what do you guys like to use for rope. i have a lot of accessories to put on my current build and i would like to tie them down some how. i will also be adding some camo netting along the sides of the kanagroo for a small diroma i hope. so what do you like to use for rope.
Ship-builder’s rigging twine works fine, look for it in your LHS. Take a look in craft / fabric stores for heavy-duty tan colored tread, such as that used for rug making.
I found some thread at WalMart today that looks fairly close to natural rope in color- it’s called ‘Jeans’- i guess that it’s supposed to be the same color as the thread on Levi’s… Any sewing shop or store department can hook you up for a pittance, if that’s what you want to use.
If you use string, watch out for loose fibers. Also use string that in 1/35 scale that’s reasonably sized. I’ve seen some modellers use “string” to tie down their tarps on the engine deck that could be used to hold the Bismarck dockside – overscale rope ruins the whole scene IMHO. What GI or Panzermann would tie stuff down with montrously large rope?
Model ship-building rigging twine for sure. Designed for the purpose, and comes in a variety of thicknesses. You can dye it in whatever colour you like (I use acrylic ink, thinned slightly) and if you want it to remain taunt, you can run some thin CA along it. Apply a touch of accelerator, it gives off a puff of smoke, and is set solid!This latter also saves you from having to tie knots at the far end of the line.
If in doubt, or you can’t find the thickness you want, use a thinner one. Also, don’t use the lycra thread you find in haberdashery shops or departments. It looses its elasticity over time.I have a Tamiya PBR which I built about 10 years ago, using lycra thread as rigging. It’s now rather saggy…
Cheers,
Chris.
I don’t mean to hijack the thread but Chris, the white insides of your M8 Armored Car drivers’ hatches are quite notable. I’ve never heard of them painted white since they were exposed surfaces. they were painted OD from the factory. HTH
I know that now - I didn’t then, [:I]and anyway, without digging out the instructions, I’m pretty certain that Italeri tell you to paint the interior whte! Maybe the Italian army re-painted theirs post-war?
Anyway, I reckon that the unit commander ordered that the interiors and hatches of his vehicles be re-painted in white precisely so that they would be easily seen from above, and thus avoid being on the wrong end of some trigger-happy Typhoon jock’s 20mms! [:)]
Anyway, back to the rope…don’t think you can stop string and cotton thread from getting hairy by rubbing wax into it. You can, but if you do, it won’t hold a knot, thus making using it to tie things down rather difficult.
Cheers,
Chris.
Hey GA.modelmaker,
The best thing I’ve used is a nylon bead cord. It comes in a variety of colors and sizes. It has a convincing twist, that IMHO, duplicates rope very well and doesn’t have that nasty looking frizz like string. It’s easy to paint. Griffin is the brand I use. Size 0.45mm(#2) for 1/35. Just a suggestion HTH.