Freedom Plate Divers Roll Call: show us your rig!

[lexvil]

I use the rail because I can trap 6lb of lead under it, you can also use a standard STA with a spacer block to keep it straight, I’m leaning toward this again.

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

The reason I made the original rail 2.5” wide was because I have an Oxycheq Mach V 40lb wing that I cut off the roll control cushions because at the time I was using an older Contour that had welded on rails, so the roll control cushions just got in the way.
When I came up with the detachable rail idea on the next iteration, the same Oxy wing was the one I was using as an example. There were no roll control cushions on the wing any longer so I had freedom to make the rail as wide as I wanted to give the tank more stability.
But now I’m wishing I never cut off those RC cushions because I like the idea of having them as an option to use the wing without the bolt-on rail.

 

[Jay]

..... I am a bit of a princess when it comes to trim, I suppose.

Hopefully the tiara isn't too heavy.

 

[txgoose]

Hopefully the tiara isn't too heavy.

It helps lift his heavy fins.

 

[stuartv]

Hopefully the tiara isn't too heavy.

Ugh! So heavy! Some days I can barely climb down out of my 4-poster canopy bed without help from the maidservants...

 

[stuartv]

Very nice.

Just try this one thing for grins for me. It may not be for you, but you never know it might be great.
Ditch the rail completely and just put the VDH wing directly onto the plate and put the tank right on the wing, no rail. Use the cam bands to hold the whole rig together. The roll control cushions will do their job and hold the plate away from the tank the perfect amount and the wing won’t get squished anywhere. Just check at the bottom where the crotch strap slot is to make sure, it shouldn’t though. You can cut off some little 1/4” s/s carriage bolts if you want just to hold the wing to the plate for tank set up convenience if you want (later if you like it). Make sure the threads are only maybe 1/4” or 3/8” long after the square part. You can put a longer bolt into a vice holding the thteads you dont want by the jaws and cut it off with a hacksaw. You may need to clean up the cut thread end with a small file to get the nut to spin on smoothly.

Just humor me and try it. See how it feels. It will save a pound for travel too.

I finally tried my options.

I put the fuel line back over the rails. The wing nut still hit the tank.

I took the rail off and used sex bolts to secure the wing to the plate, then mounted the rig on the tank. To be honest, it seems pretty much perfect. The tank and plate are not pinching the bottom of the wing. At least, not this 35# VDH wing. I'd be interested to see how it does with an 18# wing (being shorter), but I digress.

I'm going to try it like this in the pool this weekend, but I can't see any reason why it wouldn't be fine.

I thought I would lose my hang strap, but I took it off the rail and ran it through the wing and the tank strap slots in the BP and it seems to work just fine as well.

Sweet!

 

[rsingler]

I'd be interested to see how it does with an 18# wing (being shorter), but I digress.

You'll love it. It's my warm water rig and it can't be beat.
It doesn't hurt that it's shiny and beautiful and different.

 

[stuartv]

You'll love it. It's my warm water rig and it can't be beat.
It doesn't hurt that it's shiny and beautiful and different.

No doubt I would. I was really just talking about if the shorter wing would get pinched st the bottom between the tank and plate if used without the tank rail.

 

[rhwestfall]

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

I finally tried my options.

I put the fuel line back over the rails. The wing nut still hit the tank.

I took the rail off and used sex bolts to secure the wing to the plate, then mounted the rig on the tank. To be honest, it seems pretty much perfect. The tank and plate are not pinching the bottom of the wing. At least, not this 35# VDH wing. I'd be interested to see how it does with an 18# wing (being shorter), but I digress.

I'm going to try it like this in the pool this weekend, but I can't see any reason why it wouldn't be fine.

I thought I would lose my hang strap, but I took it off the rail and ran it through the wing and the tank strap slots in the BP and it seems to work just fine as well.

Sweet!

When the rig is set up with a tank, run your finger under the plate down by the crotch strap slot. There should be a little clearance between the plate and tank that’s provided by the roll control cushions.
The shortness of the wing doesn’t really matter because nothing will be getting pinched.