gregday
Dark Knight
Registered: 02-2006
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Bronze Armory Begins Belt Buckle Modification
If you own a BA belt you know how Allan provided several ways to fasten it in the back. There's the large magnetic strips on the leather flaps, the 3 locking zip ties, or the small black plastic buckle you can sew onto the nylon strap. Unfortunately, all 3 of these methods suck. :(
The first thing to do is remove those silly locking zip ties. They are large, cumbersome, and time consuming. Next, throw away that chintzy plastic buckle he gave you, or use it for something else.
Finally, and I know this is hard for anyone who spent that much money on this belt, grab a pair of scissors and cut off those large leather flaps with the magnetic strips, along with the thin nyon strip behind it. I know, it was hard for me too.
We are going to put a real buckle on there instead. A mountaineering, base-jumping (Ya know, spelunking, cave diving...) buckle that was designed to sustain human life in the event of a cable breaking. No, this won't make the rest of your belt magically "not a prop" and capable of saving your life, but it's a nice touch. It also comes in black and brass, so it'll look super pimp with the rest of your Begins stuff.
You don't have to use the same buckle I did, but I prefer the Stubai Click Fix Buckle. It's a serious double locking buckle capable of sustaining a pull of 12 kiloNewtons. That's a lot. It'll run you about $40. It's a pricey accessory for a prop, but if you weren't seriously obsessed about your hobby you wouldn't be on this site, now would you?
You will also need some screws, about 3/4 larger than the default black screws that are in your belt already. Remove those 4 screws on each end that hold the leather to the bronze links. It's okay, the links are epoxied to the nylon and leather, and it won't fall apart. You will probably also want some kind of washer to keep the screw from going through your new nylon.
Speaking of which -- you'll need some new nylon. The strip Allan put inside the belt is ridiculously thin and really only fits the tiny plastic buckle he bundled. You need to get something wider to fit your buckle better.
Take a look at the length of the "backplate" of your belt on each end, the length that takes up the 4 (8 total) screws on each end. You will need four times as much nylon as that.
Cut your length in half, each half will be used for each end of the belt, folded over, so it's just the length you need. Feed the nylon threw the loop of your buckle pieces and add a bit of super glue to keep the folded length together while you screw it to the belt. Lay the folded nylon length directly over where you remove the 4 screws.
Now use your larger screws. Those black ones you removed just are not long enough. Unfortunately, my replacement screws were too long, so I had to use 2 different kinds of washers. YOU REALLY DO NOT WANT SCREWS TOO LONG OR YOU WILL POKE A HOLE THROUGH THE PRETTY SIDE OF YOUR BELT.
If you have a screw shorter than mine, you will probably only need 1 washer. I highly recommend these neoprene backed washers. They make me a lot comfortable when dealing with expensive pieces.
Now line things up with your eyes and begin attaching the folded nylon to your belt. The more flush you get your buckle fixture with the edge, the better it will look overall. You kind of want the buckle to blend disappear when the belt is worn.
You will notice I left a little lumpiness in my nylon. This is okay. Nylon is strong, and it need not be taut. Making it taut will only add unnecessary stress to your belt.
Here is the male end of the belt and buckle.
And the female end.
Now you may be leaping up right now and saying BUT GREG, IF YOU DO IT LIKE THAT, THE BUCKLE IS PERMANENT AND THE BELT IS NON ADJUSTABLE! This is true. Mine is mostly for display, and I don't mind making it one size. You can adjust your nylon fold length if you wish to make yours a different permanent size.
Or, and this is important, Only bolt down one half of the nylon on one side, with a loop going through the buckle fixture, to make it adjustable. I hope that sentence made sense. If not, you'll figure it out when you actually try this.
Male end up close (ew)
Female end up close (awww right)
And how it looks, unfolded, from the pretty side:
Getting ready to buckle
Fastened. Notice how most of the buckle is hidden.
From above
From inside
Bolting down the double nylon with screws and washers, plus a robust buckle, will also add more "curve" to your BA belt, a constant issue with not just Allan's build but the design of the Begins belt overall. Here I am holding the belt up in the air by the buckle (looking down).
And overall:
Let me know if you have any questions.
Next mod: Those darn weak cylinder magnets!
Last edited by Deadly Lemur, 11/30/2008, 12:02 pm
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BATMAN BEGINS BATSUIT ARMOIRE
http://wayne-ent.net
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4/3/2007, 9:09 pm
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BatmanALL
Caped Crusader
Registered: 08-2004
Location: Virginia
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Re: Bronze Armory Begins Belt Mod: Buckle Edition
What a great tutorial. Thanks bro! :up
I now have way too many things to get done before summer hits! :lol
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Tony Licata
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4/3/2007, 11:53 pm
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inkmonkey
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Registered: 11-2005
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Re: Bronze Armory Begins Belt Mod: Buckle Edition
Thanks Greg. Very detailed and helpful.
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-Kevin
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4/4/2007, 12:31 am
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PatrickJ
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Registered: 01-2005
Location: Salt Lake City, Utah
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Re: Bronze Armory Begins Belt Mod: Buckle Edition
I may have to do that with mine. Thanks Greg! :up
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Patrick
http://www.facebook.com/patrick.price1
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4/4/2007, 3:04 am
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menore
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Registered: 09-2006
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Re: Bronze Armory Begins Belt Mod: Buckle Edition
Nice dude :up
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Cam
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4/4/2007, 6:16 am
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EchoSix
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Registered: 08-2004
Location: Occupying Gotham
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Re: Bronze Armory Begins Belt Mod: Buckle Edition
Quote:
It's a pricey accessory for a prop, but if you weren't seriously obsessed about your hobby, you wouldn't be on this site, now would you?
That says SO much and explains EVERYTHING about this site, right there. :lol
Great tutorial! :up
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"An error doesn't become a mistake, until you refuse to correct it."
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4/4/2007, 7:05 am
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BATCUFFS
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Registered: 02-2004
Posts: 833
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Re: Bronze Armory Begins Belt Mod: Buckle Edition
Thank,s that was killer info....iam getting my buckle right now....thanks.. 
and no i don't have a BA belt.. my kit is way better... :nahnah
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4/4/2007, 8:13 am
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Brin Londo
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Registered: 02-2004
Location: Mississippi
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Re: Bronze Armory Begins Belt Mod: Buckle Edition
You've done a great job on this upgrade tutorial Greg.
Great job, and thanks for sharing.
-Brin
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You don't choose the Bat, the Bat chooses you.
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4/7/2007, 3:01 am
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Nitestar
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Registered: 02-2004
Location: The Batcave
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Re: Bronze Armory Begins Belt Mod: Buckle Edition
I just got a Bronze Armory belt and found this thread but the pictures have expired. Can you please repost them?
Thanks!
JV
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10/11/2007, 6:53 pm
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meegari
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Registered: 05-2007
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Re: Bronze Armory Begins Belt Mod: Buckle Edition
greg?
can you please re post the pics?
Last edited by meegari, 11/21/2007, 3:47 pm
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11/21/2007, 4:09 am
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