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Modeling in General
General discussions about modeling topics.
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Antennae - best materials?
TankManNick
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California, United States
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Posted: Wednesday, March 09, 2016 - 10:46 AM UTC
Obviously I've used stretched sprue; also music wire and turned metal for those tapered German WWII jobs.

Wire is pretty good. Tougher than sprue! But when I cut it with wire cutters I get a wedge shaped tip, not a flat cut/top. I know, it's pretty picky, but I'm finding it's one thing left on my models that still bugs me!

Should I be checking out carbon fiber or graphite rods? What sizes would work, any other materials etc. Any info gratefully received!
RLlockie
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Posted: Wednesday, March 09, 2016 - 12:14 PM UTC
Have you tried sanding or filing the end flat or to a symmetrical shape? That would seem to be the easiest way to get rid of the wedge shape.
Grauwolf
#084
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Quebec, Canada
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Posted: Wednesday, March 09, 2016 - 02:57 PM UTC
Just use a Cup Bur Deburring Tool and the antenna tip will
smooth and rounded.
TankManNick
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Posted: Wednesday, March 09, 2016 - 08:00 PM UTC
Cool! Never heard of a Cup Bur Deburring Tool before. I will check it out. A regular file just doesn't seem to work on such a small wire.
RLlockie
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Posted: Wednesday, March 09, 2016 - 10:42 PM UTC
If you hold the wire in a pair of flat faced pliers just short of the end, it reduces its ability to flex while being sanded or filed. That burr sounds interesting though.....
pseudorealityx
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Posted: Wednesday, March 09, 2016 - 11:36 PM UTC
I've been using 0.015 or 0.010 plastic rod. Works fine, is flexible, cheap, and you won't poke your eye out!
SSGToms
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Posted: Thursday, March 10, 2016 - 01:00 AM UTC
I use .010 and .020 carbon fiber rod. I get 13 antennas for $2.52 and they never bend, break, or kink.
Namabiiru
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MODEL SHIPWRIGHTS
#399
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Posted: Thursday, March 10, 2016 - 01:21 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Obviously I've used stretched sprue; also music wire and turned metal for those tapered German WWII jobs.

Wire is pretty good. Tougher than sprue! But when I cut it with wire cutters I get a wedge shaped tip, not a flat cut/top. I know, it's pretty picky, but I'm finding it's one thing left on my models that still bugs me!

Should I be checking out carbon fiber or graphite rods? What sizes would work, any other materials etc. Any info gratefully received!


By music wire, I assume you are referring to guitar strings and the like, yes? My son's used guitar strings are my preferred antenna material (have not encountered Matthew's carbon rod, but that sounds intriguing). I use a pair of wire cutters that have a flat face on one side (as opposed to garden variety wire cutters found in your average hardware store). Those give a pretty clean cut end, although guitar strings, being so hard, do wreck the cutting edge. One of the reasons I like to use guitar strings is I can leave a few wraps of the outer cladding on one end to simulate the spring mount found on many antennas. It's not completely accurate, but I think improves the look somewhat.

Oh, another thing I learned with the guitar strings is they don't like to take paint (or rather, they don't like to keep paint), so a bit of sanding to rough up the surface before installing/painting is helpful.

krow113
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British Columbia, Canada
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Posted: Friday, March 11, 2016 - 12:09 AM UTC
Cat/dog whiskers.
varanusk
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ARMORAMA
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Posted: Friday, March 11, 2016 - 06:44 AM UTC

Quoted Text

I use .010 and .020 carbon fiber rod. I get 13 antennas for $2.52 and they never bend, break, or kink.


Thanks for the tip Matthew. Where do you get it?
SSGToms
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Posted: Friday, March 11, 2016 - 09:22 AM UTC

Quoted Text


Quoted Text

I use .010 and .020 carbon fiber rod. I get 13 antennas for $2.52 and they never bend, break, or kink.


Thanks for the tip Matthew. Where do you get it?

DragonPlate

On the left click on "Pultruded Carbon Fiber Componenents", then "Carbon Fiber Rod".
tatbaqui
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ARMORAMA
#040
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Posted: Sunday, March 13, 2016 - 05:03 AM UTC

Quoted Text

One of the reasons I like to use guitar strings is I can leave a few wraps of the outer cladding on one end to simulate the spring mount found on many antennas. It's not completely accurate, but I think improves the look somewhat


Sounds cool, will give that a try! Thanks
andromeda673
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Posted: Sunday, March 13, 2016 - 05:57 AM UTC
as a guitar player, I have an endless supply of used strings, in any and every scale I will ever need. I also use them on planes for plumping and or wiring.

I also use them for making antenna bases and wiring up an antenna.
varanusk
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ARMORAMA
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Posted: Monday, March 14, 2016 - 12:27 PM UTC

Quoted Text

On the left click on "Pultruded Carbon Fiber Componenents", then "Carbon Fiber Rod".


Thanks, looks good. But probably the shipping costs willbe too high
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