Tactical Tailor

Archive for the ‘DIY’ Category

Tactical NAV

Monday, March 7th, 2011

In what may well be the ultimate expression of the DIY ethos, Army CPT Jonathan Springer developed the Tactical NAV app for iPhone. In fact, he invested a considerable amount of his own money in the concept. Based on service as a Battalion Fire Support Officer in the 101st, he spend months developing the app which uses the phone’s inherent GPS to track the user’s location and correlate in a number of ways with other elements of information. For example, using compass and map data, photos can be not only date-time stamped but with geo-location as well. Another unique feature for this app is that it uses the Military Grid Reference System and is designed to geolocate within 24 feet. CPT Springer engineered a couple of other great features into Tactical NAV such as a compass lock function and one-button night-mode function for low light conditions. Finally, it makes sharing of route tracking and waypoint plotting as simple as sending an email.

Please be aware that there is another app that was released a few days after this one with the similar name of Tactical Navigator. It is NOT the same thing at all.

For more info visit www.tacticalnav.com. It is available on iTunes for the iPhone.

DIY: Hack the Planet with Sugru

Thursday, March 3rd, 2011

If you can’t hack the planet at least hack your kit. The Brits refer to making improvements or repairs to items as “hacking” and Sugru is a hacker’s (DIYer’s) dream come true. It is a silicon based compound that allows you to make simple repairs to items or to make modifications that will make your gear work even better for you. It is waterproof, self-adhesive, cures at room temperature and forms a soft silicon rubber-like compound.

The guy who turned us on to this stuff has used it and said, “Suggest you order double what you think you will need to make up for the amount your fire team buddies will mooch off of you once they see it in action.”

We can’t wait to get a hold of some ourselves. If anybody has used Sugru, let us know what you think.

sugru.com

Did You Hear About the Arc’teryx Dump Pouch?

Monday, February 21st, 2011

If you haven’t heard about the Arc’teryx Dump Pouch, that’s because it doesn’t exist, at least officially. It seems that during a recent weekend outing, Tactical Fanboy observed an Army SF student in a Vickers Tactical 1911 Operators Course using an Arc’teryx chalk bag as a dump pouch for his pistol magazines. Expediency at its best and we expect to see a rush on chalk bags.

Check out the details (and a photo) on TacticalFanboy.com.

Wilcox Lanyard/Norotos Universal Shroud Kitbash from GGT

Wednesday, February 16th, 2011

Grey Group Training has put out an excellent article explaining how to combine the new Wilcox Industries’ flush mount retractable NVG Lanyard with Norotos’ Universal Shroud. These new Wilcox lanyards are designed to flush mount on an Ops-Core VAS mount, but many troops are running Norotos mounts which do not have a lanyard. It seemed like a great combination to Grey Group, kind of like peanut and chocolate so they worked out how to mash them together.

Learn how here community.greygrouptraining.com.

Make Your Own Glow Sticks

Friday, July 23rd, 2010

Certainly not economical, but interesting nonetheless, NURDRAGE shows you how.

USMC Chest Rig Drawings

Wednesday, July 21st, 2010

The Marine Corps currently has a solicitation open for their new Chest Rig. It’s a HUBZone set aside that closes on 26 July. For those of you that won’t be bidding on this contract but are pretty handy with a sewing machine, we present the drawings for the Chest Rig. We really dig the removable shoulder straps. They kind of remind us of the ALICE Y-harness.

USMC Chest Rig Drawings

A-TACS Nylon Cordura Fabric, Webbing and Hook and Loop Now Available

Tuesday, June 1st, 2010

This is very exciting news for large businesses as well as the Do-It-Yourselfer. After many months of stage two development on A-TACS and further enhancement of the printing technology behind the pattern, Digital Concealment Systems has announced that Berry compliant A-TACS Nylon Cordura, Nylon webbing, and Hook and Loop is now available for purchase.

In an exclusive partnership, A-TACS Nylon Cordura is now available for worldwide distribution through LC Industries. As a result of this distribution deal, production-ready fabrics can be purchased in quantities as low as 5 yards which will enable a wide range of specialized gear manufacturers to begin producing product without the need to carry heavy fabric inventory.

Fabric will be available in 330D, 500D and 1,000D weights with urethane backing and DWR treated face. For additional information, pricing or to place an order, please call Julie Kammerer or Susan Fields with LCI / TAG at 1-888-890-1199.

A-TACS nylon webbing and bindings are now available exclusively hrough Texcel, Inc. in a variety of specifications ranging from three-quarter inch to three inch widths. For ordering information and pricing, please contact John Pinkos at 401-727-2113.

To complete the A-TACS total concealment system, DCS in conjunction with Aplix, Inc. is proud to announce the release of A-TACS hook and printed loop. For ordering information and pricing, please contact James Bishop at 800-438-0424.

For all other inquiries regarding A-TACS Nylons, please contact Steve Hanks with Digital Concealment Systems at 334-448-5442.

Weaponeer.net

Tuesday, May 25th, 2010

Weaponeer.net is an online resource for the DIYer of a different ilk; the home gunsmith. Sure they have a few parts kits for sale but these are limited and mainly consist of some rather obscure products. The real bread and butter are the forums where members can help each other out with various aspects of a project. Unlike many other sites, Weaponeer.net provides more in-depth information on such advanced skills as welding, casting, and refinishing. It was well worth a look.