Rocky Posted December 30, 2013 Share Posted December 30, 2013 I'd like to try my hand at building biplanes, and I've tried to research how to do the rigging. Nylon monofilament has been recomended, but I have not really found precise information on what diameter the rigging should be. Some say they use size x, but they don't say what scale they build with it. If I want to build a 1/32 scale plane, what diameter should the filament be? What would be correct for 1/48 scale? What color should it be? I've looked at photos of actual airplanes, and sometimes the rigging looks silver, other times black, sometimes its grey. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
The Loggie Posted December 31, 2013 Share Posted December 31, 2013 G'Day Rocky. I build 72-scale and use fine white EZ-Line for rigging. I also used the same for a 48-scale Tigermoth. I do not try to get the rigging diameter in-scale with the model, nor do I enter into the argument/s about the colour of the rigging because I reckon that the wires are usually natural metal. So, it'll look white in sunlight, and black when seen against a lit background (ESPECIALLY when the wire is in a shadow). The problem with EZ-Line is that it provides NO structural support, BUT, as it will stretch, it will remain tight and it doesn't care if you bump or snag it. PS - I build the lower-wing & fuselage sub-assembly, then superglue the EZ-Line into the lower-wing's strut sockets, glue-on the struts then stretch (by @ 5%) the EZ-Line, and finally, I glue-on the upper wing. Good luck with your model, and have fun with it. George, out............. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Netz Posted December 31, 2013 Share Posted December 31, 2013 In scale would not be measurable/visible, your best bet if you don't go with the EZ-Line is to get invisible thread from a fabric store, it will be a smoke gray and looks very realistic in scale. Curt Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ch9862 Posted December 31, 2013 Share Posted December 31, 2013 For 48th scale biplanes I use invisible thread Netz has mentioned. Mine is smoke color and doesn't have any size information listed. Bought it at Jo-Ann fabric, I think. For control cables I sometimes use very fine fishing line; mine is 2 lb/0.9 kg, 0.08mm diameter, clear; it's thinner than the invisible thread. HTH Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Arseny Posted March 19, 2014 Share Posted March 19, 2014 (edited) Rocky, I'm big EZ-Line fan as well. Here's the article about the stuff Edited March 19, 2014 by Arseny Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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