Introducing the DeathWish Engineering backplate/wing Mk 0.1!
Miss-matched cam-bands were stolen from Pony brackets I had laying around, webbing and cobra buckle were in my miscellaneous sewing salvage. Red nylon and long zipper started life as the bag that a queen size air-mattress/sleeping bag combo came in. Bladder courtesy of Intex (kids swim ring... cost me $3). All flanges and elbow were 3d printed in ABS and acetone polished assure an air tight seal. All harness hardware (including STA/spacer to keep it from pinching the wing) other than the cobra buckle are 3d printed. Power inflater was salvage off an Ebay BCD. Backplate began life as a $5 cutting board from big lots. For those keeping track, the other $20 was spent in the Scuba section of Lowes (garden pond equipment) on 20 feet of 1 in. I.D. corrugated hose... works a treat, but is less flexible than "scuba" corrugated hose and does not stretch.
Modeled with a 19 c.f. pony rocking a Conshelf VI, and my primary is an Aquarius (old type) first stage with an SP109 using 3d printed faceplate, purge cover, and duro poppet.
Tested this morning for 40 minutes in a benign dive site (springs) and worked wonderfully. Wing is approximately 20 lb lift in fresh water as installed (with tank).
Questions, comments and constructive criticism welcomed,
v/r
James
Miss-matched cam-bands were stolen from Pony brackets I had laying around, webbing and cobra buckle were in my miscellaneous sewing salvage. Red nylon and long zipper started life as the bag that a queen size air-mattress/sleeping bag combo came in. Bladder courtesy of Intex (kids swim ring... cost me $3). All flanges and elbow were 3d printed in ABS and acetone polished assure an air tight seal. All harness hardware (including STA/spacer to keep it from pinching the wing) other than the cobra buckle are 3d printed. Power inflater was salvage off an Ebay BCD. Backplate began life as a $5 cutting board from big lots. For those keeping track, the other $20 was spent in the Scuba section of Lowes (garden pond equipment) on 20 feet of 1 in. I.D. corrugated hose... works a treat, but is less flexible than "scuba" corrugated hose and does not stretch.
Modeled with a 19 c.f. pony rocking a Conshelf VI, and my primary is an Aquarius (old type) first stage with an SP109 using 3d printed faceplate, purge cover, and duro poppet.
Tested this morning for 40 minutes in a benign dive site (springs) and worked wonderfully. Wing is approximately 20 lb lift in fresh water as installed (with tank).
Questions, comments and constructive criticism welcomed,
v/r
James
As I was leaving one resort I saw the dive shop guys gathering the parts to make their own snorkel-vest back wings 
