I’m looking for suggestions on what is the best materials and methods to use for antenna cables/wires such as those used on WW II aircraft. Many of these antenna wires run a good length of the fuselage and I am having trouble stretching sprue that long and keeping it a consistent diameter. I’ve also tried a small diameter fishing line, but without much success either. Any tips, or do I just need to practice and hone my sprue stretching skills?
Here’s some stuff I found for the antenna wire for the Zero I’m building, but haven’t used yet:
http://stores.ebay.com/bobeshobbyhouse
“EZ Line is an elastic material that will stretch to 700% it’s normal size, and snap right back! It is easily attached with superglue. It works great for antenna lines, rigging material, bowstrings, telephone lines, or any of a great number of other uses. For antenna lines on aircraft 1/48 scale and smaller, use .003 EZ Line. For 1/32 scale and larger, look for our .006 EZ Line.”
Sprue is the best. Easy to install, easy to tight (with a little heat) and easily sourced. Oh it is easy to place too if broken or lost.
Many of the aftermarket products are great for one scale but not for another. Also many of the lines are suitable for guy/flying wires but not for antennas. Antennas are usually nothing but a piece of bare wire strung between two points.
Hawkeye is probably right about the virtues of sprue, but this EZ Line might be good for a guy like me - I can’t seem to stretch a sprue properly to save my life. I gave up and bought packs of all the the smallest Plastruct styrene rods instead (for a few bucks I have a lifetime supply). Brett Green at HS gave the EZ Line a favorable review: http://misc.kitreview.com/tools/ezlinereviewbg_1.htm
I agree with the sprue.
practice, practice, practice. Vary the amount of time over the candle, vary the speed that you pull(usually the faster you go, the thinner it’ll be, if you need thicker, pull apart slowly, if it gets too thin, wait a couple seconds before pulling apart again). All kinds of things can be done with the stuff(antenna wire, whip antennas, wiring, plumbing, I’ve even made fire extingiusher nozzles with the tapered end of stretched sprue.
The bottle is sprue sanded to shape, the hose and nozzle are both from stretched sprue.
Stores like Walmart, Hobby Lobby, Michaels, AC Moore, etc have very thin 'invicible ’ nylon thread in clear and smoke colors. They also come in 2-3 thicknesses. I like the smoke color cause it has that metallic look to it.
I use fishing line, the trick of a head source below the line to tighten it up also works with fishing line (monofilament). I use a match that have been blown out.
I second the monofilament fishing line.
I have used light gauge picture frame hanging wire for tow cables, its already braided. (can be found at craft stores or home improvement stores)
Hope it helps
Lengths of hair! Human and for thicker ones use horse hair. Its strong and can be tied, colors easy with a sharpie marker also found in different natural colors. CA glue will not distort or effect it. For a 1/144 Panzer IV antenna I washed a length of horse hair in conditioning shampoo and hung it for a few weeks with a weight attached. It stands up perfect, to scale and can take abuse! Next time you are near a horse pasture gather a bunch from the fence, even a wood one will have some at the posts. If you can snip some full length ones from the tail or mane if the owner allows.
I have this really cool mono made by Uni, called Uni-caenis. It’s almost invisible, 20 denier (bet you don’t know what that is!).
But it glues great, has no memory and it’s black.
EZ line I use for telephone lines on the railroad, because you can snag it with your elbow and it pops back. Good stuff.
Great thread…but question I have is how does one get the super detailed attached areas to look so detailed?
I can’t believe I never thought about horse hair/tail. Next trip to the stable and Rowdy’s gettin a trim!!!
I have used my dogs whiskers before for whip antennas. He was less than thrilled!
My advice is to forget the fishing line and stretched sprue— what a hassle! Like your first responder, I’m a fan of EZ line. Don’t know what it is exactly, but I’ve used it on several models (subs and ships), and it’s super simple to attach accurately with a tight fit (it stretches and attaches with a spec of super glue). Comes in two “gauges”, I believe. After a few years on now, it doesn’t show any sign of sagging or deteriorating.
Tom
I think you may find that hair (human, horse, dog, cat, what-have-you) may be more susceptible to humidity changes in the air. It will sag and tighten months after the model is completed. Non-organic material (sprue, Caenis, monofilament, EZ-line) will be less dynamic.
Cat whiskers make great whip antennas with a nice taper base to tip. They do have a built-in curl factor.
My mini Panzer IV’s antenna has stood the test of time and humidity! Hang it for a few weeks with a weight attached after washing in conditioning shampoo.[I] I recall a quick coating in hairspray before installing. [^o)]
…human hair…