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tubing supplier.

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  • Member since
    November 2020
tubing supplier.
Posted by photoman_6 on Tuesday, December 1, 2020 1:44 PM

any suggestions for supplier of hollow tubing for different scales for spark plug wires, brake lines,  fuel lines, etc.

I got back into car model building after a couple of decades away, and im trying to push my skills.

I recently completed a  Pocher 1/8th scale mercedes 540k that was started back in 2000, an amt cord, and working on a 57 tbird and a bugatti royale.  I prefer the larger scales due to chubby fingers.

  • Member since
    August 2005
  • From: Mansfield, TX
Posted by EdGrune on Tuesday, December 1, 2020 2:44 PM

Tubing can be problematical.  It tends to kink or collapse

Check fly tying lead wire.   Sizes 10 thousand to 35 thousands.  Bends & forms easily

Fine solder may be available in finer sizes also

  • Member since
    September 2012
Posted by GMorrison on Tuesday, December 1, 2020 4:07 PM

If using tubing, cut the plastic pins off of the kit part that the tubing is supposed to be forced onto. Drill a small hole and glue in a short wire pin. Glue the tubing onto that.

Those kit plastic pins are tapered and cant hold the tubing for long.

Solder is a good suggestion.

 

Bill

 Modeling is an excuse to buy books.

 

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: USA
Posted by keavdog on Tuesday, December 1, 2020 11:17 PM

I saw something recently about hollow fishing line (I assume for fly fishing).  Some of the options at Teds Modeling marketplace - https://www.tedsmodelingmarketplace.com/

All sorts of great doo-dads for auto detailing

Thanks,

John

  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: Twin Cities of Minnesota
Posted by Don Stauffer on Wednesday, December 2, 2020 7:09 AM

What material- brass, aluminum, stryene?  Most popular brand of metal is K & S, found at most hobby shops, some hardware stores, and online.  You have two choices of stryene, Evergreen and Plastruct.  Some hobby shops carry both, most carry at least one, and both are on the web.

 

Don Stauffer in Minnesota

  • Member since
    October 2019
  • From: New Braunfels, Texas
Posted by Tanker-Builder on Wednesday, December 2, 2020 11:27 AM

Hi! 

      If you are talking about as you indicated, Spark Plug wires etc. then I use electrical wire I buy by the foot at Home Depot. In the larger scales you can pull back the insulation a bit, Cut off the wire inside and it will leave you a opened end. Put that on a pre-installed brass rod pin and you are good to go.

      When I worked exclusively in 1/8 and 1/16 I used the same type of wire, just different sizes and larger wire insulation, for short nubs for Spark Plug Boots. If you use the finer wire as is, with the opening on the end, the wire left inside will keep you from getting a crushed curve. Just don't try to make those curves too tight!

 If it's absolutely impossible to get that, then use soft brass wire and a Micro-Mark Tubing/Wire bender!  Using Solder is good too.My landlady does Stained Glass Crafts and I am always raiding her stash of solder for detailing my Planes.

   

  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: Twin Cities of Minnesota
Posted by Don Stauffer on Thursday, December 3, 2020 7:54 AM

Tanker-Builder

Hi! 

      If you are talking about as you indicated, Spark Plug wires etc. then I use electrical wire I buy by the foot at Home Depot. In the larger scales you can pull back the insulation a bit, Cut off the wire inside and it will leave you a opened end. Put that on a pre-installed brass rod pin and you are good to go.

      When I worked exclusively in 1/8 and 1/16 I used the same type of wire, just different sizes and larger wire insulation, for short nubs for Spark Plug Boots. If you use the finer wire as is, with the opening on the end, the wire left inside will keep you from getting a crushed curve. Just don't try to make those curves too tight!

 If it's absolutely impossible to get that, then use soft brass wire and a Micro-Mark Tubing/Wire bender!  Using Solder is good too.My landlady does Stained Glass Crafts and I am always raiding her stash of solder for detailing my Planes.

   

 

I need some stranded electrical wire for my Mephistophole.  Supplied wire is green!  Photos show black and I have never had good luck painting vinyl.  I need about 28 insulated, but finest I could find locally was 18 guage :-(

Guess I'll have to order it, but I am ready for plug wiring NOW.

Don Stauffer in Minnesota

  • Member since
    October 2019
  • From: New Braunfels, Texas
Posted by Tanker-Builder on Thursday, December 3, 2020 7:59 AM

Hey Don: What's a Mephistophole?

  • Member since
    August 2005
  • From: Mansfield, TX
Posted by EdGrune on Thursday, December 3, 2020 8:08 AM

keavdog

I saw something recently about hollow fishing line (I assume for fly fishing).  

Many of the available connectors between the terminal end of a floating fly line and the fine end tippet material is braided monofilament.  

Think the old Chinese finger traps,  made of woven grass or palm, from your youth.  The harder you pulled the tighter they grabbed

When painted they would look like braided hose.  You will want to insert a core of lead or solder to help maintain the shape

  • Member since
    September 2005
  • From: North Pole, Alaska
Posted by richs26 on Thursday, December 3, 2020 9:55 AM

Scrounge up some old computer/electronic cables, and strip the wires from them as they come in all sizes and colors.  For tubing needs, just strip the insulation from the wires and use that.

WIP:  Monogram 1/72 B-26 (Snaptite) as 73rd BS B-26, 40-1408, torpedo bomber attempt on Ryujo

Monogram 1/72 B-26 (Snaptite) as 22nd BG B-26, 7-Mile Drome, New Guinea

Minicraft 1/72 B-24D as LB-30, AL-613, "Tough Boy", 28th Composite Group

  • Member since
    December 2020
  • From: Billings, Montana
Posted by Phil S on Friday, December 4, 2020 12:33 PM

I have been hunting the same stuff for the last couple of years. Prime Minitures, a nice guy in England has great silicone tubing in several sizes. Clear and Black. It is is very soft and supple and bends nicely with out kinking. I have also found that silicone insulated wire is a perfect fix also. I have it down to 30 or 32 gauge. Amazon is the place. If you search silicone insulated wire you will fone a vast array of suppliers and colors. I found sellers that sell it in small amounts and the prices are very good. I use red and black. I also bought a mininture wire stripper from Amazon. This way you can use the wire as is, or I on occasion strip the sinulation off and use as tubing. I use the very small gauge as wiring on 1/20 motors, works great. 

MFH has a line if very small silicone tubing also. Some less than 1 mm. Perfect fuel lines, brake lines, what ever. I use their clear brown as fuel lines on 1/20 motors. The MFH stuff is not cheap, but it is good. A bit hard to come buy right now.

if course Detail Master has all the fancy metal pieces. A vast array of AN fittings. Very nice stuff, again not cheap. 

I would for sure try to get the silicone wire, easy to get, budget wise and may options in size and color.

Hope that helps.

Phil S

  • Member since
    December 2020
  • From: Billings, Montana
Posted by Phil S on Tuesday, December 8, 2020 11:41 PM

Don

Go to Amazon and search silicone insulated wire. you can get all the way down to 32 ga. I use all kinds of this stuff on 1/20 and 1/12 cars. I just used a bunch on the 1/12 Italeari Alpha 8C. it is soft, supple and easy to use and bend.

You can get lentghs in the 15' area and some comes in colors. I use red and black. If you get a stripper, goes to 30 or 32 you can pull the insulation off the carrier wire and use it like tubing. It is handy and not all that expensive. if you buy the fancy small tubing from the model outfits it is bloody pricey. Amazon not so much.

Hope that helps

Phil

  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: Twin Cities of Minnesota
Posted by Don Stauffer on Thursday, December 10, 2020 8:46 AM

Tanker-Builder

Hey Don: What's a Mephistophole?

 

It's a synonym for the devil.  So named for the devilish noise it made.  It is a racing car, a land speed record car.  I'm detailing the build in this forum.

I will check out the wire on Amazon as soon as I leave the forums, Phil.

 

 

Don Stauffer in Minnesota

  • Member since
    February 2014
Posted by jazzsoul60 on Thursday, December 10, 2020 9:56 AM

https://www.albionhobbies.com/product-ranges/albion-alloys-precision-metals/

  • Member since
    November 2020
Posted by photoman_6 on Friday, December 11, 2020 2:14 PM

thank you all for amazing suggestions.

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