Ray_W Posted June 9, 2021 Share Posted June 9, 2021 This is less of a question of what size you model in or what material you use, more so, what diameters of wire were actually used. I am interested in the popular fighter types (e.g Spitfire, Hurricane, Bf-109, Fw-190, US Navy types) but feel free to offer any information you may have. Primary source material would be useful. Looking at close ups, it appears in the range of 2 to 4 mm. Some examples with the usual caveat on the dangers in using museum examples. This one from the AWM's Bf-109 G-6 https://www.largescaleplanes.com/walkaround/wk.php?wid=133 These images: https://imgur.com/LzBPCC0 And this one from the oft used Spitfire maintenance video. What was actually used? Hope you can help. Ray 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
don f Posted June 9, 2021 Share Posted June 9, 2021 Hello Ray, US WWII antenna wire (W-106-A) was typically solid steel wire, copper covered, nominal diameter of 0.040" (~1mm). In 1/32, that's 0.00125" (0.032 mm) in diameter. In 1/48 that's 0.00083" (0.021 mm) in diameter. That's very fine wire, in 1/32 within the range of the diameter of human hair. Don 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BS_w Posted June 9, 2021 Share Posted June 9, 2021 British aerial was în staînless steel. 1.02 mm dia 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fukuryu Posted June 9, 2021 Share Posted June 9, 2021 So we 1/72ers can forget about wires... Unless we train a (very small) spider to do the job. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray_W Posted June 10, 2021 Author Share Posted June 10, 2021 5 hours ago, don f said: US WWII antenna wire (W-106-A) Thanks Don, good to get a specification. It steered me to discussion on this site with reference to a p-51 drawing. https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235070198-p-51-antenna-wires/ Also seems reasonable for Navy types so wonderfully covered for F4U's here: https://tailhooktopics.blogspot.com/2014/01/f4u-corsair-wire-antenna-alternatives.html Images appear to show that W-106-A 0.040" is acceptable. The early Spitfires and Bf-109 seem to have a quite heavy wire. It made me wonder whether there was a change from braided or coated cable early war to single strand copper coated steel wire. Did German aircraft have another preference/requirement? For example see the following link. If the aerial wire is original, and it looks very much so, it is quite heavy. Definitely greater than 1.00 mm diameter. http://toniosky7.blogspot.com/2011/09/messerschmitt-bf-109-e3-walkaround.html 5 hours ago, BS_w said: British aerial was în staînless steel. 1.02 mm dia Thanks @BS_w. You usually have good drawings/references. Anything on this to give a time frame? Specific airframe/s? Trying to see if there were exceptions to the rule. This image of a Hurricane certainly shows a small diameter aerial wire although confusingly or incorrectly labels testing a VHF installation. I expect @Troy Smith could clarify the VHF aerial wire installation on the Hurricane. By the way, great image for the armour builders - have fun with the mud. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Radio_mechanics_testing_the_VHF_transmitter-receiver_in_a_Hawker_Hurricane_Mk_I_of_No._601_Squadron_RAF_at_Exeter,_Devon,_November_1940._CH1636.jpg Ray Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Roberts Posted June 10, 2021 Share Posted June 10, 2021 Have just discovered the Infini range of rigging materials - some VERY fine stuff there if you haven't already seen it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray_W Posted June 10, 2021 Author Share Posted June 10, 2021 Just now, Peter Roberts said: Have just discovered the Infini range of rigging materials - some VERY fine stuff there if you haven't already seen it. Hi Peter, I use their products and happy with them. Brilliant if you need to transport your models. Their finest, the "Ultra Fine", is quoted as 0.048 mm. I have no idea what this means for a finished dimension for a stretched 20 Denier elastic thread. Seems good to replicate the 1.02 mm (0.040"), as recommended in the earlier posts, in 1/32 and acceptable in the smaller scales if you're not too pedantic. Still looks the part. I note that Uschi quotes smaller diameters. I have not used their products. I commented on my recent build about the apparent greater thickness of German aerial wire. It raised the broader question of what was the diameter of WW2 era antenna wires. I recall for example B-29 aerial wire of 18 SWG (1.22 mm, 0.048"), which seems to fit with the previous posts, I assume a slightly large diameter for longer runs. Ray Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ckw Posted June 10, 2021 Share Posted June 10, 2021 9 hours ago, Fukuryu said: So we 1/72ers can forget about wires... Unless we train a (very small) spider to do the job. Technically yes - but it doesn't look right! This is one of many areas where creating the right 'impression' can deviate from scale accuracy. I generally use very fine elastic line or stretched sprue. Cheers Colin 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Putty Animal Posted June 10, 2021 Share Posted June 10, 2021 1.02 mm seems very thin indeed. The same sort of thickness as a post for an earring. Are we sure that it was a single strand? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray_W Posted June 10, 2021 Author Share Posted June 10, 2021 3 hours ago, Putty Animal said: Are we sure that it was a single strand? It is why I like a primary source. Like the following calling up the W-106-A aerial wire. I also expect @Tailspin Turtle can shed some light as the Navy types particularly the F4U images seem to show a thin wire and hence no reason to doubt the single wire 1.02mm 0.040" specification. I still wonder about Luftwaffe types - the aerial wire seems braided and consequently thicker. Ray 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crimea River Posted June 11, 2021 Share Posted June 11, 2021 (edited) Best I can do for Luftwaffe is this picture I took of FHC's FW190A-5 back in the day. I too don't trust modern restorations fully but the team there strove for authenticity in all their work. And their Bf109E-3: Edited June 11, 2021 by Crimea River 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BS_w Posted June 11, 2021 Share Posted June 11, 2021 I dont retrieve the techical drawing or manual where the diameter was indicated but I remeber that is 18 swg = 1,02mm. I'll try find again when I come back my home. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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