Everybody has seen the sometimes lackluster molded straps used to resemble equipment mounts on the models. I've seen some armor books where guys have replaced them with homemade versions that look really sharp. Are they nothing more than a square piece of wire for the buckle and folded aluminum strips for the straps glued at the attachment points? Anybody else make these or have any ideas or input? Thanks!

That's it Bryan! Can make a nice difference in a model. Like they say...it's the little things that make the difference. The best material to use is a heavy foil. You know the ones that are used to cover the cork on a Champagne bottle.

Drafting tape also works very well for straps, but I prefer lead foil.

Ok, thanks for the comments so far. Let me expound a little bit more if I may.

For parts that have straps premolded onto them do you remove the molded strap via sanding and cutting or do you just put a replacement strap over the top of it. Or do you scratchbuild a new part, if possible, and put the replacement straps on the new part?

You can sand them off with a low-speed dremil type rotor tool. And replace with the new straps. You could also (though time consuming) scrape them off with a sharp knife. Just scrape or sand off enough necessary so that when the new strap is put on it does not "bulge" out too far.
Rebuiling would be another option if your handy with moulding clay or other media. I dare not. I never liked play doe.

Hi!
I use towel paper soaked with glue + water, I just put the towel paper over a large piece of glass or wall tile and soak it with a water + white glue syrup using a large brush. Let it dry completly and it's done. You can cut it with your hobby knife, it's like the heavier lead they've mentioned before, but it's cheapier and easier to get, you can paint normally.
HTH
Cheers

Paulo,

Great idea! Can you bend the paper towel any after it has dried? What you basically are describing is Paper maché right?

Brian!
You´re right, you can bend it as you like, but it´s not s pspier machè, I use papier machè to make dio ground, on papier machè you have to get a paste like and use when it´s wet, but the process is something the same, I also use the papaier machè technique to simulate mud on military vehicles.
HTH

Hi All!

I don't use foil - but 3M Post-It sticky notes instead. I paint both sides of a yellow sticky note and trim off the straps I need. Easier to use, way cheaper than foil, and easy to mount on a model.

Jim
http://www.guntruck.com

Wow, those are some great ideas. I'll have to try them all out. Thanks!