Supermarine Walrus Bracing Wires

[Duckwizard]

Dear fellow modelers,

 

is there any Walrus expert knowing which diameter the main bracing wires had? On fotos they look more like rigid rods than real wires.

I am building the Airfix 1/48 and this is so far the only question left (there is extensive stuff on the internet, but I can't seem to find this very info).

 

Example: https://www.largescaleplanes.com/walkaround/images/2/2-65.jpg

 

Any hint will be helpful. Thank you!

[Work In Progress]

They are not any diameter because they are not circular cross-section cables.  They are streamlined section solid bar with threaded ends, as is typical for British military aircraft of the between-wars era. There are some good pics here

https://www.net-maquettes.com/pictures/supermarine-walrus-walkaround/#

 

or see any Swordfish or Gladiator for very similar materials.

EZ Line makes a flat section elastic thread which works well for this in 1/48 or 1/32. There is also a product available here for the 1/32 Wingnut kits which may looks okay on a 1/48 Walrus 

http://www.radubstore.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=323

 

Another way to do it is with stretched sprue, but instead of using sprue use Contrail streamlined rod (if you have any) or even rectangular section strip from Evergreen or Plastruct or whoever, stretched to the thickness you want.

[melvyn hiscock]

Go to your local wool shop and ask the nice cuddly old lady that runs it, (therevus always a nice cuddly old lady running a wool shop) and ask for ‘kitting in elastic’ which is knitted into thinks like socks, along with the wool to give some stretch. This is rectangular in section and is basically what is repackaged as ,elastic rigging wire, but a fraction of the cost. 

 

Drill a small (0.3mm) hole, superglue one end and then cut it 1/4 in short, gluevin the other end and hey presto. Once done whiz over it with some steel paint and you will be fine.

 

i think I paid about £2 for my roll. 

 

The control wires on the Camel (still unfinished) are nylon monofilament, as are the wires between the ailerons, that I have not trimmed, but all cross bracing is elastic from the cuddly old lady in the wool shop!

[Duckwizard]

Thank you very much, friends. I will go through your proposals and check what is avaible hier in Germany.

 

Not sure if near my place there are any cuddly old ladys in wool shops.

[Duncan B]

34 minutes ago, Duckwizard said:

Thank you very much, friends. I will go through your proposals and check what is avaible hier in Germany.

 

Not sure if near my place there are any cuddly old ladys in wool shops.

This stuff is very popular and I believe it might actually be made in Germany so should be readily available.

 

 

Duncan B

[melvyn hiscock]

That’s the stuff

[Smithy]

Melvyn is spot on and it's a doddle to use. I often use monofilament when I want extra strength on a rather delicate biplane but I've use the knitting elastic before and it works brilliantly where you need rigging but the structure isn't so delicate. It would be perfect for a Walrus.

 

As Melvyn also points out this is the same stuff that some specialised model supply companies have repackaged and whacked a 800% price increase on it. The cuddly old lady in the knitting shop will indeed save you money!

[seawings]

Hi Duckwizard,

 

All that you need for reference is on my website www.seawings.co.uk

 

Go to Enter Site/Flying Boat Manuals/Supermarine Walrus/scroll down past the photo gallery to the very bottom/click download for Maintenance Manual/scroll through the pages to around number 270 and there you will find the actual dimensions of each wire, their exact placement positions and a massive amount of other info.

 

I hope that helps you,

[LaurieS]

3 hours ago, Duncan B said:

This stuff is very popular and I believe it might actually be made in Germany so should be readily available.

 

 

Duncan B

Agree brilliant stuff & available on Amazon & eBAY

 

Best method prime the hole it goes into with C/A primer dip end into C/A.

 

Also available is Crista Line. Produced for beading. Produced from 0.1mm up to 0.9mm

 

Laurie

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Strong-And-Stretchy-Beading-Elastic-0-5-crysta-line/114049738012?hash=item1a8de4e51c:g:ErIAAOSw4qZeEPzW

Edited February 29, 2020 by LaurieS

[noelh]

8 hours ago, Duckwizard said:

Thank you very much, friends. I will go through your proposals and check what is avaible hier in Germany.

 

Not sure if near my place there are any cuddly old ladys in wool shops.

There are always cuddly old Frau in wool shops. Even hier im Deutchland. When it comes to rigging I always visit wool and sewing shops. 

Not that I live in Germany. 

You can get so called RAF wire often as photo etch but it can be expensive but as above a cheaper alternative is available. 

 

 

Edited February 29, 2020 by noelh

[LaurieS]

27 minutes ago, noelh said:

There are always cuddly old Frau in wool shops.

 

 

 

Please tell us more Noel 🤣  In detail please. 😂

 

Laurie

[noelh]

8 minutes ago, LaurieS said:

Please tell us more Noel 🤣  In detail please. 😂

 

Laurie

I couldn't possibly comment being a gentle mann.