All right, after a lot of promising, I am finally getting closer to production. I now have the money set aside (I believe, as long as the wife doesn't take it!). I have decided to add tie down loops to the set as well. I just have a question for all of you, the modeler.

My experience with trying to mount the current, available photo etch tie down loops has been met with hardships. With these pieces being so small, I find there is little to no surface contact between the model and the PE tie downs loops. This makes it very hard for the glue to grab. If it does grab, it takes a slight bump and the piece falls off.

I am trying to design my loops to have more surface contact so they can stay attached to the model. I have had numerous ideas passed my way and like these two the best.

#1 - small mounting "pins" under the loop. The modeler would have to locate where on the model these are going and then drill a tiny hole into the plastic to set the loops into. Drawbacks - locating the points to drill; need a small bit to drill holes;

#2 - a continuous plate along the bottom edge of the loops. This plate would be folded at a 90 degree angle to the loops. There would then be a continuous contact surface to mount to the model with glue. Drawbacks - a continuous extra "lip" along the row of loops (it would be small); may not be as flexible if having to "bend" around a curved side (I am thinking of the tie down loops around the turret of the AAVP's).

I believe I am more partial to #2 but I would like anyone's input who would like to offer any. Here is a sample drawing of what I am thinking of.

Good idea. What about one more option - have smaller tabs that you can alternate the bends, one 90 degrees one way, then bend the next 90 deg on the opposite side and so on. Sorry for my quick crappy change to your illustration to show what I mean.



Jim

Prefer the one with the mounting pins.

Paul

Mounting Pins

Same here. I like mounting pins idea the best.

Mouse House Enterprises has been producing continuous tiedowns with pins for some years now. kit MA321 at www.mheaust.com.au select catalogue.

The problem was as stated above that there was very little in contact with the model and superglue was messy. You still need superglue but there are some firmer attachment points.

corey - when do you expect to have your other buckles availablke..

John M

PS to above

Arms Corps Models also sells coninuopus tiedowns in resin as product code ACM35864 - these are round not flat and as a result have a slightly greater contact with the model

Avalable through mheaust.com.au

john M

hello all

sorry for the add, if it's not allowed mods, feel free to delete my post


i produce my own tie downs set, and this link you can found a small tuto for fixing tie downs http://djiti.production.free.fr/tie%20downs/tie%20downs.htm

hope this help somebody

Hi Cory, the one with the mounting pins will be best.

Yes other guys makes them... but we still need to cut them to appropreiate lenghts for the particular AFV.
If you do some research and some more work...then perhaps you could make them ready or almost ready to use on the various AFVs. Not separate sets though..

BTW, when are you going to make an official announcment and start taking Pre-Orders for your buckles?

One suggestion-

when you are doing the tie- downs use a little thicker PE for them. Usually all manufacturers use the "standard" 0,15mmm thick PE sheets. IMO, the tie- downs look too flat and too 2D.

With a little thicker PE sheet like the one in some older Verlinden sets they would look more 3D.

Thomas

Hey Violetrock, I was thinking ahead of you. The tie downs will be a thicker piece than the buckles. The buckles are going to be in 0.15mm and the tie down loops are in 0.2mm.

Also, AngryDog, I agree that it could be difficult to cut them to length. However with the large amount of different vehicles that use tie down loops it would be really hard to break them down to be more usable. I thought long and hard about that and the most cost effective way to do it is to leave them long and cut them to whatever vehicle you are building. The loops will be included in the buckle set.

I could definitely do pre-orders if any one else out there is interested. I am hoping to have the money together this week to send off the plans to get them started. I am open to taking pre-orders if any one is willing to go that route. I will announce here when the sets are ready to go. I am hoping it won't be much longer now.

Are you going to be set up to take Pay-Pal? Because I am interested in getting a couple of sets.
Tom

sfctur1, yes I will definitely take paypal. Let me get everything set up and it will happen.

Hi,

I Vote for Pins on the tiedowns!

I'm interested in the tie-down loops, (Paypal & postage to UK please ) & the buckes
Would they be suitable for the HobbyBos AAVP7 series?

Thanks in advance
Jon