Hi all

I have a few Dragon US airborne and 29th infantry figures in 1:35 that I'd like to start putting together soon, but I noticed that Dragon hasn't included the weapons' straps in the kit. In newer releases the straps are very good photo etched ones. My question is this...would it be plausible and accurate to model at least a few of my figures carrying weapons (garand or Thompson smg or BAR) with the shoulder strap removed? Was the strap ALWAYS present on the wespons during the Normandy campaign or did some soldiers remove them?

Thanks!

I don't know about the accuracy side of this question, but inside the armour to a nice sling selection in PE.

Well, keep in mind that in World War Two, most infantry really were infantry. They didn't have armored personnel carriers or infantry fighting vehicles to carry their gear (only a limited number of "armored infantry" battalions had halftracks). If a leg infantry unit had to move a long way, a transportation company would be temporarily assigned to carry them in trucks, but the trucks went back to other duties. My father mostly walked from Normandy to the Siegfried Line. Would you want to carry your rifle as dead weight in your arms for ten or more miles every day? What if you have to carry a wounded buddy to safety? Where do you put your weapon? Slings are inconvenient to model, but very necessary to real soldiers. Just Google "US Infantry World War Two," and do an image search. I just did, and I saw lots of slings.
And echoing Darren, Aber has also just announced a nicely presented set of photo etched rifle slings.

Lead foil makes better slings, but you have to buy a PE set of buckles and swivels, etc.

Tamiya tape works well, as does aluminum foil.