19 replies to this topic

[Parapsycho]

I feel kind of stupid posting these, especially after seeing the cool and innovative stuff that other people have come up with. But, I figured some good discussions/ideas could come out of it.

Anyway, I made some Dart Tag vests for a game I am running. I wanted to use the DT system, but didnt want people to have to spend $30+ on the basic set just to get the vests.

I threw these together in about 15 minutes, and so far they work really really well. Im definately going to try to make some nicer ones this week, since my hours were cut at work.


The cloth part is just a rectangle of felt, hole cut for the head, and slits in the side for the buckle mechanism. The buckle/strap part on each side consists of a plastic buckle (Jo-ann fabrics; $2-3), and two 12" sections of strapping. If you know how to thread a buckle, it's pretty self explanitory. I can post a more complete how-to if needed. The felt is easily replacible if it gets torn. One of the best parts about this design is that it requires no sewing what so-ever, for those who hate doing that.

Darts Stuck on Vest:




You can also make different temporary add-ons for them, depending on what type of game you are going to play. The game i'm running is a zombie survival horror themed one. If players die, they become zombies and put on white squares. To kill a zombie, you have to hit the white square.

Vest with Zombie Square:


Any (constructive) suggestions on how I can improve them, besides making them not butt ugly?

*puts on sunscreen and waits for the flames*

Edited by Parapsycho, 27 February 2006 - 04:17 AM.

[Carbon]

On the contrary, that's pretty cool! It gets around two problems...having to pay $30 for the vest, and that the vests are made for 10 year olds, so they're pretty small. That, and the zombie scenario you described is great. The possibility of adding stuff to the vests opens up a lot of options for games.

Edited by Carbon, 27 February 2006 - 11:57 AM.

[Nerforbust]

Very cool, now I can make a vest that fits, I had not thought of that... The Dart Tag vest is like... tiny.

[pinhead52]

You could also make velcro holsters and your dart tag vest suddenly becomes a utility vest too! I like the zombie square idea.

[The Trouble]

Hey, someone beat me to it. I've been meaning to do this for myself and my friends. The idea of darts sticking to your targets sounds just plain fun, but being full sized adults has left us without that option.

Thanks for motivating me to get out to Hobby Lobby to finally do this I'm sure your innovation will inspire others as well.

[Parapsycho]

Thanks for the feedback. I will post some more pics of them, including some close up shots of the buckles.

Perhaps an instructional video, or a video of some zombie action...

[six-five-two]

Good job! Whenever me and my friends have a nerf war it always turns to an argument about if someone was hit or not.

[Carbon]

Perhaps an instructional video, or a video of some zombie action...

I'd be interested in the particulars of your zombie scenario...specific rules, how the zombie/player teams worked, how the zombies could act, stuff like that.

[ompa]

If the people have to run around rigor mortis style, you better damn well get some videos up. Because that'd just be fucking hilarious.

If you don't know what I mean: videotape yourself trying to run with stiff legs and arms. Then watch yourself.

~ompa

[Parapsycho]

Im posting up a tutorial on how to make these. It is photo-intensive, so if you want me to just post text links to the pics, I can change it.

Part One

Materials:

A large piece of felt, at least 2 yards
2 Plastic Side-Release Buckles (see below)
at least 2 yards of Strap Material to fit your buckles
Scissors
Measuring Tape

Optional:
Fabric Markers



Here are the buckles I use. You can get them fron a fabric store for about $2 each. The Jo-ann Fabrics store by us was going out of business, so I grabbed as many as I could.


Step 1: Measure yourself vertically, starting from your hip to the middle of your shoulder.

Multiply this result by two, and that how long you need your vest to be. For example, I measured 22 inches, so my vest is going to be 44 inches long, total.

Step 2: Measure from shoulder to shoulder.

My measurement came out to 18 inches.

So, know you know the dimensions you need to cut out of the felt.

Step 3:Lay Out the Felt in a large open space.

This is important. The first couple vests I made, I tried to make while keeping the fabric on that small table. They turned out shitty.

Step 4: Measure out the dimensions, and cut out the rectangle.

Measure Twice, Cut Once. The Fabric markers come in handy here, if you have them.

Step 5: Find something Circular to cut out a space to put your head through

I find that a 9-inch Diameter works best for me, though you may want to vary it, depending on how big your head is.
You can use simple geometric maths to figure out how to place it exactly in the center, but I'll leave that for you to figure out (Isnt math fun?).

Step 6: Cut out the circle you traced.

And you've got your basic Vest.

Step 7: Fold and cut

Fold the bottom 6 or so inches from the bottom, and make 1 inch cuts about 3 inches away from the side. Do this on both sides.


And you get slits through both layers of the felt.

Thus ends Part One of the Vest Making Tutorial.

Stay tuned for the thrilling conclusion...

[chip tortellini]

Thats wicked cool! I also made a nerf vest, but velco darts don't stick to it. It is all made of duct tape. It is pretty usefull actually.
Here is a pic,

Edited by chip tortellini, 11 March 2006 - 02:37 PM.

[euphemism]

That's pretty nice (both of you). What are the boxes in the duct tape vest?

[chip tortellini]

Oh, sorry they are just those distractors. Though they are detacheble. There are a bunch of those pockets all over them.

Edited by chip tortellini, 11 March 2006 - 09:16 PM.

[sistermol]

That's pretty nice (both of you). What are the boxes in the duct tape vest?

Those look like juice boxes.

[ElvenNerfer]

That's pretty nice (both of you). What are the boxes in the duct tape vest?

Those look like juice boxes.

Nerfing, now fortified with vitamin C!

-or-

100% Nerf, for 100% pwnage.

[murakumo32]

Damn good vest for being made completely out of duct tape.
Same goes for the velcro vest too.

[LordoftheRing434]

I'm liking the d-tape vest. Duct tape is a man's best friend. For school, I made a portfolio thingy out of it. No, it's not a man-bag, it's just something I throw books, notebooks, calculator, and pens/pencils in. It's a very trusty work of art. All made of camo d-tape too.

As for the velcro vest, it's a very good idea. I've heard people complain that the Dart Tag vests are totally useless, but I beg to differ. By using them, you can sort out the cheaters from the nobles. By cheaters, I mean the "hey, I did NOT get hit. I didn't feel it..." people. I Nerf with a pretty honest group of guys, but everyone's been known to pull some of that sometimes. It'll keep a war running smoothly, rather than stopping to argue. Besides, those vests are pretty stylish. It puts Versace to shame.

~Rings

[Crappy Nerfer]

Thats wicked cool! I also made a nerf vest, but velco darts don't stick to it. It is all made of duct tape. It is pretty usefull actually.
Here is a pic,

Too bad it won't hold up to my Titan with special ammunition. Good job, though. I like it.

[AssassinNF]

The Duct tape vest is awesome, great job.

I've heard people complain that the Dart Tag vests are totally useless

Alot of people say they're useless because they're just too damn small. The concept is great for proventing cheating, (heck, I've done that a few times myself.) but they're made to fit 10-year olds, which is stupid on Hasbro's part.

It's nice to see that someone's making vests that fit. I've just bought 4 yards of red and blue felt to make some vests for me and my friends.

[NerfMonkey]

Too bad it won't hold up to my Titan with special ammunition. Good job, though. I like it.

Nobody uses a Titan with effing marbles in a war, you little sicko you.

I'd like to try the velcro vest because even though I don't have a lot of velcroes I like to use them out of my PC sometimes. That would get rid of the "the gun's too weak, I didn't feel it" debate. Nice work.