Sword slings and Sabretaches

[Claude Portsmouth]

I'm in a quandary concerning my grey army and much as I like Napoleonics I get in a mess with sword & sabretache straps. Either I paint separate parts and then end up scratching the figure when I try to attach the straps or the bloody things are too thick and just look awful. Final calamity is watching the straps slide down the figure leaving a trail of glue in their wake or snapping off the sword rings.

I've got such a crisis of confidence that I am thinking of ditching about 20 Hussar kits.

How do you Napoleonic buffs go about this problem.....I am talking here about metal kits it seems to be less of a problem in resin.

For example do you attach the straps before painting?
Do you pin them?
Do you ditch the metal straps and substitute, tape? photo paper?

Any help would be appreciated..................Claude

 

[housecarl]

Easy, don't paint anything prior to WW1.

 

[peedee]

Hi Claude,
Unlike the heathen above, with the nom de plume de Saxony,I would like to offer a suggestion.
Personally I use metal foil or brandy bottle foil as slings and straps.
If the kit sabretache or scabbard has buckles near the suspension rings, I usually detach the sling above the buckle, and file a small rebate behind it to accept the new lead foil strap.
I usually paint the scabbard and sabretache fully, and attach the scabbard slings with the top one shorter than the lower.
After painting the rear of the slings, I attach the upper one only to the waist belt front ring.
First put a small roll of blue tack onto the painted leg at the side seam to rest the part on,use a touch of super glue on the rear of the strap and holding the scabbard in the left hand press gently into place with the sanded blunt tip of a cocktail stick, you can then roll it around until the whole strap is glued on and rest the scabbard onto the blue tack in the 'pose' you need, ie flapping, or hanging.
Using the same technique put the sabretache onto the blue tack, then attach front and centre strap.
Now you can attach the lower scabbard strap and finally the sabretache rear strap.
I hope that's not too complicated but it works for me.
If ever it doesn't work straight away, well, I still have the brandy I bought for the foil and can drown my
sorrows till I have another go tomorrow.
All the best,
Paul
Ps if you really really really can't do it........ I'll have them !

 

[Claude Portsmouth]

Not very helpful Mr Barton.............especially as I don't paint anything after 1899

Hope the course is going well,

Claude

 

[peedee]

[quote="Claude Portsmouth, post: 733918, mem
.....I Hope the course is going well, Claude[/quote]


Good point Claude

Oi ! get off that bleeding keyboard and get your coursework done, you'll end up doing it on the bus again at the last minute !

Paul

 

[housecarl]

Thanks for the concern chaps.
Hope you never get to meet me professionally.

 

[peedee]

Don't worry I've done the same course mate,
1) Triage 'em (If it aint Ibuprofen, refer to feller/lass with stethascope);
Put a brew on.
2) Repeat
3) Go home and paint.



P

 

[DaddyO]

Don't worry I've done the same course mate,
1) Triage 'em (If it aint Ibuprofen, refer to feller/lass with stethascope)j
Put a brew on.
2) Repeat
3) Go home and paint.



P

Funny fella