1:35 Flexible Ammo Belt WWI (300mm Long)

Flexible ammunition belt for First World War machine guns, 1:35 scale

It is neither a kit nor a weapon as a whole but an accessory: a continuous ammunition belt 300 mm long from which you cut exactly the lengths you need. Flexibility is the key point: the belt can be bent and allowed to sag naturally, so that it looks like the real thing rather than a rigid cast strip.

What it is for

First World War machine guns were fed from fabric belts that spilled out of boxes and containers under the weapon or hung in a natural loop. A sagging belt like that is exactly the detail that catches the eye at once on a model and that cannot be made from ordinary rigid parts. In 1:35 scale you will use the belt on vehicles, in trench positions and with figures of a gun crew, where it becomes a rewarding element of the whole scene.

Usage tips

Cut the belt with a sharp new scalpel exactly between the rounds; a blunt blade crushes the edge. First measure the length you need by dry-fitting it directly on the model and only then cut. Before painting, wash and degrease the part and apply a thin primer, otherwise paint on the flexible material cracks when it bends; keep the coats light. The cases look good in a brass shade, the bullets in a darker metal and the fabric belt in the shade of undyed or dirty cloth. Accentuate the recesses between the rounds with a dark wash and, conversely, run a dry brush lightly over the surfaces. You fix the shape with a drop of super glue where the belt seats on the weapon or the box.

Who the accessory is for

• builders of First World War dioramas in 1:35 scale
• modelers of vehicles and trench scenes with machine gun positions
• anyone interested in a detail that cannot be made from rigid plastic
• builders of figures manning a machine gun

The package contains the ammunition belt only. The weapon, the model, paints and glue are not included. The part is small and does not belong in the hands of small children.