Thanks for the reply, basically i have modelled a rope using extrude on a shape down a spline. Im not all too familiar with rigging techniques, so i tried to set up a line of bones (straight line)and i then attached an IK to these bones with skin. This doesnt provide great control, so i wondered if there was a better way to do this? I like in Maya how you can adjust the initial 'path' spline and it moves the model that is created from it.so i wondered if there was a prefered way of doing things that involved rigging this spline? im probably completely off the ball with regards to fundamental working practices. feel free to mock and lecture! the rope is basically for a CG balloon that i will require constant rigging access to, in order to animate this around an image i will be compositing the 3d onto unsure what ncloth is>? I honestly appreciate your help ! did u rig your rope straight, or in a curved direction? What ya using the rope for? If possible u may want to use nCloth. After re-reading your question a few times.. I realize I dont really understand what you're asking? you want to animate bones on a path without the model it's connected to?