Ace1 Posted May 24, 2010 Share Posted May 24, 2010 (edited) What diameter wire should I use for rigging 1/72 biplanes, and what is a good source for this wire? I have been wondering about E-Z line? How has this worked for you? Thanks! Edited May 24, 2010 by Ace1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
majortomski Posted May 24, 2010 Share Posted May 24, 2010 Go to a sewing shop and find invisble thread. It is actually too large for 1/72 but it looks great and is easy to work with. You will also need a pack of #80 drill bits, a pin vise and CA glue. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Aaronw Posted May 28, 2010 Share Posted May 28, 2010 I really didn't like the idea of drilling holes and such for the line rigging, so I gave cut and glued wire a try and found it worked pretty well without driving me bonkers (can't say I enjoy that part of building aircraft but I can tolerate it). I've been using guitar string, a superlight E string which is also called 8 gauge although it is actually 0.08", not 8 gauge wire which would be rather large. A string is $1-2 which gives you probably 3 feet of flexible but stiff thin steel wire. He is my first attempt at rigging a 1/72 Airfix RE-8, I just cut to length and glued it with epoxy. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Old Man Posted May 28, 2010 Share Posted May 28, 2010 I like EZ-Line, Sir. I use 'three-thousandths' charcoal grey. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
The Loggie Posted May 28, 2010 Share Posted May 28, 2010 G'Day Ace1. Since discovering EZ-Line, I've not used anything else. While the material is truely excellent, MY key to success is in the way I do the rigging. I build till I have the lower wing attached to the fuselage. Next, I superglue the middle of a length of EZ-Line into the sockets of the lower wings, then (plastic)glue-in the struts. With the upper wing tacked upside-down to a card (with blu-tack/silly-putty), I dry-fit the fuselage/wing/wet-strut assembly (also upside-down) to the upper wing, and adjust it to true. Days later, I remove the fuselage, them draw the line LIGHTLY over the tops of the struts (a fine pre-cut slit helps). Lock them there with superglue, then when dry, trim-off the dags (Aussie for loose dangly bits). You have just rigged it WITHOUT that pesky upper wing in the way. Lastly, glue the struts to the (still upside-down) upper wing - fit should be perfect, right? Hold only the upper wing to un-tack it from the card. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
The Loggie Posted May 28, 2010 Share Posted May 28, 2010 G'Day Ace1. Since discovering EZ-Line, I've not used anything else. While the material is truely excellent, MY key to success is in the way I do the rigging. I build till I have the lower wing attached to the fuselage. Next, I superglue the middle of a length of EZ-Line into the sockets of the lower wings, then (plastic)glue-in the struts. With the upper wing tacked upside-down to a card (with blu-tack/silly-putty), I dry-fit the fuselage/wing/wet-strut assembly (also upside-down) to the upper wing, and adjust it to true. Days later, I remove the fuselage, them draw the line LIGHTLY over the tops of the struts (a fine pre-cut slit helps). Lock them there with superglue, then when dry, trim-off the dags (Aussie for loose dangly bits). You have just rigged it WITHOUT that pesky upper wing in the way. Lastly, glue the struts to the (still upside-down) upper wing - fit should be perfect, right? Hold only the upper wing to un-tack it from the card. Try this on a cheapie model (like I did). It is easy, and it works. Good luck. George, out..................... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ace1 Posted June 2, 2010 Author Share Posted June 2, 2010 Thanks for the advice, gents. I'll get some EZ line and a guitar string and have at it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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