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Posted

Some historical chest protector stuff. Just was gifted some retired gear from an umpire that lived in Southwest Riverside County. ( Where MR Carlucci lived )   I guess my questions are? Is it worth anything?   Like the crazy prices people pay for a Riddell Power?   Is it safe to use?  PXL_20250201_210753459.jpg.6f201c8ebdb54f30576f0eecfdd5f5c7.jpg 

PXL_20250201_210807055.jpg

PXL_20250201_210825894.jpg

  • Like 1
Posted
3 hours ago, Chris Hickman said:

Mic drop…….

 

Please don’t try to contact me about selling it… Ain’t gonna happen… Just showing it off..

IMG_2631.jpeg

Pfffft. No bicep guards?

  • Haha 1
Posted
11 hours ago, Chris Hickman said:

Just showing it off.

It looks great! Like it’s never been used! 
 

… 

… 

 

… probably because it should not ever be used. 
Oof. 

  • Haha 3
  • 4 weeks later...
  • 7 months later...
Posted

Even A YelloW Slug Can Be A Classic

So I took on rebuilding an old Wilson WV Gold for a colleague who was introduced and has been smitten by the new Davis DX -family of CPs. We had him using and trialing one all summer. While he was using the DX, we arrived at the conclusion that I'd update / renovate his current Gold, and this is what I took it to... 

  • Since he's a Dodgers fan (ouch), I recommended something evocative of the Dodgers.
  • I would not be able to replace the pad vest; I don't have an industrial sewing machine. 
  • His biggest appreciation of the Davis DX (theta unit he was trialing) was how low profile it was, especially at the shoulders
  • T-hooks are evil and vile; G-hooks are the best solution. 

snyd_dodger_01.jpg.ca0dffef58ce85f472e288cb6f2b80e3.jpg

Took the entire carapace apart by removing all rivets, splines, and metal hardware. I went further, and rendered the seams connecting the main torso vest to the shoulder pauldron pads, since you'll see that I actually reconstruct each and every CP that cheats like this with an actual connecting spline. I also rendered the seams connecting the (far too plump) pec wings. 

snyd_dodger_02.jpg.6c2272fc9c85ed97aac3749559b31e71.jpg

Repainted it a dark grey (road greys!), and then rebuilt it, using nylon and polypropylene webbing, with royal blue rivets. Where I used aluminum Chicago screws, these are in spots where there's a lot of stress and/or the CP may need to be (further) modified, or that part repaired/replaced. 

snyd_dodger_03.jpg.92e9d07de3e148cbc983d4d86f19d5db.jpg

From the backside, you'll see that I completely removed and deleted the terrible shoulder pauldron pads which, because they're way too thick and oversized, make the Gold look so bulky and hulking. Instead, I made my own shoulder pauldron pads from the unused (and superfluous) pauldron flaps from Schutt-Adams XV's. Half the thickness, half the weight, and because that's actual D3O you see (the orange color), much better performing. Also, because they're articulated, they conform to the shoulder perfectly instead of just sitting atop the shoulder like the Gold's sofa-cushion foam pads did. 

snyd_dodger_04.jpg.82a4b9fbda919c9c9248dbfedc4acf08.jpg

Detail on the reconstruction of the shoulder assembly. I run a 2" wide (at least) connecting spline between the shoulder arch plate and the pauldron plate. Then, the ailette (gap protector) is secured atop that. Rivets fasten the individual plates to the connecting splines, but the splines are always connected to the shoulder arch plate with Chicago screws, both to survive any stresses, and also for potential repositioning or repair ease. 

snyd_dodger_05.jpg.24d42f5eb3d2d9e1d65e14e46cb96799.jpg

Almost done. I completely removed all the hardware associated with the T-hooks, and constructed two 1-1/2" webbing loops so as to utilize G-hooks You might also notice that there are now 3 rivets at the trailing section of the shoulder arch plate, so as to secure the D-ring thru which the harness is attached. Golds and Platinums typically use only 1 rivet (each side), and these D-rings have a very bad habit of turning within their webbing. By using more than 1 rivet, this keeps the webbing flat, and the D-ring cannot turn. Improves the fit. 

snyd_dodger_06.jpg.77226dcb0c5fe1c98ccf3f89d2769db7.jpg

Completed unit, with the G-hooks placed on the harness, and secured into the anchor loops. 

  • Like 2
Posted

Even A YelloW Slug Can Be A Classic

So I took on rebuilding an old Wilson WV Gold for a colleague who was introduced and has been smitten by the new Davis DX -family of CPs. We had him using and trialing one all summer. While he was using the DX, we arrived at the conclusion that I'd update / renovate his current Gold, and this is what I took it to... 

  • Since he's a Dodgers fan (ouch), I recommended something evocative of the Dodgers.
  • I would not be able to replace the pad vest; I don't have an industrial sewing machine. 
  • His biggest appreciation of the Davis DX (theta unit he was trialing) was how low profile it was, especially at the shoulders
  • T-hooks are evil and vile; G-hooks are the best solution. 

snyd_dodger_01.jpg.ca0dffef58ce85f472e288cb6f2b80e3.jpg

Took the entire carapace apart by removing all rivets, splines, and metal hardware. I went further, and rendered the seams connecting the main torso vest to the shoulder pauldron pads, since you'll see that I actually reconstruct each and every CP that cheats like this with an actual connecting spline. I also rendered the seams connecting the (far too plump) pec wings. 

snyd_dodger_02.jpg.6c2272fc9c85ed97aac3749559b31e71.jpg

Repainted it a dark grey (road greys!), and then rebuilt it, using nylon and polypropylene webbing, with royal blue rivets. Where I used aluminum Chicago screws, these are in spots where there's a lot of stress and/or the CP may need to be (further) modified, or that part repaired/replaced. 

snyd_dodger_03.jpg.92e9d07de3e148cbc983d4d86f19d5db.jpg

From the backside, you'll see that I completely removed and deleted the terrible shoulder pauldron pads which, because they're way too thick and oversized, make the Gold look so bulky and hulking. Instead, I made my own shoulder pauldron pads from the unused (and superfluous) pauldron flaps from Schutt-Adams XV's. Half the thickness, half the weight, and because that's actual D3O you see (the orange color), much better performing. Also, because they're articulated, they conform to the shoulder perfectly instead of just sitting atop the shoulder like the Gold's sofa-cushion foam pads did. 

snyd_dodger_04.jpg.82a4b9fbda919c9c9248dbfedc4acf08.jpg

Detail on the reconstruction of the shoulder assembly. I run a 2" wide (at least) connecting spline between the shoulder arch plate and the pauldron plate. Then, the ailette (gap protector) is secured atop that. Rivets fasten the individual plates to the connecting splines, but the splines are always connected to the shoulder arch plate with Chicago screws, both to survive any stresses, and also for potential repositioning or repair ease. 

snyd_dodger_05.jpg.24d42f5eb3d2d9e1d65e14e46cb96799.jpg

Almost done. I completely removed all the hardware associated with the T-hooks, and constructed two 1-1/2" webbing loops so as to utilize G-hooks You might also notice that there are now 3 rivets at the trailing section of the shoulder arch plate, so as to secure the D-ring thru which the harness is attached. Golds and Platinums typically use only 1 rivet (each side), and these D-rings have a very bad habit of turning within their webbing. By using more than 1 rivet, this keeps the webbing flat, and the D-ring cannot turn. Improves the fit. 

snyd_dodger_06.jpg.77226dcb0c5fe1c98ccf3f89d2769db7.jpg

Completed unit, with the G-hooks placed on the harness, and secured into the anchor loops. 

  • Like 7
  • Thanks 1
  • 2 weeks later...
Posted
5 hours ago, BLWizzRanger said:

I like the looks of it and it is on my wish list but I got to wonder.... do I have to have orange ball bags now to compliment the color seen near the shirt's buttons? 

Only when carrying the orange safety balls.

  • Haha 1
  • 1 month later...
  • 1 month later...
  • 4 months later...
Posted

I might have a problem... 

 

I've spent a lot of time tinkering with all of these CP's. I had a few days of free time trying to clean up the house and discovered I had a large surplus of parts from past projects that never came to fruition. So I spent the last couple days finishing all of those projects I've had going on. I don't have time at the moment but I'd like to offer some break downs on all of these and what changes I made. For now I'll offer a quick breakdown.

 

Starting at the top is the newest addition and the only stock CP I have in my collection. The GD Enduro.

 

Below the GD, leaning on the back of the couch, are my two +POS Cobra V1's with reconfigured shoulders.

 

To the left (on top of the chaise portion of the couch are my 3 F3 V1 frankensteins. 1 of the is a full plate swap from the retired WV Charcoal. The other two use the chest plates from an ADAM XV an some hodgepogded shoulder pauldrons. 

 

Back to the middle, on the seat of the couch are my 3 retrofits. On the left is another WV Charcoal. On the right is a Small WV gold. These two were retrofitted by Ump Guard. In the middle is my Team Wendy retrofitted Riddell Power. 

 

Down at the bottom propped against the front of the couch are my 3 Adams/WV gold frankenstiens. 

 

Not sure what to do with all of these long-term. I'll probably be posting a handful of them for sale. It's just going to be a matter of which ones. Before listing anything for sale I would like to do some more detailed breakdowns of all of them with pictures showing what they all look like in full gear. 

IMG_6822.jpeg

  • Like 5
Posted
6 hours ago, The Short Umpire said:

I might have a problem... 

 

You know, the first step in getting rid of the addiction is not using the word 'might'.... It could be worse though.... those could be Leo Sayer albums.

  • Haha 2

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