Hey guys, im just wondering what you guys use as 72nd scale antenna wires. Ive almost finished my Mk.NFII Mosquito and it just needs that little extra touch, so im going to put antenna wires on. Ive never done this before so i dont know what to do.
Ill post pics when im done (im doing something special with it)
Also i have searched the forums but the links dont seem to want to open for me. wierd
Thanks in advance for all the help guys.
There are a number of options to use for antenna wire. I only build 1/48 and larger but the following may help you.
There is the stretched spue method…you take a length of plastic spue over an open flame and when the plastic starts to melt pull on either end and the plastic will lengthen…you can create varying types of thickeness, from thick to as thin as a single human hair. It takes practice but once you get the hang of it you can create any kind of wire you might want. The best part is there is no extra cost as the spue is in the kit and the flame can be from any candle you got around the house. I use this method from time to time.
There is the invinsible thread method. You can get clear thread at any fabric store, or any store that sells fabric materials. I have some but have not actually used it. Some people also use the black or grey thread.
There is the human hair method. If you have someone in your family that has long stright hair…(for me my wife) you can use that. I have heard of some that use a pet’s hair. Haven’t actually used this method my self but I have thought about it numberous times, espically when I find my wife’s hair around the bathroom sink. Best part of this method is that its free and lasts as long as the source keeps growing the hair…or sticks around. How well the hair takes paint is uncertain to me. You are also limtied to the same diameter size.
There is the fly fishing method. I have heard of some that use the wire they use in tieing fly fishing lures. I really don’t know much about this method as fly fishing isn’t that popular in my neck of the woods.
There is the use of actual wire method. Its not easy to find or that easy to work with but you can find wire that is really thin. I use to be able to get really fine wire that they use to wire people’s jaw shut. I no longer use this method, my source is no longer around and it was harder to keep in place. Plus for 1/72 the wire will most likely be out of scale for you.
I hope this helps.
I just finished a MIG-3 in 1/72 and used the invisible thread (mono filament line) from Joanne Fabrics. My wife uses it in her window treatment business. I used CA to glue it to a small hole in the top of the rudder, then I glued the other end to the hole in the side of the fuselage beside the cockpit. The thread doesn’t have to be real tight when you glue it. After gluing it in place, I used a small soldering tool to apply LOW heat to the line. It shrinks up just fine and you can make it as tight as necessary. Too much heat and it sort of shrivels up. You can then color it with a marker pen. I used the silver one I use for paint chips. The great part of this is that 1 spool of the thread will last a long, long time, and It isn’t very expensive. Practice a couple of times on a donor plane before doing the good one. Hope this helps.
Jim [cptn]
This stuff rocks!
I forgot about this stuff. I have heard good things about it but haven’t tried it yet.