN A11/TQ2.0.72140G1
USS Columbia, Heavy Weapons Section
"If you are going to die, die with a real weapon. Not a little sissy gun like that. "