I have a KT from Dragon, which includes the tow cable. Once the eye loops are installed, how do you install it on the tank so it looks natural?

TIA

Brad

"Max Flex" The key to Naval Success

Hi Brad,

I thought somebody had better speak to you. When you talk about the tow cables are these the metal ones or the lengths of nylon cord?

The metal ones are obviously easier to work with as they mirror the actual materials used on the 1/1 scale item. Before adding the towing eyes, anneal the metal, by heating it with a naked flame, such as a gas stove. then either plunge into water or allow to air dry. You will then find that the metal is much softer and mallable. Attach the towing eyes with cyano and form the tow cables into the shape and location where you desire them or they are stowed. Remember that it is quite natural to attach one end to one of the towing eyes, so that they could be rapidly attached to another tank or recovery vehicle. before glueing the line into its final fixed location, do any work like painting that you desire, I normally start with a very dark brown, the towing metal parts of the towing eyes, can be bare metal or either be fully painted if new or chipped. Once attached to the vehicle use washes to accentuate the cables weave and then carefully use pigments to show dirt/mud and or rust, so that it looks, like they are in pictures or on industrial vehicles. With dirt pigments, you can add a layer and then gently wipe over the surface to show where it is ingrained in the weave. You can during the weathering process use graphite dust from a pencil, buffed gently to achieve a natural steel look and then treat it with pigments.

Nylon cable is approached in much a similar way, minus the heating.......lol It just needs to be more firmly glued to attach it so that it looks natural. It is then painted and weathered in the same way. I have to admit that I tend to discard nylon line and use appropriately sized brass picture wire, which is simply applied in the same manner as the metal cables that are supplied.

I hope this helps in such a short few paragraphs and that it gives you some ideas to work with.

John

Hi John,

Thanks for the great info. I was talking about the larger metal cables. I installed the left side cable, but didn't anneal it so it was a pain to work with. I'll anneal the right side cable though. Thanks for the weathering tips too!

Cheers
Brad

I think you'll find that heating the metal to cherry-red, then plunging it into water will cause the metal's "memory" to return. I've found it better to let the metal air cool.

I'm finishing a T-34 w/ a 'ready' tow cable. I've tried annealing and its better than not. This time I applied cyano to the length of the wire (un-annealed), form it, paint/weather it & touched up after final placement. Pleased with the results and will do the next one the same/similar. The cyano seemed to cause 'memory loss'/made it more rigid. PK

and I picked up a set of AM cables from Eureka Model Accessories and they are much nicer to use.

Cheers
Brad

"Max Flex" The key to Naval Success