Apollo A7L Moon Suit

[S1RDAG0N3T]

This is a bit unrelated but has anyone here created fake mission patches for their suits, or do people just use IRL Apollo patches.

 

[S1RDAG0N3T]

I've made a few fictional Apollo patches for my suit, based on an unplanned Apollo 24 mission. Here are three of my best ones (the names are removed obviously)

with this mission taking place in the 70s, I really wanted to emulate the feel of 70s optimism and aesthetics. I think the color contrasts well with silhouette. I definitely think the first one is still the best, despite using imagery from other artists.

 

[publiusr]

I always thought a full suit with visor in place was spooky—didn’t they have someone in KSC move suddenly and scare tourists?

 

[helloworld]

Just began work on my wrist connectors, I scaled them down to 80% as I am quite small and this scale works well for me. Does anyone have any tips for the black ring that surrounds it on the exterior?

 

[zachsbanks547]

I originally used some elastic, but they’re definitely a rubber material on the originals. Some people dye large rubber bands, but I found Ranger Bands, which are a heavy black rubber band, and the XXL size worked perfectly for me. Maybe size down if you sized down your connectors.

 

[helloworld]

I originally used some elastic, but they’re definitely a rubber material on the originals. Some people dye large rubber bands, but I found Ranger Bands, which are a heavy black rubber band, and the XXL size worked perfectly for me. Maybe size down if you sized down your connectors.

The connectors are looking a little too small now I look at them, does anyone know if the parts were custom machines for the astronaut in mind or all the same size

 

[zachsbanks547]

The connectors are looking a little too small now I look at them, does anyone know if the parts were custom machines for the astronaut in mind or all the same size

If I remember correctly, the real ones all had a 3.5” ID, but I’m sure you could go ∓0.5” without much issue.

 

[helloworld]

If I remember correctly, the real ones all had a 3.5” ID, but I’m sure you could go ∓0.5” without much issue.

Ah Tysm, you just saved me weeks of trial and error

 

[helloworld]

Does anyone have any photos of the Apollo suits without the gloves on, but with someone inside the suit? I need to see if mine is oversized or not compared to me

 

[lmgill]

The connectors are looking a little too small now I look at them, does anyone know if the parts were custom machines for the astronaut in mind or all the same size

No scaling of fittings, all connectors were the same size on the suits. The only exception that I know of is the glove disconnects on the A7L was around .5" smaller in diameter than the A7Lb.
Here are the dimensions of the gas fittings:
Flange Dia. 2.710"
Body Dia. 2.146"
ID (hole for elbow) 1.240"
Overall height (including flange) 1.232"

 

[helloworld]

Has anyone figured out a good way to bulk out their A7l suits? I’m thinking of using cotton as an underlay

 

[helloworld]

From what I’ve learned in so far is the Apollo suits have very pronounced shoulders, like wider at the biceps and slims down at the wrist locks

 

[helloworld]

From what I’ve learned in so far is the Apollo suits have very pronounced shoulders, like wider at the biceps and slims down at the wrist locks

 

[helloworld]

I've made a few fictional Apollo patches for my suit, based on an unplanned Apollo 24 mission. Here are three of my best ones (the names are removed obviously)View attachment 1812386View attachment 1812387View attachment 1812388
with this mission taking place in the 70s, I really wanted to emulate the feel of 70s optimism and aesthetics. I think the color contrasts well with silhouette. I definitely think the first one is still the best, despite using imagery from other artists.

These are awesome!! They look vintage and still modern!!

 

[S1RDAG0N3T]

Apollo Neck Ring by Dag0n3t

here's my semi-accurate recreation of the Apollo neck ring, I made this in TinkerCAD, based on numerous technical manuals, this is my easy-to-print version. you will probably have to resize this for yourself, the scaling is not accurate as-is. the helmet ring interlocks with the base with a...

www.thingiverse.com

Here's my attempt at creating a neck ring mechanism, it's fairly similar functionally, but I know that it's not at all accurate to the real thing.

 

[helloworld]

Apollo Neck Ring by Dag0n3t

here's my semi-accurate recreation of the Apollo neck ring, I made this in TinkerCAD, based on numerous technical manuals, this is my easy-to-print version. you will probably have to resize this for yourself, the scaling is not accurate as-is. the helmet ring interlocks with the base with a...

www.thingiverse.com

Here's my attempt at creating a neck ring mechanism, it's fairly similar functionally, but I know that it's not at all accurate to the real thing.

This is awesome too!

 

[helloworld]

Anyone know how to scale the sewing templates, I’ve tried to print it normally but it comes Up at 8cm rather than the 10 on the scaling, anyone know how to fix this?

 

[helloworld]

I’ve thought of this long and hard, and I think I will make an Apollo pressure suit before the beta cloth layer to prevent the baggy look I will make sure to include photos along my journey

 

[zachsbanks547]

Ryan Nagata uses hoops of boning in the sleeves and legs to add bulk where it’s needed.
I just did a layer batting between the inner and outer fabric and was pretty happy with it.

 

[S1RDAG0N3T]

I have an interesting question, it's somewhat related to the issue of bulking the suit.

I have not seen an Apollo replica suit that looks exactly like the real suits, even Global Effects or Ryan Nagata's work, which I consider the absolute peak of replica work, still looks off and doesn't quite match up to the original suits. They always look somewhat airbrushed, a little too clean, even when they're caked in "moon dust"

Is it an issue of fabrics? Weathering? Or is there just some intangible barrier separating real suits from replicas? I don't believe it's an issue with camera quality, I've seen photos of both kinds of suits taken with a variety of lenses and mediums, I don't think it's that related to the pressurized look or the bulk of the suits. I know that the A7Ls and pretty much every subsequent suit uses beta-cloth, which isn't available to the public, but I can't imagine that that would be the issue.

Both of these suits were made by Ryan Nagata. they look as close to the real thing as I could imagine, but there's still something wrong.
If you look at some of Kokanee's photos from January, you'll see the difference.

The replicas always look smoother, less wrinkled and less textured, and it always throws me off.

Maybe this is something, maybe I'm making a big deal about nothing, either way, this seems odd to me.