I've seen some really nice looking flags drapped on some tanks here. I've also read a couple of different ways to make them, anyone know which is best or what do you use?

There are several ways. I use facial tissue treated with white glue/water mix.

Art

Download a flag and drop it in your photo editor, make a reverse side if needed and save it as a jpg. Then insert it into Word as you would clip art and resize it repeating for the reverse and having them back to back, for example, on a US flag, the cantons of both sides would be touching. Then print, using the file/print command and choosing the highest resolution onto plain white paper. When the inks have dried, seal it with Microsol Decal Film. When this dries, cut it out using a #11 and straight edge. Apply thinned white glue to the inside and immediately and carefully fold it in half. The glue will initially soften the paper, allowing you get a nice drape or furl, if the flag is on a staff or pole. Once the glue has dried, you have a nice, firm flag. Weather as you see fit.
You need to check your references on the flag. The Japanese flag is easy with its centered circle. The US flag requires you make a mirror image, while the Nazi flag has to have one side show the swatika "turning" in the wrong direction. Some flags will have a differnt pattern on each side.
When aquiring the flag, either on-line or from a scanned image, pick the biggest you can find. Shrinking will give you a sharpened image while enlarging will start to blur the edges.

Sorry Al, don't mean to point fingers here but unless the flag is one piece dyed, the swastica will be facing the correct direction on both sides. Most flags had the disk with the swas sewen on both sides.

I use dress makers' paper. My wife does a lot of sewing, so there is often a good deal of triming of the paper pattern required. She saves me these trimmings which I then use for flags.

I find a suitable image of a flag and scale it to the appropriate size. I then tape a piece of the dress makers' paper to a sheet of normal paper and run it through my inkjet printer. With the print setting on "best", the ink usually penetrates through to both sides of the paper to make a two sided flag. Seal with some spray finish and then mould with white glue.

I'll work up a small article on this some time soon.

[quoteSorry Al, don't mean to point fingers here but unless the flag is one piece dyed, the swastica will be facing the correct direction on both sides. Most flags had the disk with the swas sewen on both sides.[/quote]

Not a prob, Gian, I thought I'd read the opposite. I'll defer to anyone who has better info.

My suggestion to do the research just got reinforced by Monte.

For making my flags I use two part epoxy putty, such as Magicscupt. Once mixed, I roll it out on a piece of glass with a good amount of baby powder to prevent it from sticking to the glass and the rolling pin. I can get it almost transparent. Once it is nice and thin, I let it set up for about 45 mins. This makes it easier to handle and position. Once it dries, I paint and decal if needed. Works great. Give it a try. "Q"

http://www.loyalhannadockyard.com/
go here and get a cloth flag!
I like the elmers glue thing
my sails and flags are 20 years old!!
Ron