just finished my tamiya 1/350 uss missouri. the last step is to attach flags but you first have to rig wire on the model. what is the best material for this?
There are several possible answers for this. Some prefer to use stretched sprue, others use nylon thread. I have seen fine fishing line used, as well as a high “E” steel guitar string. Any of these are fine. Caution: Do not use common sewing thread as this tends to “fuzz up” and it holds dust.
Bill Morrison
There are other choices as well. Some people use paint brush bristles ( right from Home Depot or Lowes). Pick the right color and size of brush, size the line up, cut and glue the bristles with superglue. I have used EZ Line, a rubber like stretchable line used by model railroaders to rig some models. It comes in different colors and sizes. I find it useful because my arthritic fingers are clumsy and I bump into the attached lines often. This stuff flexes without sagging or breaking off from its attachment points. Some folks positively hate the stuff saying it sags over time but I have not had that happen. Many other modelrs use fly fishing tippet available from places like Orvis or fishing supply houses. Another choice may be the copper wire stripped out of things like old headphone cables. WS
All of those ideas are plausible as well. I have never heard of “EZ” Line. I’ll have to try it. Thanks for that suggestion!
Bill Morrison
You might find this hard to believe, but their is a guy in our Alamo Squadron IPMS club that does 1/700 warships and uses Barbie Doll hair. Swears by it, and it looks great.
Barbie doll hair??? Now that sounds interesting. wonders where the kids stashed their old dolls and if they would notice a head or two missing
Any ideas on how to rig these flag lines on an Arliegh Burke DD? I can maybe figure out where they go at the top, but, what do they tie off on at the bottom?
The boxes on the aft face of the bridge are flag bags. There are tie-off cleats on the signal bridge rail forward of the boxes. Flag halyards run from the tie-off cleats to halyard blocks [pulleys] on the yardarm.
On models, most often the lines are cemented into holes drilled in the tops of the flag bags
Thanks Ed. Your picture only shows up as an X.
Sorry 'bout that. I grabbed the picture & stuck it in my Photobucket account to make it visible
You can usually get away with belaying the lower end of a line to a suitable piece of railing. Or to a chain link superglued to the deck.
I use lycra rigging thread, though I understand it’s difficult to find in the States. Great stuff - thin, self-tensioning, and gives without breaking if you touch it accidentally.
Cheers,
Chris.
Just a follow up question. I have a 1/350 Missouri finished waitng for riggings. Where can we find a good reference to its riggings?
Best available is the Missouri-class plan eBook from the Floating Drydock