Good Morning:
How do you make straps for duffle bags and other items that will hang off AFV’s? I played around with masking tape, but didn’t like how that worked. What other materials would work and is there any particular trick to it? Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.
Jon
I have a friend that uses old toothpaste foil for all straps. Cheap and easy.
hay Jhawk one of the things i use are Coffee can aluminum lid’s off of max house it’s easy to work with. but if you don’t mind spendind a little money you can buy some lead foil. from VL. hope this helps. H/M [8D]
I usually use brown paper bags for straps, gives the illusion of texture pretty well. If I don’t use that, Lead foil is my second choice
On my m1a1 the straps were done in a combination of lead foil and some blue painters tape.I like the look of the foil better .I rolled the knurled end of my hooby knife across it to give it some texture.
Well, since no one else said so, my first step is research. The straps on the '28 Packroll are different than on either the '44 or '45 packs, are different than the '36 mussette bag.
The mussette bag was highly prized since it was a convenient size, and it had short stub straps with snaps in the ends. Those snaps were meant to clip into the '36 suspenders, or to a strap with rings in either end. That means a mussette cand be tied off with cord or wire, yet still “gotten to” quickly.
The WWII packs had a mix of either narrow straps, or wide straps, or relied on the suspenders, so you have to know which pack it is.
When the '56 system came in, it offered all sorts of attachment points with cord, packboard straps, or the like. The ALCE/LC-1/2 packs have a very wide padded strap for human-carry use. Those straps are a bear to unlash and feed through tie-off points. The nice sturdy rings on the pack or packframe, on the other hand, are right sturdy, and respond well to paracord lashing.
For US armor fro mthe 80’s on, the poor trea-ah, tankers were required by regulation to have a complete kit of “infantry” gear to don whenever they were on foot. So, they’d wind up with pack and frame, with a Kelvar “fritz” pot, and later the PASGT vest for all of the crew. This needed to be lashed down securely, but also still be readily available for donning (if there’s anybody watching ).
My “druther” for pack straps in 1/32-1/35 is a testured tape over either lead or similar foil. How much texture depends on the strap, and the widths & lengths needed. But, that’s me, others differ.
I like lead foil, or thin aluminum foil. If you are a wine drinker, you can get an almost limitless supply from the foil on top of the bottles. You also get to drink the wine as well. I prefer a good red for armor building.[#toast]
ha ha lol Gino–[(-D]-- my taste in wine usually just unscrews–but if it is a good 12 or 15 yr old bottle fo scotch that is to your taste,some of the hinges on my t-34 were made from the lead foil of Balvenie single malt[#toast][:D]-- tread
Thanks for all your tips and advice. I’ve ordered some lead foil. None of the craft or hobby stores in town had anything…and I don’t drink! Thanks again.
Jon
if your a smoker, or know someone who smokes, you can use the metal foil inside the cigarette packs, great think foil and free, you can find empty packs everywhere. [;)]
Frankly, for something so small and not all that important, I’d stick to using thin strips of paper. Universally available, and not too hard to manipulate. Of course, the lead foil or foil off a wine bottle should work too. But then again, I don’t get hung up on arguments against using toilet paper and thread to make bedrolls or sleeping bags, either.
Not to tread on toes here, but I do think that researching the correct type of strap for a musette bag in 1804 vs 1926 might be going a bit far, but we all have our standards regarding historical accuracy. Just go with what works for you, that might be the best idea.
I agree with you on the type of strap for the time period of the bag. In 1/35, who could tell the difference. I disagree about the paper for straps though. Paper doesn’t hold shape well and can’t be positioned easily to hang properly for certain types of straps, like gun straps.
I have used the foil that covers chocolate bars. This is a good source for those not able to buy alcohol or cigarettes. The higher quality chocolate bars can supply enough foil for a long time.
Ah, true enough. Except for those of use who were “led astray” by the Living History types (sheesh, I never, ever, want to hear a debate on whether moulton wool was availiable to whoever ); then by Military Vehicle Collectors (who will buy evey possible thing for the vehicle, then store it, lest it ruin their paint job they just got all muddy . . . )
Mea Culpa.
Besides, “Are You In There With That Stinking Paint Again!?” can often be answered with, "No, I’m here reading this book–it’s research; tv’s not even on . . . "
I use the photoetched trees from assorted kits.
I was wondering why I haven’t really seeing much of your work lately… Gino, I’m your friend and is there anything you want to talk to me about? Such as your drinking problem? [:D]
Is there any more info on how to make straps? I myself have not done it yet and would love to try it on my next model. How do you attach it to a rifle? Simple glue?
No, I don’t have a problem. I can always control it…[:-^][^][swg]
Just kidding. I haven’t had as much time to build since being at this goofy AF school. In the last 9 mos., I have done the M8 Pack Howitzer, M40 Howitzer, PC-6 Porter, and an HH-60H in 1/35 (check it out in the helo forum). I guess I have been building, just not as much as I used to.
Back to the straps. Yes, I use superglue to attach them to the weapons. Sometime, I get a little crazy and make the hardware and swivels for them out of thin wire and actually attach them more realistically too.
Lordy, lordy, I know that feeling all too well. Even that idea, that seems oh so reasonable at the time, "yeah, sure, do the swivels too; yeah, bend 'em outta wire–the wire can tuck into a tiny hole in the stock . . . "
Several hours later, drilling teeny-tiny holes and fussing with bits that absolutely refuse to resemble a rifle sling in any way, shape, or form . . . ah, the relaxing enjoyment this all brings .
Over in Ships, there was a question about “What is PE?” One of the better, and germane, answers was "Tiny, frustrating, bits that stick better to your fingers than where they are supposed to go . . . "