Sources for scratch wiring harnesses?

I use very fine electrical wire- the varnish coated stuff with no plastic insulation.  It is getting very hard to find in electronics stores. I scrap old TVs and radios, bust open the transformers, and unwind the wire from them.  You need about number 30 gauge or finer for some of that stuff, but those old radios and TVs are full of it.  Because of the varnish coating, it is pre-primed and will take paint fine.

Thermostat wire or phone wire is handy for tons of details on all types of models.  You can get scraps free from technicians if you don't have access to that kind of thing.   

    Kenny, that is incredible!  I have to say, I was doing well to add a few hydraulic & fuel lines and heater hoses to mine, but yours looks amazing!  Nicely done!

   I have one of my guns up for sale since we're in a tight spot right now, so until that sells, hobby purchases are pretty much off the table for me.  It's very gracious of you to offer to send me something, but I don't mind waiting a while til I can pick something up.  My white glue/string experiment seems to have gone well, so I'm going to add some thinner "wiring" to it today and see how it comes out.  Then go from there.   Thanks again for the offer though!

---Chris

Oh yeah, another thing I forgot to mention. Whenever I have an eletronic component to throw out or find, I tear it open to look for fine wiring and  useful items like springs, gears, etc.

                                                                                                                                 Ken

Chris, I'm building a rat rig using a Cat 3406 right now. I've detailed the engine with wire and solder. You can pick this wire up at Hobby Lobby or Michaels in the jewelry/bead making isle. At HL it goes on 50% off almost once a month. You can get a spool for a buck or so and in many different gauges. The stuff is great, here have a look..................

assembled engine detailed with wire

primed with mr. surfacer 1000

painted cat yellow

using these products

Next will be weathering. If you really can't afford a few spools of wire and solder don't let it get you down. Contact me and let me know and I will put together a package of wire and solder and send it to you.

                                                                                                Ken

And don't forget the soldering wire,you can get it in different gauges and when you bend it it stays bent, it's very pliable. Copper wires are good for things like hard brake lines, that have definite bends to them. Flexible lines, loose wires etc. are better done with soldering wire. Hope that helps, have a nice day

Paweł

Light weight monofiliment  fishing line, fine copper wire, plastic stretched sprue, and nylon thread also work well for wires or brake lines.

Hmm....don't have any beeswax.  My white glue is thinned out pretty well, but maybe I'll try it anyway.  We'll see how it goes here in a bit.   Thanks Ray!

Sure, Chris...Use the any color  thread but "de-frizz" it by pulling it through some beeswax or, put a drop of white

glue on a finger tip and work it into the thread through it.  You will end up with no frizz and a satin sheen that will look very much like insulated wire.  For the "zip-ties", strip the paper off of those ties that come with a loaf of

bread.

Another thought is strip the insulation off of a piece of lamp cord.  Lots of fine copper wire in there that can be

painted any color you like. 

Good luck and good hunting

Ray