New...Aluminum Prototypes
New...Aluminum Prototypes!
Finally!!! Three beautiful new aluminum prototypes of The Pterodactyl Backplate/ Harness System have arrived. They are anodized in a different color each (black, red and blue). Pictured to the left is the red prototype...against a stunning hardwood floor. My interest in producing a Pterodactyl in aluminum is, of course, to provide a lighter model. This would be of value to Dive Travel. The original stainless model weighs 6-1/2 pounds (plate only) while the aluminum model weighs only 2 pounds. After rigging with harness and all the harness "D" rings, Mega Buckle and crotch strap, they weigh 8-3/4 and 4-1/4 pounds, respectively. That's a 4-1/2 pound difference. My partner, John Glodowski, has been instrumental in funding the production of these prototypes. Initially, I was concerned about the aluminum plates standing-up against the weight of the tanks without the plate bending. Clearly, the stainless model has no problem with this. Well, after mounting to twin 100's and hanging two stage bottles, wreck reel, lights...the aluminum plate didn't bend...VICTORY! Also, you may notice the absence of harness rollers on the mounting bars. There was a problem with the anodizing process and it was necessary to eliminate the rollers. However, this in no way effects the performance...the harness slides through the "harness sliders" just as easily as when there were rollers. In fact, I have been thinking of eliminating the rollers in favor of the "harness sliders" for some time. The harness "D" rings and Mega Buckle are continued as stainless as with the original model. If all goes well, I hope to have this new aluminum Pterodactyl in production and available for sale by year's end or early next year. That's all for now!
Finally!!! Three beautiful new aluminum prototypes of The Pterodactyl Backplate/ Harness System have arrived. They are anodized in a different color each (black, red and blue). Pictured to the left is the red prototype...against a stunning hardwood floor. My interest in producing a Pterodactyl in aluminum is, of course, to provide a lighter model. This would be of value to Dive Travel. The original stainless model weighs 6-1/2 pounds (plate only) while the aluminum model weighs only 2 pounds. After rigging with harness and all the harness "D" rings, Mega Buckle and crotch strap, they weigh 8-3/4 and 4-1/4 pounds, respectively. That's a 4-1/2 pound difference. My partner, John Glodowski, has been instrumental in funding the production of these prototypes. Initially, I was concerned about the aluminum plates standing-up against the weight of the tanks without the plate bending. Clearly, the stainless model has no problem with this. Well, after mounting to twin 100's and hanging two stage bottles, wreck reel, lights...the aluminum plate didn't bend...VICTORY! Also, you may notice the absence of harness rollers on the mounting bars. There was a problem with the anodizing process and it was necessary to eliminate the rollers. However, this in no way effects the performance...the harness slides through the "harness sliders" just as easily as when there were rollers. In fact, I have been thinking of eliminating the rollers in favor of the "harness sliders" for some time. The harness "D" rings and Mega Buckle are continued as stainless as with the original model. If all goes well, I hope to have this new aluminum Pterodactyl in production and available for sale by year's end or early next year. That's all for now!
posted by Gary Cresswell at 5:52 PM
1 Comments:
Looks great Gary!! On another note; has anyone tried using the steel backplate for sidemount?
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