The new Freedom Contour - The Rolex of backplates.

[stuartv]

It was worth the wait then, huh?

You should see my latest aluminum plate combined with the VDH 18.
It's the most adorable little cutie I've ever seen!
The plate is only 2 lbs. total, and that's a 16" large with a skinny rail.
I haven't weighed the whole thing yet but is feels feather light to me.

I reckon that's a big fat yep!

The VDH wing is very tempting. But, I will need better plans than just diving with OW classes before I spend money to replace a perfectly good wing.

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

Steel plate, but probably pretty close....

View media item 203914View media item 203915

Yes, looks identical.
The only way to tell the difference would be to pick them up and one would be noticably lighter.

The one thing about your s/s plate, the top cam band will go through the wing and plate since they line up perfect, but the lower cam band you'll have to run under the rail bar. I didn't have a VDH wing handy when I designed the slot pattern on the first run that went out, and the lower slots on the stainless plates need to be 1" higher (or elongated up 1") to allow both cam bands to go through the plate. But that's OK, you can still use a VDH wing with your latest S/S FPC. You'll just have to run the bottom cam band under the rail bar instead of through the plate.

*Standing offer to anyone with the most recent FP (401 - 411): If you want me to retrofit your plate so the new VDH wing will fit with both cam bands going through the plate please contact me via PM here, or email me at my private email.
Ship it to me, I'll do the upgrade for free and I'll send it back for free.

From here on out all plates will have elongated lower slots to jive with the VDH wing.
If you're OK with using the lower rail bar, and or don't plan to use the VDH wing then disregard.

Thanks folks!

 

[ams511]

From here on out all plates will have elongated lower slots to jive with the VDH wing.

Eric, this is an excellent idea. Besides my collection of regulators, I also have a collection of wings. While the bolt distance is standardized, the spacing of the cam band slots is not. So some wing and plate combinations do not line up properly, for example I remember a Hollis wing would not line up with Hog plate. Some wings such as the Dive Rite, Oxycheq, Deep Six, and Hog have longer slots and are able to be used with any plate. Other wings have shorter slots to lock you into using the manufacturer's plate.

 

[uncfnp]

I know they are a little different and you may have already said, but do the camband slots line up on the older model FP contour and the VDH wing?

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

I know they are a little different and you may have already said, but do the camband slots line up on the older model FP contour and the VDH wing?

I could give you some measurements of the slots on the VDH wing and you could see if they mesh with your version 3.
Your plate has a welded on rail system so it will probably work. You don't have to worry about holes lining up AND slots lining up. With your plate the wing just lays on the rail bars and you can move it up or down wherever it needs to be for slot line up. The only concern I have is that the slots on the VDH wing are tight and narrow (close together) so with the distance from the plate slot up to the rail bar on your plate and the angle which the cam strap assumes to go around the tank may tend to stretch and stress the slots in the wing outward. I can see this VDH wing likes to be right flat up against a plate.

 

[ams511]

Steel plate, but probably pretty close....

Do you prefer the VDH or the Mares wing better?

 

[TASCPA]

Do you prefer the VDH or the Mares wing better?

Have no idea at this point. I am in fact a CPA and that means that until 10/18 I have no life beyond work. After that I'll be trying to find some pool time to test them out. Will definitely follow up with the actual diving feedback.

OK, now back to work!

 

[Satrekker]

Any trim issues in a fairly heavy rig? Which holes did you have the plate mounted through on that HOG 23?

I have the same setup as Stuart - Freedom Plate + Hog 23 wing. My setup is almost identical, but I did swap out the corrugated hose on the wing for a shorter 13" one. I did mount the wing using the middle holes, and I removed the plastic tank stabilizer tubes on the wing via a small incision at the top using pliers and my utility knife with a new blade. It was very clean and easy. I'll keep the tubes in case I ever need them in the future.

I absolutely love the strap Stuart recommended. I ran it around the middle of the bracket crossbar like Stuart did and under the crossbar for the top screw to hold it in place. The small amount of additional material necessitated a longer stainless steel carriage bolt. I initially tried a 3/4" but that was too short. 7/8" would be perfect, but I could only find 1/4" increments, so I bought 2 x 1" and ground them down with a hand grinder using two nuts on each carriage bolt to mark the exposed length for grinding. 1" worked perfect for the bottom of the bracket, and I used stainless steel nylon locking nuts on both top and bottom carriage bolts. With the rubber tubing on the rails, my tank is clear of the nut on top and doesn't scrape. Also, I absolutely love the DGX scubapro-style cam bands to which I added some Halcyon weight pockets, and in conjunction with the tank strap, it's a piece of cake to set up and swap tanks.

It'll be Monday or Tuesday evening before I get a chance to get in the pool with my new rig. I'll be diving with my Faber HP 100 to check out the setup. As of now, I am planning on diving without a crotch strap. The way the backplate conforms to my upper back and sits above my hips, the belt is above my navel and below my ribs, so I think, as was mentioned in a previous thread by Akimbo, that it may not be necessary. I hope this is the case. I do have one though that I'll configure and take with me if end up needing it.

Here are a couple of photos:

 

[Akimbo]

@Satrekker

Is that 1" strap it is hanging from used for any other purpose?

Here's an image of the deadman rescue ring I put on all my rigs. It's pretty handy for drying too.

 

[Satrekker]

@Satrekker

Is that 1" strap it is hanging from used for any other purpose?

No, it's solely to loop around the neck of my tank for exact placement of scubapro-style cam bands. I'll trim a little of the excess strap a bit more after I get the length just right. I don't want to trim too much and end up needing a bit more. When the rig is on the tank, the strap is nice and tight and streamlined. Also, I always carry one of the travel hangers like in the photos, so I've always got one with me to hang my rig for drying.