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How to display a Russian Sokol spacesuit?

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Author	Topic: How to display a Russian Sokol spacesuit?
BMckay Member Posts: 3218 From: MA, USA Registered: Sep 2002	posted 08-07-2010 08:32 PM Does anyone know how to display a Sokol suit in an upright position without putting a hole in it? I want to place it up for display. If so, how do you make or buy the support system?
SpaceAholic Member Posts: 4437 From: Sierra Vista, Arizona Registered: Nov 1999	posted 08-07-2010 09:08 PM Pages 175-178 of U.S. Space Gear offers guidance on fabrication of conservation manikins for this purpose.
Rocket Chris Member Posts: 342 From: Registered: Nov 2009	posted 08-10-2010 02:06 AM Just getting a life-size fashion puppet like those which are displayed in fashion markets or stores. Pull the suit over it. Done!
SpaceAholic Member Posts: 4437 From: Sierra Vista, Arizona Registered: Nov 1999	posted 08-10-2010 04:44 AM Not practicable. With the exception of the Military/Almaz version, Sokols are donned through the chest so very little maneuver room - articulated joints are required to insert the feet and arms. Also from a pure conservation standpoint, its not a good idea (the Sokol's internal pressure bladder is a type of rubber and you would want to use inert materials which will not outgas or otherwise cause suit deterioration).
GACspaceguy Member Posts: 2474 From: Guyton, GA Registered: Jan 2006	posted 08-10-2010 05:42 AM Actually a mannequin does not do a very good job. They do not have enough bulk to fill out the suit and it looks like it is hanging on a hanger. If you were given a mannequin to use you could wrap it with foam and bulk it up. I would recommend an outer layer of cloth to ensure there is no foam against the suit as this may deteriorate over time and contaminate a real suit. We have a replica Apollo suit and the expense of a real mannequin was not justified for a display so my wife built an armature out of steel pipe and wrapped foam around the pipe, it looks really good and was not expensive. She did get a mannequin head off of eBay to display the "snoopy cap." Here is a photo of the finished product.
Rick Mulheirn Member Posts: 4167 From: England Registered: Feb 2001	posted 08-10-2010 05:39 PM There is an excellent foam on the market currently used by the National Air and Space Museum's Garber facility to support their suit displays. I think its correct commercial name is "Etha-foam;" it is inert from all accounts. Their experience of zip fasteners in old suits is that they can corrode and bond together. Garber has had terrible problems removing some pretty crappy supporting structures from display suits so I would personally stick to the inert foam if you can find a source for the stuff...
BMckay Member Posts: 3218 From: MA, USA Registered: Sep 2002	posted 08-12-2010 08:26 AM Thanks all for great suggestions and info so far. Still working on how best to display it. The Sokol suit would only displayed be at events and then the suit would be stored away until next time.

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