Mantlet cover

[sallyoz]

Hi Guys

First time poster , does any one have a good step by step of doing a canvas mantlet cover in tissue. I plan on getting a AFV Club Cent and I dont want worry about aftermarket ones.

any help would be appreciated

[Rick Lowe]

Hi, Sally

Welcome to the Madhouse!

The easiest way I can think of is to grab some Tissue paper and some White Glue, hold the tissue over where you want the cover and stipple (use a stiff brush and a stabbing motion) the glue on until it conforms to where you want it.
Don't worry too much about getting the shape right until it's dry, then cut it to shape in situ with a sharp knife.

If it's a bit thin, or tears, or you want it built up a little in places, wait until it's dry and use the same method over the top until you're happy with it.

You may have the completed item lifting off as PVA doesn't stick really well to plastic, but in that case I'd stick it back with superglue.

HTH & happy modelling (and modifying).

Cheers

Rick

[zenrat]

How about making a blue tac master and moulding the tissue paper over that?

[Army of One]

Hiya.....welcome to the madhouse. I don't do much armour modelling but another technique i have seen is milliput or similsr modelling clay/putty rolled out thin and then pushed into place and creased by yourself. Seen similar done for the sleeves on barrels as well......good luck.......H

[Mossie]

Hi Sallyoz, nice to meet you.

I'm not an armour modeller, but I found an alternative to tissue that works well.  It's called Parafilm M and works well for tarps and such, it's easily available on ebay and elsewhere.

You can stretch It to shape and thickness shape, when it stretches it adheres well to the plastic.  If you want it thicker, you can roll it up or put several pieces together and you'll not notice a seam if you smooth the top layer with your finger.  I find it easiest to lay it on the model, then cut it to shape and paint it.  You can cut it to shape first, but if you want a specific shape there's a risk it'll stretch slightly with handling.  If you paint it before, there's a good chance the paint will crack if you stretch it.  Most of the folds I did by hand, some were done by using a cocktail stick/toothpick and rubbing with a finger until it created a slight ridge, then it was smoothed down.  If you want to detail the cover, you can add strips and hemming etc. by cutting out thins strips of Parafilm M, or I used strips of decorators masking tape for the tie downs.

Here's a cockpit tarp and FOD cover I did: