How to scratchbuild an antenna?

Modeling Subjects Aircraft
1

Hi all,

after some time it happened I returned to modelling. I just blew the dust off my 99% completed 1/72 Marcel-Bloch MB.152 but only what I can’t find in the former parmiggano can labeled “MB152” is the top antenna…

I tried to “scratchbuilt” one by sanding a round toothpick and the result was equal to an acronym “LOL” (you must know this word! [:D]).

I was also thinking about a very tiny needle, unfortunately don’t know how to adapt it to a suitable shape since it’s very very hard… [xx(]

Any suggestions greatly appreciated!!!

Cheers,
Pisis

2

Try stretched spruce. take a scrap piece and hold it over a flame until it begins to look slightly wet. Remove from the heat source and pull the two ends to stretch. With some practice you can obtain thicknesses as fine as a hair.

3

Hi Pisis,

Can you get sheet styrene in the Czech Republic? If so, it would be easy to cut and sand the proper shape from the plastic.

Otherwise, I’ve seen people here cut a thin piece of metal from a Coke can (but be careful, the edges will be really sharp), fold it roughly to shape, and hammer it flat.

Just some ideas.

Mark

4

Hi Dave,

err, tried it just now and the only result is awful smell and smoke in my room… [:D]

Hi Mark,

what exactly is sheet styrene? Ain’t no problem to get anything here in the Czecho but what exactly is a sheet styrene? A plastic paper sheet? Where should I seek it? In a chemist drugstore? In a model shop?

Thanks for any additional info! When finished, I’m gonna post pics of that crap![:)]

Cheers,
Pisis

5

Hey Pisis,

Sheet styrene is plastic sheet. You should be able to find it in various thickness from your model shop. Here in the States, it sells for about a dollar and a half per sheet. Really useful stuff, especially for scratch-building.

Good luck,

Mark

6

OK, I’ll try tomorrow when I go to the city. Thanx for the tip, Mike mate! :wink: Have a nice rest of the day, I go to sleep now (it is 23:00 here now)

Cheers,
Pisis

7

Hi Pisis,
Sounds like you held the piece over the flame too long. Its takes practice to get the feel for it., but once you get the hang of it its pretty easy.

8

Pisis,

Thanks alot for the reference photos about the Ju-52, it’s much appreciated. Sounds like you’ve got plenty of info on the antenna. Thanks again.

Jerry