Luis's write up on the plate he designed......They are not in production yet. Right now I'm shooting to get the plate itself to market at $50.00. And when you order you can choose the options/items you want to come with it....webbing, buckles, cylinder bands etc. Here is a photobucket link to more pictures.
http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y44/mi ... Backplate/
Universal back plate with vintage spirit.
The new VDH back-plate takes many of its features from the 1950’s back plate from Seacraft (of Wilmington Mass), but then it builds on that to make it more functional and versatile.
The VDH back plate is specifically designed to work with and enhance the performance of any double hose regulator. At the same time it is versatile enough to work with any regulator and can accommodate many commercially available BC wings.
It is designed to use modern cam bands for easy and quick installation on multiple tanks. The preferred tank bands are the metal buckle type bands with high mechanical advantage (similar to the Scubapro tank band), but it will work with any tank band. The plate can be used with any size tank (single tank).
The harness incorporates shoulder straps that cross above the plate to add stability and help keep the top of the tank from moving side to side. This design uses a similar shoulder strap routing as back-packs used by alpine climbers.
Tank stability is helpful in the water and out of the water when hiking down for a shore dive.
The plate is versatile enough to use a variety of different harness straps and buckle type. The use of a crotch strap is optional, but as always preferred to keep the tank and regulator from moving up.
A sternum strap is always optional, but with the shoulder straps crossing right in front of the regulator (at the diver’s shoulder blades), the use of a sternum strap is not really necessary.
When properly rigged (as shown in the pictures), the harness straps will cross right on front of the regulator, but no metal buckles will ever touch the regulator cans.
The plate is a flat plate intended to keep the tank as close to your back as physically possible. This keeps the weight of the tank close to the diver’s center of gravity and even more importantly puts a double hose regulator as close as possible to the diver’s lungs. Using a Phoenix RAM and a steel 72, the regulator actually touches the divers back. This makes any double hose regulator perform at its best.
Making the plate flat and fabricating it out of 1/8 inch aluminum provides a rugged but light weight design. Its light weight makes ideal for traveling and it is easy to pack.
This back plate integrates the tank, the harness and a double hose regulator into one unit as it was intended with the original definition of the “Aqua Lung”. It allows the option of integrating of a small non obstructing BC wing into a stream lined, elegant and compact unit.
VDH is also designing a small wing to compliment the back plate design, but if the diver requires a larger volume wing (for very heavy wet-suit use, etc.) the plate will accommodate many commercially available wings. The picture does not show bolt holes for some of the commercial wings, but there are plans for adding several holes to match the standard pattern.
The beauty of this back plate is in all the features it includes in a simple and functional design.
Thank you Luis....The new and great ideas you have never cease to amaze me.