Modded fake SAPI plate
 

This mod turn your sissy hollow plastic SAPI plate into hardcore BB stopping SAPI plate.

Not for the casual wimpy airsofter, as they weight around 5 pounds each, if not more. I'll have to wight them to be sure.

What you will need

- Paris Plaster
- Water
- Something to open up a hole in your SAPI plate
- funnel

I drilled a hole at the top of my plates. I enlarged it a bit using an exacto knife to fit a funnel.

I then mixed a good batch of plaster and poored the stuff in the plates. I held the plates in place with some 20lbs dumbells. Be advised, mixing plaster in a kitchen is MESSY! If it's not your own kitchen, do this while your wife or mom is away for a good 4-5 houres.

Once the plaster is setting, it give off heat. Make sure the hole is open during the drying process, as not to deforme the plates. Also make sure the plates stand upright, to also prevent deformations.

Once dried, wash the plates of the excess plaster with a wet cloth, dry them and tape the hole.

VoilÃ*. You now got something hard and heavy like the real thing. They will be fragile like the real thing too, so handle with care for real!

http://public.bay.livefilestore.com/...OD1.jpg?psid=1
After pooring the plaster in.


http://public.bay.livefilestore.com/...OD2.jpg?psid=1
I used a large funnel. The plaster was more liquid then I though, so I could have used a smaller funnel, and made a smaller hole.

http://public.bay.livefilestore.com/...OD3.jpg?psid=1
Cleaned up plates. They feel like the real thing! Finaly!

http://public.bay.livefilestore.com/...OD4.jpg?psid=1
Little bit of tape to close the hole and prevent water to enter.

Cool mod! Does anybody buy these plates for armor or to be more realistic?

These plate have no armor value. They are hollow plastic and they are mainely used to stiffen plate carriers and ballistic vests that require plates in them. They are replicas of real plates.

My mod just turn them into a hard and realistic plate. When you knock on a hollow one, it sound empty and deform. These don't deform and sound hard like they should. Very satisfying!

Well if you bought them to save yourself from "the terrible pain and suffering a bb will bring you" then that is sad.

But if you do it for the weight, or for an impression, or to get a plate carrier to fit as intended... then you're doing it right. [/prejudice]

I just fill mine with sand.... It's alot easier that way Though the weight come out heavier than the real one. However, since I don't have IIIA on rest of the part the complete weight is only few hundred grams off the real vest (IOTV)

One thing I will say, you gotta watch your weight distrubiton otherwise you'll look crap (if you have hydration system, might want to consider keep the back plate lighter or empty)

To date, My RRV feel more ballanced with this modded plate in the back pannel. The front sit well in place too. Once I have an hydro carrier on the back, I think my mags will ballance the rig just nicely. If not, then I can wear the plate in my LVAC body armor anyway.

I considered filling the plates with sand, but I was afraid they would deform or feal soft.

I filled mine with sand.

I filled them to the very top and sealed the hole with some sho-goo and 100mph tape.

They work great.

I still have my eye on a set of Point Blank training plates though...

Better than my method : cutting yoga mat :D

I have a set of point blank training blue plates.. Way easier :D real weight and more important.. REAL CURVES. Which means they way waaaayyy more comfy then the Pantac ones.

C'est des dumbbells de 45lb ca? :P

Yeah I need to get some actual replica plates... I've been using ones that I cut out of cardboard and taped together..very stiff and creak like hell. Very cool mod! Thanks for posting :)

Those either ridiculously expensive ($100+) or out of country... which is the main reason why most people didn't get them. Honestly, when you can get 2SAPI and 2 S-SAPI for $30 shipped you would go for the Chinese ones...

Non c'est des petit 20lbs.


I find the curve confortable for the chest. I don't really notice it in the back. I'd be curious to compare with the real plates.
I never got the chances to import some, even the trainning one.

I think my rig weight close to 30lbs now...

I had mine for 45$ on ebay for a set. Now the price is higher yes. I bought those because the mod I had done to my Pantac plates (filled them with sand) deformed them.

When we see each other on the field, I'd like to compare your plates with mine.

Fox, you beat me to it with a better mod. Good one on the plaster! Even if the plastic shell plate cracks, nothing pours out. Sand is also great. I basically stole tiny rocks from a childs playground and ran home then filled mind. I taped all the sides in case if I fell, the shell would cracking causing rocks to pour.

These mods are a plus because of the weight. Especially on a PC, even with mags and hollow SAPI plates, the shoulder pads feel like it's not really hugging. After putting these weight plates in, they're perfect.

Especially for impressions, they're a plus. Someone lifting your second line would be amazed. With rocks, they weight abour 7 pounds.

Who cares if they're "heavy" ? Don't be a pussy. It's a great workout on the field. :)

I don't suffer from hits, just wondering if other people do.

yea i have a sand filled sapi in the front and a stab vest rear panel in the back of my pc

I got the confirmation that filling those plates with sand is a bad idea. It deforme them and you lose the curve.

And I notice that a lot of people did not get the reason of this mod, or having plates at all. It's not about protecting oneself of BB hits. It's to get a real weight and feel for your loadout.

I'm still debating with myself to do this with my plates. is it really worth it ?

It is!
Worth every pounds!

Then, you decide if you build kit with or without plates.

Wearing them feel like a real rig. Not a toy costume like all those repro kits.

I have actual re-make plates on my front and back, for my condor plate carrier, looking for side plates now. Everyone says I'm crazy but I love the weight.

I use sand instead, it doesn't deform the curve, works pretty well. Just make sure you have a scale with you, because if you fill sand to max, its actually heavier than real SAPI/ESAPI

ToySoldier makes replica side SAPI plates for airsoft.

The best training SAPI plates are made by PointBlank and are made of a high density blue foam which replicates real SAPI plates weight and has the correct curvature.

These trainning plates are unoptainable.
I tried to import them or find a canadian retailer. To no avail.

Same. I found one retailer in Ontario a while back though...

Thanks for posting this, these are great!

http://www.heroarmysurplus.com/milit...e-p-14439.html

I have a set of Level 4 LBA plates but when I do start playing again I think I'm going to buy a set of plastics. Not too much fun lugging them around for the day lol.

honestly my 6094 feels 1000 times better with plates just fills it out and makes it feel more natural.

im going to give the plaster a try how much did you use fox?