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Modeling in General
General discussions about modeling topics.
How to represent flexable/armoured cable ?
caryl576
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Posted: Monday, June 18, 2012 - 07:37 AM UTC
I'm having trouble coming up with something to represent the corrigated type of flexable or armoured cable.

If it's a straight run guitar string works ok, but it's to difficult to bend smoothly for anything more complicated.

Does anybody have any suggestions? (or know an aftermarket supplier of a dedicated replica?)
CMOT
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ARMORAMA
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Posted: Monday, June 18, 2012 - 07:58 AM UTC
How fine does this cable need to be?
caryl576
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Posted: Monday, June 18, 2012 - 08:32 AM UTC
What I'm trying to replicate is the armoured cable shown of this Katyusha picture

(borrowed from the Prime Portal set by Yuri Pasholock for discussion purposes only I'll delete it after the quetion has been answered)

http://www.primeportal.net/artillery/yuri_pasholok/bm-13_zis-6_based/index.php?Page=11 )



In plain wire terms it's probably about 1mm, but it't profile I'm after. As I say ridged guitar strings give this but don't bend
CMOT
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ARMORAMA
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Posted: Monday, June 18, 2012 - 08:45 AM UTC
If you coil fine wire around a 0.5mm drill bit or metal rod and then attach it you should get the desired profile, but you will have to apply very thin superglue after it is in place to retain after or the slightest touch will wreck the effect. What you could do is leave the wire rod in place and shape as needed before coiling the wire around it as that would also give you an easy way of attaching it to the parts.
caryl576
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Posted: Monday, June 18, 2012 - 08:58 AM UTC
Ahh thanks, worth a try,

(I've got plenty of superfine wire from a broken motor so that bit's easy enough, I'll just be doing the winding!)
Jessie_C
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Posted: Monday, June 18, 2012 - 11:02 AM UTC
Have you tried annealing the guitar string? That makes it much more flexible.
Spiderfrommars
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Posted: Monday, June 18, 2012 - 08:08 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Have you tried annealing the guitar string? That makes it much more flexible.



Yes, that 's the best idea in my opinion

caryl576
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Posted: Monday, June 18, 2012 - 09:25 PM UTC
Thanks for the help everybody
wildsgt
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Posted: Tuesday, June 19, 2012 - 01:09 AM UTC
Have you tried annealing the guitar string? That makes it much more flexible. I agree
kobathedread
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Posted: Tuesday, June 19, 2012 - 09:45 AM UTC
I bought some metal fishing leaders(?) as I thought that they had that heavy cable look, but couldnt get it to bend to shape.

how would I anneal it, just warm it with my heat gun?.
Jessie_C
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Posted: Wednesday, June 20, 2012 - 07:02 AM UTC
Just hold it above a candle flame until it glows, then move it off the heat and let it cool slowly. If it's really thin you may not want to heat it to glowing for fear of melting it, so it's experiment time...
airraid
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Posted: Wednesday, June 20, 2012 - 11:20 PM UTC
I wrap thin copper wire around a solder wire core. This gives both rigidity and flexibility.I use it for oxygen hoses on aircraft models
woody6968
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Posted: Tuesday, July 03, 2012 - 12:55 AM UTC
dennis this is my method also ,, i was gonna surgest it but you beat me to it , using this method you can shape the solder to any shape at all and it stays where you put it , weather you have it hanging from the side of a a work shop or anywhere else ,, it will hang properly and look wieghted . solder is a wonderful thing , hardest part is getting the right diameter . good luck guys .
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