thx for your suggestions so far. texturing has to be the last point considered for finishing the cables off only. character, cables included will be animated and therefor as much tangible substance as possible is needed.

here is a pic what I mean. sure - in the end the cable arrangement will look pretty different from that, but I´m still figuring out my basic approach. I´ll try with creating a straight bunch of cables next. for easier modeling and deform it later with lattice or something.