Attaching antenna wires

[Jeff Hunt]

My fat fingers are not friendly when it comes to tiny bits and I cannot imagine too much more unmanageable for me than attempting to attach antenna wires. I think they look great and marvel at those of you who do this for the "complete" look. Anyone want to share their tips or tricks as to how best to go about this nerve wracking experience?

Cheers,

Jeff

 

[Wurger]

All depends on where the antenna wires have to be attached. Also on what you use for the wire e.g fishing line . threads etc.


In your case I would use stretched piece of the frame sprue. It is very easy to get a very thin and long plastic "wire". Of course it is stuck with the same glue you use for assembling your models. The glue should be applied as a very small drop at the spot where the wire has to be tacked on. Because of your fingers I would suggest using a needle for applying of the glue. A such tool is easy to make by your hand. Just a piece of wooden thin stick with the needle imbedded at the one end. It should allow you to operate it easily.

 

[N4521U]

Vic can give you where he gets his "elestic band" for antennas. Just stick in place with a dab of super glue. Majic.

 

[stona]

I make small eyes from fine wire and attach these, with CA glue, to the antenna wire attachment points. They can look like the tensioners often used. I then attach 0.5 Kg monofilament nylon fishing line to these and any fuselage entry points, again with CA glue.
Once set the nylon can be tensioned by passing a hot spatula or similar close to it. Too close and you'll be starting again

Here's how it looks on a 'Veltro'. I don' have any higher resolution pictures I'm afraid.

Cheers

Steve

 

[vikingBerserker]

Man, that looks nice Steve, well done!

 

[fubar57]

I like that Steve. Way better than trying to stuff a piece of fishing line into a wee hole.

Geo

 

[Crimea_River]

The problem with any nylon line is hold tension on it. I've never tried the stretchy stuff and may do so one day but here's what I do. I use "invisible mending thread" that can be found in any sewing supplies store. It's nice and thin, perfect for 1/48. Attach one end using CA glue, making sure it is pointing in the general direction of the other attachment point. Now what you're worried about is how to keep tension on the wire as you apply CA glue to, say, the mast as you drape thread over it. I've had the most success with attaching the loose end to something instead of using my hand to hold the thread tight and steady exactly over the attachment point. I've done this a couple of ways and below are some examples:

How not to damage radar antennae that are in the way. For this He219, I built a little tower out of lego pieces, taped the loose end of the wire to it, then dabbed CA glue on the mast (two wires done separately but the same way).

On this Spitfire, the IFF antennae from the fuselage to the tips of the tail planes were attached by hanging the model from a universal clamp and attaching the end of the wire to an alligator clip to allow it to hang tight against the tail plane. Seems like a lot of prep, yes, but effective.

On this Me-410, the wire from the fuselage up to the attachment point of the second wire (already attached) was held tight by simply looping the thread spool over the attached wire and around the tail. The weight of the spool is enough to hold it tight.

In all cases, a tiny dab of CA glue is applied to the attachment point, allowed to dry, and then the wire is carefully cut using a very sharp blade.

 

[stona]

The problem with any nylon line is hold tension on it.

I agree. Whilst I do try to get a reasonable tension on my monofilament antenna wires I know that they can be tightened up with a little heat. I don't know if that works for your thread or not. Either way your 'wires' look very good indeed!

I know some modellers like to use that stretchy thread whose name I can't remember. Whenever I've seen it it looks very heavy and over scale, but that might be the way it's been applied.

Stretched clear sprue can look good but there is a definite knack to getting it thin enough. I don't have it and have burnt my fingers a few times trying

Cheers

Steve

 

[mikewint]

At the same sewing stores you can find elastic thread for stretch seams. Drop of CA put thread into the glue drop. When set, go to the second attachment point, drop of CA, loop around, pull a bit to stretch, and hold til set (15sec or so). I use 0.3mm

 

[Crimea_River]

I agree. Whilst I do try to get a reasonable tension on my monofilament antenna wires I know that they can be tightened up with a little heat. I don't know if that works for your thread or not.

It doesn't. I tried. And thanks for the compliment Steve. I believe it's very important to keep these wires understated as I've seen many models with what I believe to be wires that are too thick. The thread I use calipers to just 0.1mm

 

[stona]

I believe it's very important to keep these wires understated as I've seen many models with what I believe to be wires that are too thick.

Again I'm with you 100%. The antenna wires we are all trying to represent were made from a stainless steel. A look at a rare original shows that the wire was quite fine. Some models are fitted with antennae with which, in scale, you could tow the Titanic

Tail attachment and fuselage entry on a Fw 190.

A ceramic insulator, fitted to Fw 190s which did not have the tensioning mechanism. With the hood slid back this would fall on the area behind the plexiglass and on some aircraft damage or chipping of the paint in this area is visible.

I represent these by thickening the wire with a bit of PVA glue and applying a bit of white paint.

Cheers

Steve

 

[Wurger]

Stretched clear sprue can look good but there is a definite knack to getting it thin enough. I don't have it and have burnt my fingers a few times trying

Interesting....

I took a piece of a sprue today and tried to stretch a thin line for an antenna wire as much as my arms let. No fingers burnt. Here a couple of shots. The total length of the stretched thread is about 170-180 centimeters. The endigs of a such thread are always thicker than the rest of the line. So... we are interested in the middle part where its diameter is the same. Its thickness showed by my callipers can be seen in the last pic. I don't think it is out of scale even for 1/72.

 

[Wurger]

And here the rest of images...

 

[stona]

Well done! You've obviously got the knack.
Cheers
Steve

 

[Wurger]

 

[stona]

Seriously, that is quite impressive. I've been stretching sprue for various reasons for a long time, though not that often for reasons already mentioned, and I don't often enjoy such success
I reckon you've got enough antenna 'wire' there to keep you in supply for the foreseeable future!
Cheers
Steve

 

[Wurger]

Thank you Steve. You are right it is quite long thread and should be enough for many models.

The possible reason for your unsuccessful attempts is the way you tried to stretch the sprue. It should be warmed to a point where it is about to start burning. It can be easy found because the polistyrene gives off tipically at the stage of warming. Then it can be stretched but not at once... in the case you can get the thread of different diameter with the thin point at the middle. The stretching should be made with two stages... firstly you stretch the sprue a little bit initially and then stop just for a wee while. And then start stretching again but with stable rate of this. It should help methinks.

Oh.. by the way ... a very useful tool for protecting of somebody's fingers against burning.

 

[mikewint]

Impressive. I've tried a few times but never got anywhere except melted sprue and some pointy end pieces with a hair or two of plastic still on them. IMHO the elastic thread is soooo much easier

 

[SANCER]

I'll put my "two cents" and I hope to have this choice.

I had previously read the different ways to achieve the antennas, and among them caught my attention that so far I have used in all my models. For simple, at least for me; so it can be for anyone.

You'll have to get free from your wife, girlfriend, mother or any lady close to you an old nylon stockings no longer used.
If you were lucky to be preferably black. or the color you need.

Using scissors or knife make a cut, with your fingers or tweezers get a thread.
You'll notice the elastic and resistent they can be.
For better control of that strand, I hold each end with pliers and as Andy says passage by the junction and toward the other point where the line will finish. Applied a tiny drop of CA and wait for it to dry.
Once dry, I take the other end and took it to the point of destination. I can tensioning the thread a bit and then put another tiny drop of CA
Then dry, with sharp scissors or an Exacto knife cut the excess antenna cable.

I hope be clearer whit the pics.

Here are my "Home-Made" CA dispatchers.
Facilitate the application of small drops

Sometimes I have to reinforce the base of the antenna using more resistant materials (in this case a needle), and do the same procedure.

An other example in my Zero

Actually I have not used for making nylon threads commenting Andy and Steve for antenna cables. Nor stretching spure commenting Wurger (I used this technique but for other purposes)
I'll have to do the test, be sure other good options.

I hope my English is understandable and be useful this option.

Any doubt I am at your service.

Saludos a todos!!

 

[Wurger]

Yes, the nylon stockings ... personally I use the same thread for antenna wires and rigging if needed. The stretched sprue is an example only of a possibility of getting of a very thin thread without any additional expense.