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Hi guys
I’m just starting a Descent of Angels army which will be all Jump Packs. This got me thinking about the cross-belts used to hold the Jump Packs.

I was going to green-stuff cross belts on any torsos which weren’t from the Assault Squad box. But when I started looking for references, I realised that GW doesn’t bother. None of the ‘eavy Metal examples with Jump Packs added to models bothers to add the cross-belts. And now, even the Death Company box comes without any cross-belt torsos even though it has Jump Packs.

So what’s with this? Are cross-belts necessary for Jump Packs or not?

As the only cross-belted torsos in any plastic box are Mk7 Aquilas, I’ve invented some fluff which will me allow to follow the ‘eavy Metal examples.:

The first Mk 7 torsos (call them Mk 7.0) were not designed with connection points for Jump Packs so cross-belts had to be used. Later versions (Mk 7.1) came with the correct connections so no cross-belts are needed. The Chapters tend to keep Mk 7.0 armour together in squads so there are no unfortunate mistakes.

So what do the rest of you think? Have I missed something? Do you all green-stuff cross-belt on your jump-pack squads? Or is there already some fluff explaining why you don't have to? I can’t believe in such an obsessive community this hasn’t been picked up before – surely?

AFAIK the argument about what they are is still kinda up in the air.
Some people say that the cross belt are actually ammo pouches.
Others say that it is some kind of strap to hold the jump pack on.
You don't actually need the cross belt at all, it is purely asthetic.
People have picked up on this and it flares up every now and again.

I would say they are ammo packs.


this is because of the line in the vanilla codex which says that "Assault Marines are often required to operate away from their supply lines for extended periods of time..."

therefore the assault marines are carrying extra ammo for their pistols.

purplefood wrote:AFAIK the argument about what they are is still kinda up in the air.
Some people say that the cross belt are actually ammo pouches.
Others say that it is some kind of strap to hold the jump pack on.
You don't actually need the cross belt at all, it is purely asthetic.
People have picked up on this and it flares up every now and again.

Grey Templar wrote:I would say they are ammo packs.


this is because of the line in the vanilla codex which says that "Assault Marines are often required to operate away from their supply lines for extended periods of time..."

therefore the assault marines are carrying extra ammo for their pistols.

Thanks guys. I'll use the fluff that they're ammo bandoliers, and not do any green-stuff.

ammo packs my @$$, just LOOK at the torsos. Whoever modeled those assault marines decided they needed straps to hold the packs on (in spite of every assault marine who came before) and caused this confusion. Any attempts to explain it away otherwise are just retconning. I don't use those torsos since I realized it implied all of my other jump pack troops were wrong

not everything on models is the right scale so those are quite capable of being ammo packs.

I've always thought it was something akin to an armored 41st century version of this...

http://www.rallysportdirect.com/catalog_photos/products/sparco/spr1_04715mnr_1_lg.jpg

Designed for quick release of a utility back pack (devastator units) or a jet pack for instance. I think they have limited torso molds so they are more prolific than they should be perhaps.

I have also heard the straps were armored auxiliary power cable 'runs' designed on certain sets of armor that were modified in some way.

Brotherjulian wrote:ammo packs my @$$, just LOOK at the torsos. Whoever modeled those assault marines decided they needed straps to hold the packs on (in spite of every assault marine who came before) and caused this confusion. Any attempts to explain it away otherwise are just retconning. I don't use those torsos since I realized it implied all of my other jump pack troops were wrong

+ 1

I totally agree. It is obvious that the designer for these models thought that the jet-packs had to be attached to the PA with some kind of torso belt. Those were definitely not supposed to be extra ammo pouches.

Personally, I simply decided to think that there are two different types of jet-packs.

One that comes with cross-belts.

And one that is directly attached to the back of the PA.

Laodamia wrote:

Personally, I simply decided to think that there are two different types of jet-packs.
One that comes with cross-belts.

And one that is directly attached to the back of the PA.

The only problem with that idea, is that all plastic torsos with cross-belts are Mk 7 - hence my original fluff suggestion.

Brotherjulian wrote:ammo packs my @$$, just LOOK at the torsos. Whoever modeled those assault marines decided they needed straps to hold the packs on (in spite of every assault marine who came before) and caused this confusion. Any attempts to explain it away otherwise are just retconning. I don't use those torsos since I realized it implied all of my other jump pack troops were wrong

So far I've only made up 5 torsos with cross-belts, and I'm now thinking of re-doing them without, and following Brotherjulian's example

The Sanguinary Guard don't have cross straps either.
The jetpacks themselves look to be simple attachments that go on the standard marine power backpack.
I suppose if you have to come up with a fluff explanation then saying that they come from a cheaper mass produced back pack designed for use with the newer mk VII suits is the way to go.

Laodamia wrote:Personally, I simply decided to think that there are two different types of jet-packs.

One that comes with cross-belts.

And one that is directly attached to the back of the PA.

IMHO, this is the case. I strongly disagree that they're ammo-packs, I think they're simply straps to keep the Jump Pack on. On some armour the Jump Packs are attached (eg. Sanguinary Guard), however other models they can simply release/remove the Jump Pack, in fluff and game (eg. Assault Marines).

Honestly though OP, I wouldn't worry about it too much if at all, there are a lot of models with Jump Packs (even removable ones) that don't have straps, eg. the Death Company.