I have just recently bought the academy M4A2 Sherman, i want to add some extras to it such as a camo netting, and maybe some straps for extra gear,if any body could give me some ideas on how to build realistic straps and netting and instructions on how to make these add ons please let me know[8D]
Here’s a site with some good how too articles, It’s a start!
http://miniatures.de/english.htm#Modellbau
Ken
You can make straps out of either lead foil, such as the foil over wine bottles or tamiya masking tape. Just paint them the color you desire. Camo netting can be made by taking medical gauze and dipping it in a brown or green wash (depending on color desired). It is messy, but dip it in and you can form it before it dries. If you want to drape it over the tank, as opposed to a store postition, you would want to air brush it instead, let it dry, position it and spray with a laquer. The laquer should harden it enough to keep it’s shape. There are other methods available too, so you will have a lot of choices. Verlinden makes some camo netting, for example
For the netting I heard that some people use hair netting. Never tried it myself, but it should work. Hope this helps.
Another way to make camouflage netting is with medical gauze and tea. Dip the gauze into a white glue and water mix (almost like soup), arrange the gauze the way you want it and then sprinkle the tea (dry!!) onto the net. After it dries, touch up any part of the gauze with paint if needed. As with anything new, practice before putting on a painted or finished model.
For straps, I take solder, cut it a little longer than i need, then flatten it with the butt end of my knife. A little super glue and I have a strap. If it is too long or fat, it trims up easily. I havent found a good way to make a realistic net, so I buy mine, although I havent tried all of the above mentioned techniques.
For camo netting, I’ve used medical gauze, soaked with white glue and paint, although the result is much more convincing if you cover the gauze with shredded leaves or flocking.
Straps can be made of thin aluminum foil, the sticky part of post-it notes, or plain paper.
zokissima- would dried herbs like oregano work for the leaves on the netting?