Hi ya'll,

Just some observations and comments concerning some stowage arrangements I have seen on models of modern armor, particularly US. I have noticed a lot of kits with gear attached to the exterior and even interior with rope. During more than 25 years of military service I have neither stowed gear using rope, nor have I observed rope used for this.

I have always used the following methods:
- Gear, such as rucksacks, are attached using organic straps on the rucksacks
- Use of special straps, the "spaghetti straps" that I was issued, and stil have, for securing my "tankers roll" to the infantry rail on my tank turret.
- woven cotton straps with buckles, similar to those on fuel can mounts, were used for odds and ends, could be ordered in numerous lenghts and widths, and fit the strap fittings welded to the vehicles.
- Items like extra track blocks and road wheels were attached either with bolts or clevices and hung on the vehicle.
- Some items like hex tents, camo nets were laid on top of turret and remained in place from own weight.

I am just making these comments as I see many models where the gear is secured with rope, just something I have personnally never seen.

Am I way off base with this observation?

If yes, I will return to my room

some of our stuff is tied down with bungies(travel elastics) or ratchet straps thinking of it cant say I've seen alot of stuff being tied down with rope as most of our gear gets stowed in the side bins or in the cab/rear of wagon only thing thats not is the cammo pole mushrooms which if the drops arent towing the king trailer are fitted through the towing eye

Mike, Yea I forgot the ratchet straps, though we have a different name that alludes me.

SABOT - I still use my spaghetti straps to rolll my bed roll, although one of the snaps on straps that loops around the infantry rail had disappeared. They keep the sleeping bag good an tight for packing.

I know that rope was infrequently used, but integral straps don't always match up with handgrips and other bars, and there's always someone that'll post the comment 'how's that held on, at least a rope goes over the top and is visible hence it's use on models.

what color would the straps be??

In Mech Infantry, we used the woven cloth straps with the quick release buckles. They came in all sizes, but were always in high demand. Most of the items that were stowed on the exterior were either tied down with these or as stated before were just so heavy that they stayed in place due to their own weight. All of our straps were Forest Green/OD in color. Oh yes, if we could not get a big enough strap, then we used como wire to tie things on. We never used rope, basically because we did not have it readily available.

As a basic infantry grunt in the Marine Corps we did not have the pleasure of doing a lot of mechanized movement. We mostly humped where we had to go . That being said, when we did "mount-up", it depended on the vehicle. If it was on trucks we normally just piled in and held on. On AAVs and LAVs, when we hung packs externally, we would just used the pack straps. The ALICE pack has a "quick release" strap. We would just pop it open and wrap it around whatever we were mounting it to and click it secure. Sometimes COM wire was used to reinforce. Some of us also used (personal) bungy cords to make things a bit more secure as well.