What's the best material for aircraft antenna?

I always use Maxima .012mm (2lb test) monofillament. Mine is "chameleon" but I think it comes in different colors. I use a flat wood toothpick sanded to proper shape for the masts.

Dave in PA

I just started using EZ-Line and I love it.  Very forgiving with a ton of flex

EZ Line, (mike drop).

But seriously, I bought a spool for less that $ 5 and I'll never run out.

EZ-Line.  They make several sizes.  Just tell them what scale you need it for as in 1:24, 1:32, 1:48, and or 1:72.  The rail road enthusiasts use EZ Line for their telephone pole lines.  Stretches up to 700x's it's actual length, as so advertised.  Instant adhesion with CA.

Toshi

EZ line is really useful, though i have found with slim antenna's, it can bend them slightly. I either use that or fine fishing line.

Where can you get it?

EZ line and fly tying line.

Fishing line is another cheap alternative.

You can buy EZ line here:

http://berkshirejunction.com/ez-line/

Other places you can find are : eBay, Amazon.

I like monofilament thread- no fuzz.  While you can get monofilament thread from sewing and craft places, fly tieing supply places sell a thinner thread than what I can get at the craft stores.  The diameter needed depends, of course on scale.  But for 1:72 you really need to get the really small stuff, 5 or 10 mil.

I use EZ wire and love it. It stretches to fit. Give it a try. $14 for 100ft roll but well worth it.

checkmateking02

Stretched sprue also works well--and it's cheap.

 

All I've ever used...so I can't comment on the other options.

E-Z Line is all I use. Had a couple of antennas broken when someone pushed on the thread line at shows. Switched to E-Z Line and no more broken antennas or disconnected wires.

Jim  

I've used E-Z Line for while now and sure love the stuff. Then recently I found Uschi Rigging Line and bought some. Very much like E-Z but, it comes in even smaller size which is more in scale for 1/72. I have yet to use it but, it will be on my very next kit. Appears to be dynamite line.

Here's the homepage:

http://www.uschivdr.com/products-in-detail/rigging/

Joe: I believe that the fine E-Z line would be suitable for 1/48. It's a tad bit large for 1/72 in my opinion. The medium size might also work.

JOE RIX

I've used E-Z Line for while now and sure love the stuff. Then recently I found Uschi Rigging Line and bought some. Very much like E-Z but, it comes in even smaller size which is more in scale for 1/72. I have yet to use it but, it will be on my very next kit. Appears to be dynamite line.

Here's the homepage:

http://www.uschivdr.com/products-in-detail/rigging/

Joe: I believe that the fine E-Z line would be suitable for 1/48. It's a tad bit large for 1/72 in my opinion. The medium size might also work.

 

Thanks Joe...I'll check it out

lawdog114

I use smoke colored invisible thread for aerial lines. Its okay but does come undone with the slightest nudge. I am intrigued by the EZ line. I may try it. Which one recommended for 1/48 aircraft?

 

I use that stuff- the smokey monofilament- a lot.  PITB to tie knots in it, but you can do it.  At mast end, I tie a knot around the mast and secure with CA.  On tail end, I drill a little hole in vertical stab and glue the end of the line in the hole.  The miniscule cross section surface area dooms butt joints, they do break off too easily.

One thing to do is to use a little arithmetic.  A typical antenna wire may be in the range of 50 to 100 mil (0.050 to 0.100).  Now, simply divide by the scale, to find out what would be the scale diameter.  We find in  1:72 that antennas would be less than a mil- hard to find, while even 1:48 would be a mil to two mil. 

Hard to find thread or wire in scale thickness.  Next step is to reduce visual contrast.  Avoid pure white, silver, or black colors, which are high visibility, and use a medium gray or brown color.  Same thing on ship rigging- avoid pure black or white.  Tan is okay, but use a very dark gray rather than black unless it is a large scale ship.