Trying to find scale chains, tie downs and straps for 40k armour.

[Lathe Biosas]

I'm working on a 40k version of the Brits in North Africa (SAS/LRDG/7th Armoured Desert Rats).

 

Only with Armigers instead of Jeeps and Knights instead of tanks.

 

I've found water cans, Jerrycans, oil drums, tarps, and miscellaneous equipment that's roughly the same scale (1/35 looks about right).

 

But I need some way to attach these parts to the suits without it look like I just haphazardly glued them on willy-nilly. 

 

Any suggestions?

[Griefbringer]

Ordinary tanks have lots of flat vertical surfaces where you can attach stuff. Doing the same with armigers/knights sounds significantly more challenging, as there is much less flat surface and a lot of it is curved. For accessories, a lot of 1/35 stuff is useful (though some of it can look too large or small). Tamiya also makes a set of 1/48 scale jerry cans, oil drums and tarps that can also be useful if you are looking for something slightly smaller.

 

As for chains, I have often seen jewellers chains suggested, but do not have first hand experience. For straps, very thin plasticard, cut into narrow strips, might be an option. It needs to be so thin that you can easily bend it to curved shapes.

 

For budget solutions, you might want to look around home for cotton string (use as rope), office paper (cut into straps), tissue paper (tarps) and cotton medical gauze (camo netting). These can be used e.g. as follows:

 

1.) Office paper: cut into thin strips and attach with watered down PVA glue. Once dry, brush on a layer of watered-down varnish to harden and better attach the strips.

2.) Tissue paper: cut into shape, soak in watered-down PVA glue, roll into a tarp and place into position. Can be tied with cotton string to hold it tight. Allow to dry properly (the thicker the tarp, the longer the drying time). Once dry, a layer of watered-down varnish can be used to harden the surface.

3.) Cotton string: tie into position and brush on watered-down PVA glue and/or varnish to glue to attach it to position.

4.) Medical gauze: rolled camo-netting can be prepared in the same way as the tissue paper tarp rolls. Spread out camo netting can be simply spread directly as a single layer on the surface, with a layer of the watered-down varnish brushed on to glue it on position.

 

For making attachment points, some scale modellers use a piece of fine metal wire, wound over a curved surface (e.g. cocktail stick) to form a U-shape. Then glue two small holes into the armour surface and attach the wire there with superglue. The wire needs to be soft enough that it can be easily bent into shape.

 

I hope this helps to get started. If you want further inspiration, you might want to take a look at various historical scale modelling websites, magazines and books - especially those working with 1/35 WWII kits (very popular subject) - to see further techniques that they use.

 

Of course you need to think which techniques work for you, as the knights differ in shape a lot from ordinary vehicles. The best loading area seems to be on the top surface, though loading a lot of stuff there can make for a very top-heavy look (though maybe that is what you are after?).

[Magos Takatus]

These should probably get you started. https://www.greenstuffworld.com/en/97-hobby-chain

[kabaakaba]

Check scale models aftermarket. And gsw is a good option.

[Griefbringer]

Speaking of scale models aftermarket items, there are also metal photoetch sheets that contain metal straps (I have a set somewhere that came with a plastic kit). However, bought on their own those can be rather pricy.