Update on my 'Project Frankenstein' sidemount rig...
Have done some further refinements on my sidemount rig since I started this thread. I thought it was worth updating with some photos..
Main developments are:
1) Softer (yellow!) harness.
2) Oxycheq Travel-Lite nylon backplate replaced the metal (Ali) backplate.
3) Bungees used to 'shape' the buoyancy cell.
4) Continuous bungees - thin diameter.
Managed to source some nice low-profile D-rings for the harness. I only do tropical diving...so the snaps and d-rings can be minimized.
Bungees are 5mm - run continious and doubled-over. Basically, a big 'loop'. There's plenty of stretch to them, but they hold the cylinders snugly in trim. Easy to replace also... as this is just basic bungee, available from any decent LDS. The thinner bungee works great for 'double-wrap' on/around the tank valve/handle also.
OMS Profile adapter still functions well. I managed to get some sex-bolts to remove entanglement/entrapment hazard across the back.
I moved the Rails inwards on the butt-plate. Less entrapment hazard and it (surprisingly) makes it easier to locate the bolt-snaps onto the rails.
Bungee on the outside is for the stowage of a lift-bag.
Closer view of the sex-bolts. (and some rust stains..)
For a BP&W adaption, it's very compact and lightweight.... yet supplies 32lb of lift when needed. More than adequate for 4x AL80s.
Teeny-tiny...
LPI hose routes from below. A simple task of swapping the lower OPV and LPI positions. LPI secures via a short length of bungee and a bolt-snap. It clips across the chest. I find this very intuitive and easy to manipulate.
Some trim weights on the harness. The upper OPV still works underneath the Profile adaptor. I extended the pull dump, routed it via some rubber tube and it is secured behind my neck. Very easy to find on the (very rare) occasions when I might need to dump in a vertical trim position - there are a few ascending passages in the wrecks where this is necessary.
Here you can see some of the bungee I used to 'shape' the bladder. It's tight at the top, but unrestricted at the base. This turns the 'donut' into a 'pear'. More lift on the lower torso... just like the good man wanted..
View of the Oxycheq backplate, harness and super-lite weight bungees.
LPU with bungee and bolt-snap. The LPI hose comes off my very old Halcyon Eclipse... it's just the right length and lies flat across my chest.
View showing the cylinder rails moved to the inside of the butt plate. A nice modification...works well.
Sex bolts secure the backplate, wing and Profile adaptor. You can see the cylinder bungees running through the cam-slots in the backplate.