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Originally Posted By cap6888: Would love to see pics of this. I’m stalled right now on my project. Too much other stuff going on. Haven’t done anything else other than the the back panel. So now would still give me time to add a storm flap to the “radio pocket” zipper. It's pretty simple. Once I realized how easy it was and that I had fabric already cut for it by accident, I decided to add it at the last minute. Piece of cordura, same width as the back panel, about 1.5-2" tall (I used some scrap pieces from cutting out the packs that were all the same size. I don't know the exact size) Fold over the top edge once, double fold the bottom edge. Sew those hems. Then sew the top edge above the zipper, about 1/8" off the top edge. Make sure the flap covers at least 1/2" below the zipper. Leave the bottom edge un-sewn down, it's just a flap. Trim the ends if needed, they need to be the same width as the back panel. Just sew it into the main seam when you sew the pack shut. I run webbing around the top edge of the packs. If I was doing this from scratch, I'd tuck the top edge under the bottom edge of the webbing so that it covered it up, looks neater and won't allow rain to drip under the edge of the top flap. But I'd already sewn the webbing on on these, so they just sit right below the webbing. I'll post pictures later when I get a chance. |
I am not in a hurry either.  Just send my stuff whenever its convenient. (I'm only as couple months out of Shoulder Surgery so I have no business trying to F with a ruck ATM)
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You got gun law problems, I feel bad for you son. I got 99 problems but a ban ain't one. -Sylvan
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Originally Posted By marnsdorff: I've got a dozen more grocery bags I'm doing for other people since I mentioned that I'm doing bags for someone (you). Unfortunately, most of them are going to be for free (family members - I can't charge my mother and aunt and grand aunt)  @marnsdorff you can charge. It just has to be baked goods |
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Originally Posted By bdover: @marnsdorff you can charge. It just has to be baked goods The last thing I need is more carbs. .....though my aunt IS a professional cake maker..... My cousin used to live with me, and every time his mother would come visit - a couple times a year - she'd make us a carrot cake and a black velvet cake. From scratch. |
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So I got a large ALICE pack from Sportsmans Guide, the new ones made by Fireforce. Geez, it's actually really nice. Most of the main seams are already seam sealed, 1000d cordura, fastex buckles even on the pockets, the pockets are slightly upgraded (drawstrings on the side pockets), stitching is significantly nicer than the surplus ALICE packs I've handled, etc. I'm tempted to not take it apart for patterning and just mod it for myself, even though it's in ACU (it was listed as ABU, but it's ACU - they had Tan in stock last I looked too, but I knew I had a recipe to dye ACU to a good color) It'd be a shame to take this one apart for patterning. If anyone is wanting an actual large ALICE pack, these are really really really nice for the money. I also ordered 5 of the FILBE sustainment pouches - they are on clearance for $6something there too, listed as used. 4 of them look brand new, 1 of them had been used but no holes or anything. The only wear is it's obviously been in the sun and looks like a salt stain on it. I'm going to take that apart for patterning, the other 4 are going on my Crossfire DG3. Update on the Medium ALICE - the lids are almost all done, I HOPE to have them all done tonight. After that, I have the main side seams to sew up on about half the packs, then binding tape on the seams, then the rain skirts need to be sewn in. I know I'm behind schedule, I thought these would be done last week, but stuff came up personally. I'm actually hoping to have the packs done this weekend. If anyone wants some webbing pieces with buckles or triglides or cinch-down buckles, let me know. I'll cut them to size and sew up the ends for materials costs for yall to go with the packs. |
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Originally Posted By MrJonesandMe: Man, if you end up doing large Alice packs I’ll be in for one in desert tiger stripe. Yea, I eventually will be doing them. No idea on when and such. I'm going to try to pull the dimensions off of this one without taking it apart - it's the same basic design as a medium alice, just bigger. I can probably reverse engineer it without taking it apart. Whenever I get caught up with everything, I'll probably make myself a couple in cool camos, so eventually I'll be doing some. |
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Got the lids done, other than the binding tape around them. Took me way longer to get them done than I thought it'd take. Going to do the binding tape when I do the binding tape on the seams in the pack bodies. I have about 8 more packs to sew up the main seams, then I do the binding tape. After that it's just the rain skirts left, which'll take me an hour or two to do. |
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Originally Posted By marnsdorff: Got the lids done, other than the binding tape around them. Took me way longer to get them done than I thought it'd take. Going to do the binding tape when I do the binding tape on the seams in the pack bodies. I have about 8 more packs to sew up the main seams, then I do the binding tape. After that it's just the rain skirts left, which'll take me an hour or two to do. Going from nothing to 12 unique packs after reverse engineering is pretty impressive |
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Originally Posted By NoDakWolfPack: Going from nothing to 12 unique packs after reverse engineering is pretty impressive I'm actually doing a total of 22. And yea, the unique side of it has probably taken up 10-15% of my time, trying to keep them all straight. I still managed to mess up and mix up pockets on 2 of the ranger green packs (I mixed up the color of buckles on the pockets on them) - those two will get sold later, not going to you guys. |
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Originally Posted By marnsdorff: I'm actually doing a total of 22. And yea, the unique side of it has probably taken up 10-15% of my time, trying to keep them all straight. I still managed to mess up and mix up pockets on 2 of the ranger green packs (I mixed up the color of buckles on the pockets on them) - those two will get sold later, not going to you guys. Doing one out of remnants would be hilarious (and kinda cool in that ugly way). |
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Originally Posted By Ex_Sanguine_Nation: Doing one out of remnants would be hilarious (and kinda cool in that ugly way). I've got a bunch of random camo patterns (I'm a camo nut, one of my hobbies is to collect camo patterns, even if just a swatch) I would totally do a meme pack like that if anyone ever wants one. The meme of it (and advertising from it on social media) would be worth it. I love stupid meme stuff like that. I am DEFINITELY going to do a line of 'bubbacam' gear - stuff in realtree and mossyoak camo. Offer that as a choice on stuff. I think it's hilarious. I'm already making a set of 40 round pmag mag pouches for one of you guys in BubbaCam. I'd LOVE to do a full set of belt kit and an alice pack in a matching BubbaCam pattern. My mother told me I should learn to quilt and make a quilt out of all my random camo patterns I've collected. (she likes to look at the different camo patterns I have - while she can't tell the different between any of them, she'll point to some of them and say 'that one's pretty!' *sigh*) While I'm not going to take the time to learn to quilt, I would totally love to have a quilt made from camo pieces. |
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Good news guys - first pack is done. Spent the last 3 days getting basically nothing done - couple of minor emergencies around the house and had to drive my mother to a doctor yesterday blew my sewing time up. But the packs are all sewn up, just doing the binding tape and rain skirts. They should get done quickly now - I should have another couple packs done tonight and hopefully bang out the rest tomorrow or the next day. Getting to learn a new binding tape attachment, so it's slow running at first, but I'm getting better at it. The first couple packs will have a few places where I have to stop and restart the binging tape stitching and I'm sometimes having it run off the edge of the binding tape on the bottom on corners, but I'm starting to get the hang of it. It's different than the other binding tape attachment I have. I am running a full second stitch line over them anyways, just to make sure it's all done right. I should have the hang of it after a couple packs. I am running into a snag - the 'hump' where the pack has the foam 'pocket' sewn into the seams, that stack of fabric and webbing is slightly too thick for my binding tape adapter to run over correctly, so I'm having to bypass the hump and start up the stitching after it. And go back and stitch that section separately. It's annoying, and I'm going to have to look at re-designing that section. I think it's the webbing that I'm lining the pocket with that is causing the problem, I might have to adjust that in the design, maybe smaller webbing or move it over a bit. I dunno. But it is working, it's just annoying and the stitching on the binding tape will show where I had to start and stop and such. But that'll be inside the pack anyways. Not like these are going to be safe queens, right guys? 
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Originally Posted By marnsdorff: Good news guys - first pack is done. Spent the last 3 days getting basically nothing done - couple of minor emergencies around the house and had to drive my mother to a doctor yesterday blew my sewing time up. But the packs are all sewn up, just doing the binding tape and rain skirts. They should get done quickly now - I should have another couple packs done tonight and hopefully bang out the rest tomorrow or the next day. Getting to learn a new binding tape attachment, so it's slow running at first, but I'm getting better at it. The first couple packs will have a few places where I have to stop and restart the binging tape stitching and I'm sometimes having it run off the edge of the binding tape on the bottom on corners, but I'm starting to get the hang of it. It's different than the other binding tape attachment I have. I am running a full second stitch line over them anyways, just to make sure it's all done right. I should have the hang of it after a couple packs. I am running into a snag - the 'hump' where the pack has the foam 'pocket' sewn into the seams, that stack of fabric and webbing is slightly too thick for my binding tape adapter to run over correctly, so I'm having to bypass the hump and start up the stitching after it. And go back and stitch that section separately. It's annoying, and I'm going to have to look at re-designing that section. I think it's the webbing that I'm lining the pocket with that is causing the problem, I might have to adjust that in the design, maybe smaller webbing or move it over a bit. I dunno. But it is working, it's just annoying and the stitching on the binding tape will show where I had to start and stop and such. But that'll be inside the pack anyways. Not like these are going to be safe queens, right guys? You sure you want to make these on the regular?
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Originally Posted By marnsdorff: (SNIP) My mother told me I should learn to quilt and make a quilt out of all my random camo patterns I've collected. (she likes to look at the different camo patterns I have - while she can't tell the different between any of them, she'll point to some of them and say 'that one's pretty!' *sigh*) While I'm not going to take the time to learn to quilt, I would totally love to have a quilt made from camo pieces. "MAaaaa!!! IT'S NOT CALLED A QUILT, ITS CALLED A WOOBIE AND MY ONLINE FRIENDS THINK IT COOL!!!!" - marnsdorf from the basement command center, probably. Oooh 40 round Pmag pouches you say??? |
You got gun law problems, I feel bad for you son. I got 99 problems but a ban ain't one. -Sylvan
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Originally Posted By Ex_Sanguine_Nation: You sure you want to make these on the regular? Yea, I'll make some more of these at some point in the future. Maybe have a running 'pre-order' thing on my website, and once I have 30 of them pre-sold, I'll do a run of 50 of them or something like that. I have most of the bugs worked out, and there's a few more changes I want to make to it, but once I get it dialed in, it won't be so time intensive to make. I've never done a pack before and alot of this was tweaking things. Additionally, alot of the construction is very very similar to the large alice, which I'm going to do a run of - I want a couple for myself, and I have had enough requests from people to do some. The learning lessons from these packs work right in conjunction with making the large alice packs. I don't want to be known as a backpack maker, but I don't mind occasionally doing runs of them. Especially in camo colors that other people normally don't do. Not many large alice packs being made in woodland, multicam tropical, atacs ix, etc. Much less BubbaCam. I'm definitely going to be doing a medium alice in BubbaCam in with this next small batch I'm going to be doing here soonish (I have a few more to do after this run), if anyone wants to call dibs on it, let me know. I'm mostly going to do it for the memes and for advertising purposes. |
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Originally Posted By barrysuperhawk: "MAaaaa!!! IT'S NOT CALLED A QUILT, ITS CALLED A WOOBIE AND MY ONLINE FRIENDS THINK IT COOL!!!!" - marnsdorf from the basement command center, probably. Oooh 40 round Pmag pouches you say???  And yea. A taller version of my regular lidded mag pouches, sized to hold 40 round p-mags (and ak mags, though my regular mag pouches will hold those too) They hold 3 x 40 round Pmags each. I have about 90% of the design finished, I just need to finish tweaking it and finish making pouches for them. It's one of the next things I'm going to do, one of the few open orders I still have out there. |
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Got the packs done, other than 3 of the Ranger Green ones, but 2 of those aren't going to yall, I'm going to put them up for sale. I'm going to start emailing and messaging you guys about getting them, probably tomorrow. They're turning out pretty nice. I think I overdid some of the stitching on the main seams. The binding tape is solidly on there, but I need to talk to the company that makes custom binding tape attachments to get me one that lets the fat stacks through - the one I have works fine for flat, basic seams (the binding tape on the lids turned out nicely for instance), plus the sewing machine I'm going to be getting (upgrading finally) will help me stay on track over those humps and such, making the binding tape stitching look a whole lot cleaner. Those main seams are on the inside and will be hidden from view anyways. The binding tape on the outside that visible all look decently.Look for messages / emails from me in the next day or two. Yell at me if you haven't heard from me in a couple days or if you want one of the packs I'm going to put up for sale. I have a Multicam pack, a Splinter pack, 2 Ranger Green packs, plus 2 Ranger Green prototype packs that I'll let go cheap (that don't have all the features, but most of them, plus fit and finish aren't quite as nice, but they will make solid field packs) |
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Originally Posted By marnsdorff: Got the packs done, other than 3 of the Ranger Green ones, but 2 of those aren't going to yall, I'm going to put them up for sale. I'm going to start emailing and messaging you guys about getting them, probably tomorrow. They're turning out pretty nice. I think I overdid some of the stitching on the main seams. The binding tape is solidly on there, but I need to talk to the company that makes custom binding tape attachments to get me one that lets the fat stacks through - the one I have works fine for flat, basic seams (the binding tape on the lids turned out nicely for instance), plus the sewing machine I'm going to be getting (upgrading finally) will help me stay on track over those humps and such, making the binding tape stitching look a whole lot cleaner. Those main seams are on the inside and will be hidden from view anyways. The binding tape on the outside that visible all look decently.Look for messages / emails from me in the next day or two. Yell at me if you haven't heard from me in a couple days or if you want one of the packs I'm going to put up for sale. I have a Multicam pack, a Splinter pack, 2 Ranger Green packs, plus 2 Ranger Green prototype packs that I'll let go cheap (that don't have all the features, but most of them, plus fit and finish aren't quite as nice, but they will make solid field packs) Cool, man! Looking forward to seeing it. In the interest of self-promotion, you should really embrace taking and posting pictures. People like pictures.
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Originally Posted By Ex_Sanguine_Nation: Cool, man! Looking forward to seeing it. In the interest of self-promotion, you should really embrace taking and posting pictures. People like pictures. I'm going to take pictures of all of these before sending them out. I'm still in the process of getting an actual webpage up and running, I'll be doing alot more pictures and stuff on there, along with actual products I do and a storefront, etc. |
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Originally Posted By marnsdorff: I'm going to take pictures of all of these before sending them out. I'm still in the process of getting an actual webpage up and running, I'll be doing alot more pictures and stuff on there, along with actual products I do and a storefront, etc. I hear a lot about Squarespace, but other than that I am of no help in that department. |
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Originally Posted By Ex_Sanguine_Nation: I hear a lot about Squarespace, but other than that I am of no help in that department. I've got a buddy who is a big time web development guy. Runs one of the big web design departments for one of the big name companies. He's doing my page for me for free, which is what's taking so long. Free usually = takes a long time. |
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Originally Posted By marnsdorff: Got the packs done, other than 3 of the Ranger Green ones, but 2 of those aren't going to yall, I'm going to put them up for sale. I'm going to start emailing and messaging you guys about getting them, probably tomorrow. They're turning out pretty nice. I think I overdid some of the stitching on the main seams. The binding tape is solidly on there, but I need to talk to the company that makes custom binding tape attachments to get me one that lets the fat stacks through - the one I have works fine for flat, basic seams (the binding tape on the lids turned out nicely for instance), plus the sewing machine I'm going to be getting (upgrading finally) will help me stay on track over those humps and such, making the binding tape stitching look a whole lot cleaner. Those main seams are on the inside and will be hidden from view anyways. The binding tape on the outside that visible all look decently.Look for messages / emails from me in the next day or two. Yell at me if you haven't heard from me in a couple days or if you want one of the packs I'm going to put up for sale. I have a Multicam pack, a Splinter pack, 2 Ranger Green packs, plus 2 Ranger Green prototype packs that I'll let go cheap (that don't have all the features, but most of them, plus fit and finish aren't quite as nice, but they will make solid field packs) That's awesome! Can't wait to see them. Do you have any social media pages to tag? |
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Originally Posted By _rory_: That's awesome! Can't wait to see them. Do you have any social media pages to tag? I have Facebook and Instagram. I really don't use either much at all (I do monitor for messages almost every day though). I use Instagram far more than Facebook. I don't think I've done anything on either in over 6 months? I'll be doing more social media stuff once the page is up and things expand. https://www.instagram.com/evo8dude2/ |
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So I made about half of the Ranger Green packs with green binding tape on the few parts with binding tape. And the other half with coyote binding tape. Both look good. I think the coyote ones look better. There isn't much binding tape, it doesn't take away from the ranger green pack color. Just on the edges of the top of the pockets and on the edges of the lid. Any preference? Otherwise it's going to be random who gets what. First come, first serve on specific requests. |
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Originally Posted By marnsdorff:
So I made about half of the Ranger Green packs with green binding tape on the few parts with binding tape. And the other half with coyote binding tape. Both look good. I think the coyote ones look better. There isn't much binding tape, it doesn't take away from the ranger green pack color. Just on the edges of the top of the pockets and on the edges of the lid. Any preference? Otherwise it's going to be random who gets what. First come, first serve on specific requests. |
“Always love your country — but never trust your government!" - Robert Novak
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Originally Posted By marnsdorff: So I made about half of the Ranger Green packs with green binding tape on the few parts with binding tape. And the other half with coyote binding tape. Both look good. I think the coyote ones look better. There isn't much binding tape, it doesn't take away from the ranger green pack color. Just on the edges of the top of the pockets and on the edges of the lid. Any preference? Otherwise it's going to be random who gets what. First come, first serve on specific requests. Color-matched for me, if you please. Unless the coyote trimmed ones are made better
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First batch of 8 packs packed up and tracking numbers sent out. Note that I'm still iced in and won't be going to town for a couple days to ship them out. Got a couple more waiting on payments and a few more who want more stuff made and wants to ship at the same time. |
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There is a solid sheet of ice 2-3" thick outside, I can barely walk out to feed and let the chickens out. I take pictures outside, and I WAS going to take pictures of all the packs, but it's not happening with this weather. Instead, I'm going to be doing a request / contest for everyone who bought a pack - I would like pictures of your pack all set up, both for curiosity, and to use a few of them on my webpage when I get it finished. The person with the best picture will get something cool. I'm thinking maybe a choice of a wallet in whatever camo I have (you can choose) or a medical insert pullout or something like that. |
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Originally Posted By marnsdorff: There is a solid sheet of ice 2-3" thick outside, I can barely walk out to feed and let the chickens out. I take pictures outside, and I WAS going to take pictures of all the packs, but it's not happening with this weather. Instead, I'm going to be doing a request / contest for everyone who bought a pack - I would like pictures of your pack all set up, both for curiosity, and to use a few of them on my webpage when I get it finished. The person with the best picture will get something cool. I'm thinking maybe a choice of a wallet in whatever camo I have (you can choose) or a medical insert pullout or something like that. Winner gets a Gucci pattern grocery bag. @marnsdorff |
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Originally Posted By bdover: @marnsdorff I’m not opposed. Suggestions on where to buy fabric? Also, how much do you need per bag? Depends on what you want. Rockywoods and Camo Fabric Depot and Ebay are 3 good places to start looking. I THINK I can do two bags with 1 yard of fabric. |
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Originally Posted By MrJonesandMe: Can we get some pics, even if they’re inside? Trying to figure out how I’m going to set up the pack with pouches on the outside. yea, hold on. I have most of them packed already, but I'll grab my two on frames and one of the extras and grab some pictures on my dog fur covered bed. |
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Ok, some spoiler pics. Excuse the crappy lighting and having to take it on me bed. This is one of the packs I made for myself in Atacs. There are a few small differences to the regular ones - I have sewn on SAW style side pouches instead of part of the MOLLE, webbing over the drain rivets, etc. But the basic pack is the same. The lid is a claymore lid, but the buckles are different - I actually like the ones I did for yall better, this one is too complex in comparison. I have nalgene bottles in the 3 regular pockets. I have a MOLLE buttpack (an ACU one that I dyed) on the molle that's above the 3 regular pockets - it fits really well btw guys. It's set up for 7 columns of molle, but squeezes down to 6 nicely. That pouch works really well in that spot. I also threw a woodland surplus canteen pouch on the side above the SAW pouches (which have 2 x of the platatac bottles on one side, a 2 quart USGI canteen on the other). The woodland canteen pouch has an Nalgene canteen in it. There is room for 2 x canteen pouches on both sides if you use the MOLLE buttpack in the center. You can put a surplus SAW pouch where I have the 2 sewn onto mine, setting it up basically the same as mine. (there are 4 x columns on each side of the pack that go all the way down the pack) There is plenty of room under the pack for a sleep system pouch on the frame, even one of the surplus ones.    This is one of the extra ranger green packs I did that I'm going to sell. It is the same as the others basically. I dunno what's up with the color, my phone's camera is picking it up weird. The fabric is the same color as the webbing, regular ranger green. The pass through zipper is under the rain flap at the top on the back.   Here's a picture of one of the non-claymore pouch lids for those wanting to see the MOLLE layout. It's a little bigger than a surplus ALICE pack lid, the one real change I did to the pattern. Otherwise it's the same lid, but with a zipper instead of velcro and it's set up to be floating. 
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Looking forward to you getting thawed out down there so I can start playing with some pouch set-ups. I don't think I really have much that fits over the pockets right now - figured I'd wait until I had it to give it some thought. Side question: can you measure the height of the Fortitude frame, please? I'm curious and can't find it online. |
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20" tall, not factoring in any curve. IE, using a yard stick. It's probably the most robust frame out there. If you break this one, you're really doing something wrong. I'm hoping to get these shipped out either tomorrow or Friday. We're supposed to have more snow on Saturday and Sunday it looks like. :-/ Edit: I just got notified my brother has a doctor's appointment tomorrow and it looks like they're going to go to it, so probably going to go out tomorrow. |
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Originally Posted By Ex_Sanguine_Nation: I don't think I really have much that fits over the pockets right now That MOLLE buttpack surprisingly works well there. I threw it on just to put something there, and it's actually not bad. And they are super cheap if you get the ACU ones and dye them. Even the OCP ones aren't expensive. |
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Originally Posted By marnsdorff: That MOLLE buttpack surprisingly works well there. I threw it on just to put something there, and it's actually not bad. And they are super cheap if you get the ACU ones and dye them. Even the OCP ones aren't expensive. I agree that it looks about perfect for that spot, and I just happen to have one, already! (in M81, back when no one wanted them and they were cheap  )
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Originally Posted By cap6888: That looks outstanding! I wish my sewing skills were as good as yours. Straight lines still seem to allude me. I’m making progress on my second pack. I’ll have to post pics soon. It'll come. It's just practice. I've gone through close to a dozen of those industrial sized spool of thread so far. Try getting some of those edge guide foots ofr your machine. Amazon has chinese ones for like $5-10 each. Get a set of 1/8", 1/4", 5/16", and 1/2". The last one is kinda optional. They will really help you learn to stitch a straight line on things that you don't have the actual line chalked out. After you use those for awhile, you'll start just eyeballing it. If your machine is set up for it - most non-industrial machines are not - one of the folding edge guides that puts a physical edge in place for your fabric is really nice. That's the 'Pro' way of doing it. |
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Originally Posted By Ex_Sanguine_Nation: I agree that it looks about perfect for that spot, and I just happen to have one, already! (in M81, back when no one wanted them and they were cheap )My two M81 molle buttpacks are going to be used for poncho rolls for my belt kit. :-D |
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