Home made tow cables

Modeling Subjects Armor
1

I answered a post in the techniques forum, but thought I would post a new thread here for those interested.

I make my cables in 1/35th scale by using 7 strand brass picture hanging wire. I cut a strip of foil (an old tube of the wife’s hand cream, off the top of a wine bottle, etc) about 11mm long and 3/4 the width of the wire. I glue the strip to the wire with epoxy.

and when dry curve it round a nail. Clamping the end with tweesers will give you the right shape.

Using a longer, wider length of foil, I wrap this around a drill bit the same diameter as double the width of the cable (for the part where the cable loops back). Slide it up the wire and clamp the foil around the cable, including crimping the end closed around the wire, and drop some cyano down inside to hold it all together.

Then using an old paint brush handle, just burnish the edges of the foil in the eye loop over the wire just like the real thing. For the other end make sure you slide the drill bit tube of foil onto the wire before starting the loop process!

These pics were of a rush job to use for this thread. Usually I twist the wire more to make sure the strands do not come apart at the bend, and they then look more like the original.

2

That looks great Peter. Gonna have to try that uot.

3

Cool stuff. You should start a “This weeks scratch building technique” thread here on the forum!

4

Thanks guys. Bill…at one per week I think I would run out of ideas by the end of the month[:D]

Did you notice how old the last pic was, that was of the Panther Ausf D before it was painted…he, he. You can see the home made tool retaining clips the germans used on the D and A before the chain was affixed. Unlike the G they were not just a bent pin.

5

man what a great idea, and I’m right at that spot on my build. And I have picture wire as well…thanks again. I have aluminum foil tape for sheet metal (actually for sealing HVAC ducts) so I might try that with it. that stuff works on everything and adheres like crazy.
a big save from down under.

6

Good tip there Peter. Thanks for sharing it. Best regards.

7

thanks for posting this petbat. i am working on a m12 155 how. right know and they put thread for the tow cables this saved me from asking this question.[:D][:D]

8

Good stuff, keep it coming.

9

Kewl tip! it’s nice to read a tip with a picture to back it up.

thanks peter!

10

Great tip Petbat. I am definitely going to try that.

Matt

11

Thanks petbat!![:)]
for german tow cables, i have used say, the tamiya end pieces, cut them off the main cable and drilled them out, and then put wire or AM cable in there…worked pretty good also.
your results looked cool though![8D]
regards,
nick

12

Thanks, Petbat ![tup][tup]

Great tip ! Great illustration !!

13

Thanks petbat I’m going to try it out myself[tup]

14

That was a nice clue with the illustrated instruction. I believe beginners like me would appreciate even more.

15

Thanks Peter, you’ve solved an on going problem for me. Very informative and very well illustrated.

16

Glad to see it was worth posting here as well.

Welcome to the Forum hakan. Stick around and you will get a lot of good ideas from the guys and girls here.

17

Glad to see it was worth posting here as well.

Welcome to the Forum hakan. Stick around and you will get a lot of good ideas from the guys and girls here.

18

WOW L ooks kile the orginal. will put that into my box of tricks

19

Thanks for the tip Peter. Your cable looks great.
mark956

20

Excellent tip Peter! Thanks.
I was wondering how to do something similar.