Best thread or wire for rigging 72 scale U-boat models.

I use thread- conventional thread not monofilament- for large scale like that.  Antennas are either stranded copper or steel wire- both age to a medium to dark gray, though copper will be darker.  Structural rigging will again be steel, maybe stainless which will be a bit lighter gray.  Avoid black or white.

Leelan,

    I went to my local Hobby Town and they had some thin wire from K&S Engineering. I don't remember its thickness but I believe it was .010". You can use the kits insulators. I added mine by hooking the wire around the insulators but in hindsight I'm sure it would be better to drill a hole into the insulator to mount the wire.

How big are the insulators in 1/1? I've never been able to find out.

I bought the smallest seed beads they sell at Michaels. I don't remember exactly how big they are. But they are nearer the size of 72 scale figure's hand than his head.

- Leelan

Personally,I've had good results using fishing line for rigging in 1/350,1/144 and 1/125.

EZ Line

www.berkshirejunction.com/ezline.html

Is this it?

the insulators I remember were about three to four inches long and half to three quarters diameter.

Thanks, guys!

Walmart  or any fabric supply place  carries invisible thread that comes in either clear or a smoke grey and comes in 2 or 3 thicknesses. I use them for all my rigging on ships and planes, great stuff and it's cheap and works.

Thanks, PJ!

We have to go to Walmart anyway. I'll trot over to fabrics and see if our WM carries it. It would save time and postage.

- Leelan

no sweat. Here's a picture of my Type VII/C:

Nice!

What did you use for your isolators? I was thinking about using teeny tiny seed beads from Michaels. If the real McCoy were 4 inches then they would be about the right size, about 1.5 mm.

- Leelan

Thanks Leelan. They were included in the Griffon Super Detail Set but since they are flat, I had to add several laminations of white glue to thicken them a bit.

Saw the invisible thread at our Walmart. It was thinner than a human hair. Can hardly see it up close. I guess I will have to go with the EZline.

- Leelan

I had a tough time tracking down EZ Line and was only able to find it on ebay (buy it now for around $10, maybe $12).  I also didn't want to go direct through the berkshire site though as I am not a big fan of mailing checks and such around.

Groot

All I see on eBay is 0.006 EZ Line. I thought 0.10 was recommended for anything near HO scale. I would rather not write a check either. PayPal or card online is what I want.

Too bad the local hobby shop has gone the way of the dodo.

- Leelan

I have a spool of .005 and it looks good in 1/72 but it's up to you. If you have a Hobby Lobby in your area stop by and see what they have in the Jewelry making dept. They carry tons of things useful in this hobby including miniature chains, wire and nylon thread in different thicknesses.

OK, PJ,

Yours turned out very well. "You can't argue with success." I will order a spool of charcoal.

On the EZ Line website it recommended 0.01 for anything like HO scale. The invisible thread at Walmart looked toi be thinner than a human hair. Way too "invisible" for my u-boats.

- Leelan

I made a chart of my 72 scale submarine collection.

I told my daughter that she has to move out so I can have her room to house the Fleet.

- Leelan

And I thought the Type VII was a big kit. I have seen a pic of a built GATO next to the VII, so that I-20 is a real whopper.

Bish

And I thought the Type VII was a big kit. I have seen a pic of a built GATO next to the VII, so that I-20 is a real whopper.

These are  not my models. But this gives you an idea of the sizes. These subs are all in 1/72.

Notice the new Moebius Skipjack lurking in the background.

- Leelan

The Type VII looks tiny, yet I know it isn't.

My Lord! That thing was HUGE! The Type VII looks like a dingy next to it!

Do you think the Japanese were compensating for something?

- Leelan