Suggestions on building a long wire antenna

Tools, Techniques, and Reference Materials Techniques
1

I’m building a P3D Orion Aircraft. The kit doesn’t reflect it but in the pictures I have seen of the aircraft there are 2 cables running from the top of the tail to the front of the aircraft. I believe these are antennas. The kit doesn’t provide any material for these antennas so I was thinking of using fishing wire. I’m not sure the fishing wire would be the best material to use. Has anyone used something else for creating a long antenna wire?

Thanks,

Vince

2

I like EZ Line. It’s stretchable (so it stays taut) and quick and easy to attach with CA type adhesives.

If you’re not familiar with it, see here.

3

You could use stretched sprue. Or, EZ line thread, available at rollmodels.com

4

Theres a number of things you can use. An old favourite is stretched sprue. Fishing wire is also ok, you just have to get the right size. A popular product recently is EZ line. This is very stretchy so can be pulled tight and thin.

5

depending on how long I need Iv’e used the wire off antenna of a radio controlled toy car etc, also can use guitar strings harder to work thought I do like the results

6

I have struggled with the scale of different materials like sewing thread, fishing line, piano wire, etc. Is there a scale guide? Or one of the guys who have done this a long time can help me out? Thanks all!

I do mostly 1/35 armor; 1/48 and 1/32 planes.

John

7

The big problem is that these antenna wires even on the prototype were quite small diameter. The scale size would be a fraction of a mil. So you need to start with the smallest thing you can, and then work to make it less visible.

Threads of 10 mil are absolutely the largest you should use. Finding thread that small is not too hard. I have found threads 5 mil, but they are hard to find- I got mine from an on-line fly tying place.

Now, to make them less visible. Transparent nylon monofilament helps. If you cannot find transparent thread in small diameter, use reduced visibility color. Do NOT use white or black- the high contrast of those colors makes them more visible. Instead, use a medium gray. Most threads can be colored with magic markers, which does not build up diameter like paint does.

8

I’ve only tried this once so far, but on this model…

I used a strand of hair from my daughter. Human hair has some stretch, so it can be pulled taut and it bonds fairly well with CA. For 1/48, it seems to be reasonably in scale.

Don