I’ve had to work from home this week but I have managed to get some buckles and strappage done
Hmmmm, just noticed I need to add the retaining loops to the water bottle, Doh!
I always hated the way the mould line went round the water bottle strap on these kits, and even in my previous rifleman build I struggled with it. But this time I decided to replace it completely, and naturally it’s so much more robust than just a glue joint on the end of a thin strip of toothpaste tube.
And I also need a closure strap to the pouch. I was trying to figure out how the pouch and carbine belt worked, as
Airfix instructions are over simplified, and then I discovered that the attachment of the pouch is entirely incorrect.
Airfix would have you stick the belt to the back of the pouch, but in looking at re-enactor photos I realised that it was much more complicated.
It took me a while to find out exactly how it should look, but then I found this in
The Thin Red Line by the wonderful Fosten brothers
(Picture for discussion purposes only)
Which would have helped me with the sword belt and sabretache, but it’s close enough so I’m not changing that!
I altered the carbine swivel from the kit as I couldn’t find anything in brass that would work
But I did find a better buckle. I was able to curve the straight strip between my fingernails which makes it sit better, but I’m leaving the fitting of that until I’ve nailed the sword belt and the coatee tails
I also need to make the brass pointy end and retainer to the cross belt.
Thanks for looking
Neil