Aircraft rigging

[Guest]

Hi

Whats best for this, need to rig a 1:48 Sopwith camel as a bit of a pratice, whats best, thread or stretched sprue or something else and how do you attach?

[Guest]

My advice is: NO THREAD. I used it once and then i realized i worked for nothing. Eventhou is harder to glue while maintaining the straight line i recommand stretched sprue. It's easier to obtain.

[Guest]

Howdy,

Personally, I use monofiliment fishing line, you can get it in different thicknesses. I use cyno-acrylate-esther (superglue) to affix one end to the plane, then I cut the line just abit long and affix the other end.

Then, you can use heat to cause the line to shrink and tighten up (after the glue dries of course). Then paint as desired.....works great. I generally use the heat from a lit cigarette starting at a distance from the line and moving closer until I see the line begin to shrink.

A soldering iron might work to heat the line, but remember, work slowly so you dont get too close to the line and burn it in half.

Hope this helps,

Greg aka GW

[Guest]

Hi

Thanks for the replies, tried fishing lines and worked well, did burn through it the first time but second time worked well.

Tim.

[Guest]

Howdy Timmah,

Yeah, burning thru it happens. but when you do get it right, the results are a nice tight "guy wire" that can be painted and wont "sag".

Some other little trick I use for other details are: Using the wire out of a bread "tie twist" for antenna, on both aircraft and armor models. By stripping off the paper or plastic coating, you can easily fashion a "whip" antenna for a tank by wrapping part of the wire around a needle (see photos in my gallery) or make pitot tubes and antenna for aircraft.

Also using a drop of clear fingernail polish over the gauges in the cockpit and on running and navigation lights (it makes the guages look like they have glass over them and really brings out the nav lights).

I also have a photo of how to make a "canvas" for a cargo truck in my gallery using a piece of nylon hosiery (panty-hose).

Anyway, if you want to look at my gallery, click on the link to the left of this post under my name.

Glad I could help you out, have a good day,

Greg aka GEEDUBBYA (GW)

[wonwinglo]

Some good practical tips there Greg.

[Guest]

have you tried aeroclubs rigging material ? it's slightly elastic , excellent for 4/8th scale . ( for finer rigging i.e. 17/2 flatten the end and it can be split apart ) :hammer: and a roll will last for years !