RC Tank Warfare community hobby forum

MikeN wrote: ↑Thu Mar 07, 2024 9:59 pm This could be worth a try, If you put "faux leather fabric" in to ebay, there are lots of choices and colours. Many offering samples very cheaply.

I'm going to go with brass strip, but yes, there's some really nice thin faux leather available. A little PVA glue on the leather to have it hold shape with those horse harness supply company belt buckles and that could be the winning combo. Hmmm, decisions...

Mike.

A bit late reporting back, but here are the results...
Straps are 0.2mm thickness brass strip and homemade buckles. Two lengths of brass strip are cut to width and length. One strip is crimped over the middle wire of the buckle, and the other strip has the end trimmed to desired shape and is then threaded through the buckle like a real belt. Pin heads replicate a rivet to hold the straps in place on the loops on the tank. A teeny tiny snippet of wire is used to replicate the thingy on a buckle that goes through the holes in the belt. I need to brush up on my strap terminology.

Next go I'll use some 0.3mm thick lead strip. The brass was a bit stiff but pulls off the leather look to my liking, just wish it was a bit more malleable for bending for that "draped" look, yet still tensioned a bit by the tarp cargo.

Mike.

Excellent
Forgive me, but did you say where or how you ended up with those buckles?

The buckles are homemade. I have a short attention span so didn't want to wait for the post!
I really should order a selection of styles.
Mike.

ColemanCollector wrote: ↑Thu Apr 18, 2024 3:52 pm The buckles are homemade. I have a short attention span so didn't want to wait for the post!
I really should order a selection of styles.

20240311_211811.jpg

Mike.

Clever you
I didn't realise they could be ordered, not something I've researched, I guess maybe I should now. Thanks

Check this out:
https://hgwmodels.cz/en/388-116-scale

Kaczor wrote: ↑Thu Apr 18, 2024 4:19 pm Check this out:
https://hgwmodels.cz/en/388-116-scale

Oooh, just under £7 plus postage, even with PayPal's extortionate exchange charges, it won't break the bank

There's a sampler sheet of buckles, rings, snaps, etc. from this company:
https://www.riorondo.com/hardware/hsheet.html

And even Aliexpress has suppliers of buckles and other stuff.

Can you imagine trying to source this stuff 30 years ago?

Mike.