With only two more parts kits left to order to get all the pieces needed for assembling my Tamiya 1:35 Panther Ausf. D, I've run into a bit of a road block. It seems that Tasca no longer makes the German Star Antenna set. So I can't build my Befehlswagen from I./Pz.Rgt. 4 without scratch building the star antenna (or Sternantenne for the FuG 8 radio).
I have some ideas on how I might achieve the antenna build, but I'm open to suggestions. I plan on using guitar string for the aerial and the radial elements on the Sternantenne. I don't know what string gauge I'll use yet. Have to see how they look when I get the model in hand.
The first question that comes up is what lengths should they be? I've determined that the radial elements should be at 50° off horizontal. And I understand that a pretty standard length for German aerials was either 2m or 1.4m. But how long should the six radial elements be? And what length on the central aerial?
Here's the plan for the assembly. And again, I'm open to better ideas here. I'm going to print an open top cone on the 3D printer with six evenly spaced grooves along the inside to hold the guitar strings in place. Line up all the ends and then drop a blob of solder on there to hold them together. Next, use a fine file to clean up the solder ball and flatten out the bottom. Then I'm going to solder the central aerial to the bottom of the blob.
Is this going to work? I honestly have no clue. Thoughts? Suggestions?