what size music wire to use

Modeling Subjects Aircraft
1

good morning all, I have just purchased the following pre WW11 bi-planes in 1/48 scale, Boeing P12E, Sparrowhawk, and single wing P26A Peashooter in both 1/48 and 1/32. What size “music” wire do you suggest using. Also for us "newie"s, is there any information that shows how to properly wire this type of plane. Any information would be GREATLY APPRECIATED!!!

2

I use Guitar String #8, approximately .012" diameter.

Regards, Rick

3

I use 0.004" wire for all my rigging. That #8 Guitar sting scales up to more than 1/2" which is pretty heavy even for the wires on the P-26. Also I believe the support wires on the P-26 were oval and not round a like the F3F’s and other aircraft of the '30’s.

4

thanks Rick, the hobby shop websites show three different sizes of music wire 1/8", 5/32" smf 3/16". Do you suggest any of these. bob

5

Those are much too large for the task. You take the wire diameter and multiple by 48 to find what the actual diameter would have been. You’ll see that they are multiple inches in diameter. Probably ok for anchor chain but not the rigging on an aircraft. Have you considered stretching sprue?? If you stretch a rectangular cross-section you can get an oval cross section with a little care.

6

Hello sir,

Based on the described values, all of your hobby shop options are too large in diameter. 1/8 inch is 0.125 inches; the other diameters are larger. A cheaper and better solution would be to pick up a set of light gauge guitar strings from a music store.Or even cheaper, ask if they have any broken strings (High E)they can let you have for free. Another possibility would be a local hardware store. For wire gauges, the larger the number, the smaller the diameter.

Regards,Stenscience

7

thanks everyone for the valuable information.When i thought about getting back into this i was kind of leery at first because it had been so long. Finding this website has been a “godsend” to a “newie”. Again, my thanks to all for the help and you will be seeing more questions as i get into this “hobby” again. doc bailey

8

you can goto a flyfishing shop and buy a spool of 1lb. test flurocarbon leader material. This will be about .003" or less in diameter ( look for the number “8X” on the lable). Flurocarbon is a little harder than monofilment, and can be had in a green color

gary

9

I’ve only “rigged” once, and went with stretched sprue. I have a nearly endless supply of guitar strings but the problem is, that over time…metal will rust! IMHO, sprue is the way to go.

10

I’m a sprue-stretcher too… It’s easier, IMHO, to work with than wire, can be stretched thinner than wire, and replaced more easily… A quick pass with a soldering iron or hot match will cause sagging sprue to snap taught.

11

good morning dcaponell, where did you find 0.004 wire. I have had no luck so far. Thanks for all the help, doc bailey