Cockpit Content

[Chip B.]

Greets - I am building Tamiya's 1/48 Me 109 G6, and would like to add the oxygen hose from the regulator. I made a hose wrapping wire around a removable core and it works quite well, but I'm thinking I don't have what is needed for this small scale.

Has anyone found success with this at 1/48?

Thank you!
Chip B.

 

[Crimea_River]

I struggle with that method but others have done it. I've used guitar string with some success.

 

[Wurger]

To be hones the guitar string is actually the same way like the wrapped wire around the core.

Why do you thinking I don't have what is needed for this small scale? Any pic?

 

[Crimea_River]

The problem I have with wrapping is that the wrapped wire gets too much of a separation on the outside of bends.

 

[Airframes]

One method I've used is to get a length of plastic-sheathed wire of the required gauge, such as telephone 'breaker' wire, the type found in the core of the main 'phone cable, and then crimp this along its length in the jaws of a pair of pliers. The 'ribs' in the pliers' jaw then leave indentations which look like the corrugation on an oxygen hose.
Alternatively, Model design Construction provide flexible hoses, in a rubber-like (possibly vinyl) material, in various gauges - see pics below - which can easily be cut to the desired length., and painted if required.

 

[fubar57]

I've seen those before. Curious as to how rigid and bendy they are, if they retain their bendy shape or just pop back straight

 

[Airframes]

Geo, they're very flexible, but will not hold a curve unaided. They can easily be 'bent' to the required shape, anchoring one end using CA, and using spots of CA as required around any curve that is needed.
I have a couple of packs, in different gauges, to use in 1/32nd and 1/48th scales, and also for oxygen masks if needed.

 

[fubar57]

Thanks Terry

 

[Skyediamonds]

Gentlemen;
Thanks for all those wonderful inputs. I'm st the stage of my Mustang build where I was thinking of how to fabricate such an oxygen hose. Great ideas! I'll have to go to a guitar shop & check out some of their strings....

 

[Crimea_River]

Well the hose for your large Mustang likely scales larger than any guitar string. Also the larger ones are a bitch to bend.

 

[Skyediamonds]

Crimea and Airframes:

Thank you guys. I'll try both. If Airframes can provide the link or website address to Model Design and Construction, I'd like to contact them and see what they have to offer. I'm at this stage where I'll be fabricating the hose pretty soon. I can well imagine what Crimea has to say about the guitar strings being "... a bitch" to bend." They're not designed for bending that's for sure. Still, if they can be crimped and twisted around the neck of the guitar's tightening adjusters, then they might (perhaps, possibly, conceivably) be able to be bent and glued into place. I've got my wife asking one of her friends who plays guitars if he can spare one of his old strings that might've busted. I'm looking at the high-frequency end strings, not the low bass as seen on those acoustic guitars, they most likely be smaller in diameter and more flexible. What you say?

If all else fails, I'll wrap some thin wire around a rod and create a "spring" from which I can wrap some tissue to form a hose.

 

[Airframes]

The largest oxygen hose they do is 2 mm diameter, so still rather small for your needs.
However, their web-site is at www.modeldesignconstruction.co.uk

For your model, especially being relatively large, it would probably be better to wind, for example, fuse wire around a suitable 'core' wire, a job that should be much easier to achieve in this larger scale.
Once done, a coat of diluted PVA will seal the 'wrapping', and give the required appearance, with the 'corrugations' showing through nicely.

 

[Crimea_River]

With Terry. As i said, guitar string is not for you for a large scale model.

 

[Skyediamonds]

Terry & Crimea,

In that case gentlemen, I shall follow your advice. I'll see about winding up some suitable wire around a cord & see what happens. Oddly enough, I've found a couple of springs from writing pens that appear to be if the correct scale. I'll post 'em on the Mustang build thread & ask for your opinions.

Thank you,

Gary (Skye)

 

[Airframes]

It may be possible to thread some wire through the springs,bend to shape, and fix with CA.
If winding your own 'hose' use something like copper wire as the 'core', and a suitable gauge of fuse (breaker) wire for the winding.

 

[Chip B.]

Crimea and Airframes:

Thank you guys. I'll try both. If Airframes can provide the link or website address to Model Design and Construction, I'd like to contact them and see what they have to offer. I'm at this stage where I'll be fabricating the hose pretty soon. I can well imagine what Crimea has to say about the guitar strings being "... a bitch" to bend." They're not designed for bending that's for sure. Still, if they can be crimped and twisted around the neck of the guitar's tightening adjusters, then they might (perhaps, possibly, conceivably) be able to be bent and glued into place. I've got my wife asking one of her friends who plays guitars if he can spare one of his old strings that might've busted. I'm looking at the high-frequency end strings, not the low bass as seen on those acoustic guitars, they most likely be smaller in diameter and more flexible. What you say?

If all else fails, I'll wrap some thin wire around a rod and create a "spring" from which I can wrap some tissue to form a hose.

Look for the lightest gauge electric guitar strings, Extra Slinky.