Good method for attaching the 2 halves of chest armor together?

[Nimitz]

I'm using the GA Infinite MC files and am stuck on a workable method for attaching the front and back halves of the chest armor so that you can attach and unattach them easily when putting on and taking off the armor?

 

[SpartanSweed]

Large neodymium magnets will be your friend for keeping the halves together!

 

[Nimitz]

I was afraid someone was going to tell me that ...I have a poor relationship with magnets and my cosplay outfits for some reason so I'm going to have to get my act together ...

 

[rickrtickr]

I was afraid someone was going to tell me that ...I have a poor relationship with magnets and my cosplay outfits for some reason so I'm going to have to get my act together ...

You can also use varying clips and latches if you build sturdy enough. 3D printing can make something that merges with the suit design.

I have used variations of all of the below: (3d printed or with designs that already worked for their location)

 

[SigmaProps]

This is going to sound goofy, but you can always attach the sides with elastic. Your chest piece will remain one part, but because you're using elastic you'll be able to easily slip it off and on. With that though, I do recommend what Sweed said and using some strong magnets as extra pull strength to keep the two halves together.

 

[SgtSaint]

Hey Nimitz ,
I've been following your Silverteam build and have been meaning to put an update on my Silverteam build about this since you first posted you've been having issues working this out. Sorry about the delay but Christmas/New Years has been crazy with grand kids. Then today I was going to start adding updates and found the thread is locked even from me. So I guess I should post it here for ya. Our armors (yours and mine) are based on the same file set so this should be pretty close for you.

Like you, I'm not a fan of magnets. I've tried them and am just too rough in my wearing for them. I like to get rambunctious at the events and there's just no way I could throw myself around, drop to the floor, and so on with magnets.

I hope this reply isn't too much... too long... or too much like I'm trying to monopolize your thread. I'm just trying to be complete in response. Also, sorry if the photos are a little rough. I didn't set up for a real "photo shoot", so these are just quick snaps in the house to get a reply out to you faster rather than prettier.

Context: I'm generally by myself at a convention. Maybe one other mate who is also getting armored up. So I always build such that I can get fully dressed alone (though we all know it helps if there's someone else to lend a hand).

The back is really the base for me. It goes on first and hangs on the shoulders without help through a fairly wide range of body movements.

• From the back at the collarbones (under the faux clasps) are two long velcros with mating pieces on the inside of the chest below the faux clasps. I just press the chest in place at the top on those two velcro strips.
  
  
• At the ribs are a long-tailed clasp system used on roller blades and ski boots. With the chest suspended from the velcros its pretty easy to align the tails and put them through the rib clips.
  
  
  
  
  This is (to me) where you're having issues: Just the wrong type of clasp.

These clasps are nearly identical to how they were done in the show - and thus why I did it. But I admit to getting lazy and not carving out a recess in the rib armor for them: Mostly because I can't count on having a second person there to work them back through a groove so the tail is inside and not outside. So they are just bolted to the top of the armor. But hey, if someone has their face down in my ribs to see the different there's a bigger issue than a recessed groove for the clasp.

I hope this helps ya.