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[Mijo]

thanks for the help, ner vode. i'll see what i can jury rig together once i get all the materials in.

[Geber Teg]

I'm bookmarking this thread. I've been thinking along these line for a while; glad to know I'm not the only one. I know DARPA has had various labs developing cooling vests and such. Hopefully, something like that will soon be available on the civilian market.

I was looking, at one point, to add a few squirrel fans into my backpack and then connect them to hoses to my cheeks (like TIE Pilots).  But, that design has been tossed in lieu of my Assassin plans now (once M-DSB releases them).

I've also been considering something very much like that. I'm thinking probably something like the SafetyTech International C420 or C430 Blowers inside of a pack with the hose connected to my bucket cheek.












EDIT: I just discovered, if you do an eBay search for "PAPR" or "Powered Air Purifying Respirator," you can find these blowers including the breathing tube for about $60-$65.

[OriKad]

There are cooling vests on the market already.  Last I checked a vest and cooling unit were in the range of $600.

[Slade Kel]

You can find what amounts to vests with built-in panels for liquid gel ice packs for relatively cheap. On the other hand, you can just grab a few gel ice packs and build panels into your existing vest. Another good trick for keeping cool is to either make a vest with straps that leave the sides relatively open, or make one with mesh sides and back, like military desert tactical vests.

[Tabor Iviin'yc]

Just because I work for them and like to see credit appropriately given, ILC Dover did some of the first work in this area for the Apollo space suit.  They came up with the LCVG (liquid cooling and ventilation garment) that they still use to keep astronauts cool during EVAs.  The Cool Vest was a descendant to the LCVG and the ones they use in movies and stuff all come from these.  On the subject of building a functioning vest, I'm going to agree that the weight is probably going to cancel out the cooling benefits for a serious vest with a powered chiller, but if you stick to cooling just the torso and use an ice-water bath for the chiller, you might come up with something workable.  As far as I know Frank Hebert made the first mention of heel pumps in Dune.  The Fremen stilsuits used them.  I doubt that it would really be enough to overcome gravity, plus you'd need to pump your feet while standing still and I don't think any of us want to present the image of a Mando who is in desperate need of a 'fresher.  The PAPR could be a really good idea though.  They have pretty serious airflow and some have rechargeable batteries.  They can get pretty heavy though and would only work for someone planning on having a big hose going into their helmet.

[Geber Teg]

As far as I know Frank Hebert made the first mention of heel pumps in Dune.  The Fremen stilsuits used them.  I doubt that it would really be enough to overcome gravity, plus you'd need to pump your feet while standing still and I don't think any of us want to present the image of a Mando who is in desperate need of a 'fresher.

I LOVE DUNE!!! I've always wanted a stillsuit. If you could get them to work properly, heel pumps might be the perfect solution for keeping cool on a parade march. Also, it might be an interesting effect if you used a big block of dry ice to chill the coolant in your environmental pack. You could have the 'exhaust' wisping out of some vent.

The PAPR could be a really good idea though.  They have pretty serious airflow and some have rechargeable batteries.  They can get pretty heavy though and would only work for someone planning on having a big hose going into their helmet.

Planning on the rechargeable batteries and the big hose in the side of my bucket.

[Nio'be Tavell]

My husband and I were actually discussing this last night. He came up with the tubing method discussed here, but he was thinking of running it off a motorcycle fuel pump and battery. We're getting the parts from his family's shop within the next couple weeks and will be giving it a test run.. All things considered, it wouldn't exactly be a cheap option, but it'd be a lot less expensive than buying a pre-built one.

My only concern is the flexibility and durability of the tubes. Having one break at a convention would be messy and unpleasant.  Even moreso if it was filled with antifreeze.

[Geber Teg]

I found US Military pilots cooling vests on eBay for around $25+S&H. The run on an air supply (not the music), but I don't know anything about the type of connector they have; I imagine it would be easy enough to modify. It might not be as efficient as a liquid cooling vest, but air is a lot lighter and less messy.

[No'saj Huune]

If they are anything like the one I wore you would have to make a new vest to cover it then make new "Heavy" armor to it would look right.  Otherwise you'll look out of proportion.  Good idea and yes, should be easy to modify to hook up to....

Ok you know what I just thought of and its been sitting right in front of me this entire time...



Ok stop laughing, this could actually work and its cheap.  This is the Superman Returns Inflato-Costume.  My 10yr old got this when the movie came out and as a joke I tried it on and surprised by just how hard that fan blew air all around me.  It was a little loud but with some petrolium jelly aka Vasoline, it got much quieter. 

It should be really easy to adapt the fan on this suit (or the Hulk, Captain America, or Spider-Man versions) to the vest you mentioned or to your backpack.  Heck I think I'm gonna try it myself.

[Geber Teg]

If they are anything like the one I wore you would have to make a new vest to cover it then make new "Heavy" armor to it would look right.  Otherwise you'll look out of proportion.  Good idea and yes, should be easy to modify to hook up to....

Did they look anything like this?

[No'saj Huune]

Actually no, that ones about half the size.

[Zahr Lestin]

I was thinking of installing one that uses a backpack with a pump and cooling system in it that would pump cool liquid through tubes installed in the flight suit. I think it would work but you would have to be careful not to accidentally cut the tubes. Thats my idea. Hope someone uses it! OYA MANDO!!

Zahr