I am reading up on things and it appears that the lower torso armor on the smart gunner was a surplus M-53 lower torso armor piece or more common called a Flak Diaper.

Does anyone have one, and if so could someone provide measurements on one so I can make a less costly replica?

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The impossible takes a while longer and goes over budget too...

Where did you read this? I have never seen pics of this.

Thanks!

Greg

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CPL A08/TQ0.0.12146E1
Newell, Greg A aka Gman
Illinois - USA
UKCM
Shoot first, think never.
Good? Bad? I'm the guy with the gun.
SMMFD
The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he doesn't exist.

Are you talking about the front of the pouch belt? I am not 100% familiar with the smartgunner costume. I know looking at my NECA toy you can see this.

I have never seen actual pics of it. Take the toy with a grain of salt as they simplified that armor when compared to actual.

Thanks!

Greg

_________________
CPL A08/TQ0.0.12146E1
Newell, Greg A aka Gman
Illinois - USA
UKCM
Shoot first, think never.
Good? Bad? I'm the guy with the gun.
SMMFD
The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he doesn't exist.

I was reading up on specs on the armor used in Vietnam. Flak Diapers were used by pilots and others that needed to protect their lower parts. Generally folks just sat on their flak vests if it was a concern as the flak diapers were so well universally hated. The belt or lower armor piece as it were appears to have its origins from the flak diaper, but it was substantially altered. In the various interviews it was said that they were duct taped to the armor on the bottom and once they were in there, they were in there.

The m53 lower torso complemented the m69 upper armor piece. Granted they were only good at stopping shrapnel and flying debre and not bullets.

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The impossible takes a while longer and goes over budget too...

So you do not know it was in the movie? As I stated I have never seen pics of it. Maybe modified on the pouch belt but not full. As you can see from pics the groin was not covered during the movie unless you can find others.



Thanks!

Greg

_________________
CPL A08/TQ0.0.12146E1
Newell, Greg A aka Gman
Illinois - USA
UKCM
Shoot first, think never.
Good? Bad? I'm the guy with the gun.
SMMFD
The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he doesn't exist.

as far as I could tell with the armor functionality, the front piece was not the full deal but part of one. I was trying to deep dive on the history of part of the costume. Just from the angles I saw it looked close from the front.

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The impossible takes a while longer and goes over budget too...

I didn't think Drake or Vasquez wore lower groin armour, as far as I am aware it was just the standard BDUs with a flack vest?

the belt part had some cover in the front, but not enough to qualify.

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The impossible takes a while longer and goes over budget too...

Yeah, sorry man. I am pretty unconvinced as well. As stated in the other thread, extra padding was added for comfort/cover-up of recognizable parts, then wrapped in duct tape. There isn't one piece of movie evidence to suggest it was more complicated than that.

Citing the use of them paired with the M69 vest in Vietnam also does nothing for the argument because Vazquez didn't even wear an M69, so there is nothing to pair up. Nothing covered their buttocks nor groin area in any scene. I just don't see it.

*(Side note, the NECA interpretation with pouches isn't accurate either. They must have just assumed that area should 'do something' and ran with it. Lets not forget that NECA also gave the long disproved "haversack" bag to the Frost figure, likely because it was more interesting to look at than an accurate rectangle bag. NECA has improved greatly in this area, but still has a long history of doing things that they think look cool over accuracy).

Overall, of course you can rig your gear up however you like, so go nuts. I just think the solution to your quest is far simpler than your current inclination.

The only thing visible in the movie is the hip padding off of the Mk 3A vest, if there are any signs of duct tape or adjustments on Vasquez's vest, that's because it had to be cut down and significantly altered in order to fit her properly (so much so that the vest was later deemed too badly damaged for salvage after the shooting was over)

That part I was not aware of. I am still trying to uncover stuff and find things out. Lack of information unfortunately causes me to go on tangents that serve no good purpose as was the case here.

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The impossible takes a while longer and goes over budget too...

s'all good fulla, it's important to ask these questions sorts of questions. Sparks healthy debate and helps keep the forum alive

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Cpl Aron "septic" Williams
A10/TQ0.0.82146E1

check this out. not super clear but its somethin.