Just taken delivery...

[windymiller]

Longer backplate so it sits on the big bones of my pelvis rather than digging into my kidneys.
Longer hoses feeding the switch blocks so they don't stick out so much.
KT frame to make it taller so you can sit down without it rolling you over backwards.
Somewhere to mount a suit bottle and my umbilical torch battery (frame?).
Probably swap the inflexible harness material for something you can adjust.
A handle that doesn't have huge bolts that dig into your shoulders.
Reroute the switch block pipes to you don't crush them into your shoulders.

I tried a Golem Gear Armadillo but I think a KT frame will do the job better.

There is probably more.
It's not bad in the water bit it's awful out of it.
I rate it as the Land Rover P38 of rebreathers:
Ought to be wonderful because they've thought of everything but somehow they missed the point on virtually everything.

Have you thought about rerouting the gas blocks...On mine, the blocks sit so far back on my shoulders I could never reach them and i m not the nimblest of people!...I now have them fed through the bottom hole so they sit on the waist band...I find it much easier to reach the buttons.

I originally thought this was where they went when I first unpacked the unit!

I have also changed the harness to a deep outdoors one...Much more comfortable and actually has some give in it!

Agree its a pig to get on though, a stand or brack on the bottom so it stood upright would be a bonus

[nigelH]

Is John at KT working on a frame as I remember when I ordered the backplate we discussed the opportunities for him to sort the Sentinel out? I was going to butcher the original backplate and poss use the result as something he could produce a neater job of?

He's made me some bits but I need to get up to see him and discuss the frame.

More details when we get together.

[Turnip]

I'm taking delivery of my new Sentinel early May. What are the benefits of the KT backplate is it longer than the standard plate, can I fit an Argon Cylinder with Halcyon webbing straps. I know its heavier to avoid weight on a belt

Are there any other mods to make it even better. I've noted what has already been suggested.

many thxs

[Crouchy]

I'm taking delivery of my new Sentinel early May. What are the benefits of the KT backplate is it longer than the standard plate, can I fit an Argon Cylinder with Halcyon webbing straps. I know its heavier to avoid weight on a belt

I believe early on John at KT supplied a few doubler plates that bolted onto the existing one, purely to increase the weight. Mine is a complete replacement, but again apart from thicker gauge SS to increase the weight it is identical to the original.

I have seen the Halcyon set up bolted to one side of the backplate with no problems- that's where mine is going until we figure out how to slot it in to the bottom of an extended version....

[nigelH]

I asked John to make me a special plate and here it is.
Three inches extra in the body and the bottom section now goes on the big bones of your pelvis rather than digging into your kidneys plus the tummy belt becomes a waist belt again.

The next trick is a KT frame below the body of the Sentinel to lift it so you can sit into it without the 'turtle on his back' effect and to give you something to clip off the back-end of your bailouts too. I think a 6 inch lift will be just right and should hold the suit inflate and the umbilical torch battery.



Then comes the problem of re-siteing the switch blocks. Currently I quite fancy lengthening the hoses so they route behind the plate and over your shoulders but I'm worried that they will then squeeze the wing so there isn't a nice easy gas transfer across the top.

Watch this space...

[HP]

Phill Short's Sentinel is rigged with Kent Tooling plate and a simple Hogarthian harness that cleans the front up totally and still leaves the unit positioned for optimal WOB. It looks slick as hell - might be worth some of you checking it out?

[paultoomer]

Hey Stuey,
Congratulations on passing your course my friend.
I loved teaching you Nick and Alan.

Let's get moving so we can get you on trimix.

Paul

[paultoomer]

Like Phil, I have made very few mods to the unit.
I have copied Phil (except heavy plate as I sink with the normal one) and tidied up the hoses in the back, put on a single strand harness and a fat 2" crotch strap.
She is a dream. So much so that my students are changing these bits too.

I find that much like modifying your car or motorbike you can go too far and actually make the unit worse. Kevin Gurr is a clever bloke and barring a few tiny things, I reckon he has it pretty much spot on. Will be very interesting when he releases the travel package which will include front mounted counterlungs.

Paul