CVP-02, Variant A

[Bazookafied]

CVP-02A
Custom Vest Project 2A
Equipment: V2 Vest, EXL CP-1 Armor Jacket(images front, back)

This is the project home for the CVP-02A. Utilizing data and ideas generated from the CVP-01, this new vest will incorporate many new features, including enhanced saftey features.

The CVP-02A uses a EXL CP-1 Armor Jacket as its basis. The jacket was originally designed for motocross and motorcycle protection. It features adjustable impact armor on the chest, back, and arms and is a full jacket. I was lucky enough to find one of these cheap at a thrift store in town and it screamed "Halo" to me. I thought it would be a great basis for laser challenge equipment modifications.

The CVP (Custom Vest Project) was started in the summer of 2007 and designed to create a unique and customizable way to mount laser challenge vests and gear. The first CVP, (CVP-01) was designed to make hitting the opponent easier when in certain firing positions that were previously difficult to hit your opponent. The design worked somewhat, but did not solve all of the problems. However, the CVP-01 did make storage of optional equipment an emphasis, using two slots originally intended for magazine storage, for flashlight storage. This made the CVP-01 a simple tactical vest.

The intent of the CVP-02 is to make a more convertable system to adapt to different environments. Since the armor plates on the jacket itself are removeable and adjustable, the base CVP-02 will have different variants of the jacket itself, hence the letter at the end of the model number.

The CVP-02A is designed to be the full version. It will utliize the entire jacket and will mount V2 Vest equipment. The intent is to use the front and back vest sensors, but instead of having them be front and back, have both of them be situated on the front. Back vests in the OLCA are rarely used and, especially with V2 vests, put the wearer at a serious disadvantage. Still, the original intent of the CVP-01 will live on in this design. The idea is to have 2 sensors on the front so that if one sensor is unable to be hit, that the second one will. This will still give the wearer the ability to turn around and run away, but it will also give its opponents a fairer advantage to hit the wearer.

The reason the CVP-02A is so heavily armored is to protect the wearer from surroundings. In the past, faster paced games have led to an increase in injuries. Especially with one of our newer locations having such a harsh terraing, this vest will give the wearer the same protection that a motorcyclist would need to survive a high speed crash. In the past, I had attempted to wear elbow and knee pads to protect myself when I fell down the flanking hill at Mission Park West. These pads, however, did not move easily with me when I was in combat. The idea of having the pads on a jacket should give better protection while still leaving me mobile.

The EXL CP-1 features the following:

* Made of high Impact injection molded plastic on elbows, forearms, shoulders, chest and spine with tail bone protector.
* Jacket made with lightweight yet durable, stretchable and breathable lycra/mesh net fabric.
* Removeable Collar Bone Protectors
* Zippered front closure
* Adjustable elastic kidney belt with velcro closure
* Fully adjustable straps in arms and shoulders to secure armor position
* Conforming and ergonomic spine protector for added comfort
* Additional padding on shoulders, arms, chest and back.

With protection like this, the only thing separating the wearer from the armor Master Chief uses is the rechargeable shields!

In any case, there are a multitude of places where the 2 V2 sensors could be placed. One of these areas is the traditional chest, probably on the upper left side. The other place is thought to be on the right front shoulder, which is usually the angle where the firing is being blocked from. The other idea is to place both sensors on the shoulders, but have them angled slight forward so that a shooter from behind would not be able to hit them.

The removeable armor of this jacket is still being explored, so more ideas for mounting the V2 sensors will have to make sure that other future variants of this jacket will still be able to use both vests.

I'll keep you posted with new details as they become available!

[Bazookafied]

This project hasn't really been going as planned...

I may or may not abandon this project alltogether. It'd be quite the waste to let it amount to nothing though.