Aerial wire

[Guest]

Hi every one


Whats the best product to use for aerial wire on a 1:48 scale model? (MK1 Hurricane) and what is the best way to fix it onto the aerial and tail-plane?

[Guest]

I have a range of sizes of round plastic solid pipe Phil. Can be easily made to whipped position. On short ones on the Hurricane it can be shaped. Comes in handy for a range of uses.


Fixing I drill a hole smaller than the diameter in the fuselage. Sand the base of the aerial a little to fit. Then either superglue if it is the last thing to go on. Or otherwise use Mr Cement.


Laurie

[papa 695]

Hi Phil I use EZline for Aerial wire its an elstic thread, you cut it just shorter than the lenth you need attach one end to the top of the tail or post with super glue then when dry which dosen't take long you put a tiny drop of super glue to where you want the other end to go, holding the EZline with a pair of tweezers just touch the end to the glue hold for a couple of seconds and thats it. Withn it being elastic if you knock it or touch it it dosen't break or snap. You can also paint it whatever colour you need.

[Guest]

Laurie, I think he means the antenna HF extension wire from the dipole antenna to the fixing point on the tail plane.


Not all aircraft had them, it depended on their area of operation of I'm correct, as the wire is simply a way of extending the overall length of the antenna without excessive height, perhaps one of the brylcreme boys can verify that,


Anyway, Phil. You can use rigging wire from model shops, or cotton thread.

[stona]

I use nylon mono filament fishing line, 1Kg. Attach with superglue, an accelerator really helps with this. You don't have to attach it taught, a hot spatula moved along the line close (but not too close!) will shrink it tight quite nicely.


You should look at the attachment on the real thing. Often some fine wire twisted leaving an eye will make a good representation of a tensioner and can easily be fixed to the aircraft before you add the 'wire'. Insulators can be made using some white glue or similar.


Most WW2 antenna wires were made from a stainless steel material and I've found dragging a brush loaded with aluminium paint along the line gives a suitable finish. They should not be black!!!!!!!!!


Unfortunately, just like the real thing, they don't always show up very well in photographs!


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Unless the light catches a wire just right, as in this one.


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Others like the old stretched sprue method and clear sprue certainly gives a good impression. I tend to burn my fingers stretching sprue and so keep it to a minimum


I don't like the stretchy threads myself but others seem to enjoy success with them. It's a matter of working out what works best for you.


Cheers


Steve

[Guest]

Laurie, I think he means the antenna HF extension wire from the dipole antenna to the fixing point on the tail plane.
Not all aircraft had them, it depended on their area of operation of I'm correct, as the wire is simply a way of extending the overall length of the antenna without excessive height, perhaps one of the brylcreme boys can verify that,


Anyway, Phil. You can use rigging wire from model shops, or cotton thread.

Yes you are right Dave. Phil could you change the question to suit ?


For the wire I use Knitting in Elastic made by Gold Zack. This will stretch double it's length not that you need that, about 10% stretch is about right. I use Superglue. Find it is best to


use a primer before glueing it makes a better joint. It is transparent. I rub a mid grey felt. Some early stuff 6 years old is still tense after all that time.


type pen along the antenna gives a multi colour for effect.


Also used it for the rigging on a 1/72 biplane and it has all hung together.


Amazon will have loads of the stuff for about £2:50 a reel.


Laurie

[Guest]

Dave is correct I need it for the antenna HF extension wire from the dipole antenna to the fixing point on the tail plane.

[BarryW]

I am another for EZLine. A superb product and the easiest to use that I have found.

[Guest]

I have purchased some rigging line from John's shop so I will give that a try, if not successful I will get some EZline....Thank you all for your help