 smnhnd wrote: |
1/700 and 1/350 Im thinking of using fishing line. But I dont want it looking like mooring lines on the mast . |
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For 1/700 you can use stretched sprue or if you like working with fishing type line use tippet, which is also called fly tying line. It comes in very narrow widths and is available from Dai Riki (Pacific Front Hobbies in Oregon sells it for ship modelers). Some modelers use lycra, the stuff found in women's stockings, but unraveling it and keeping it straight seems like too much work for me. Just bear in mind that virtually anything used for rigging in 1/700, no matter how tiny will be overscale. That being said, you can still achieve a satisfactory appearance with small enough line.
For 1/350 you can more easily use the same type of stuff and still be closer to or in scale. Another material to consider is EZ Line which is found in model railroad shops. I believe it was originallly intended to string telephone lines in small scale railroad settings. However, I have found it to be very useful in rigging 1/350 ships as it is VERY friendly to clumsy, fat fingered, arthritic modelers like myself. The line is some kind of rubber product that glues well and retains flexibility, so that when I bump into it, it flexes, rather than pulls on the part I just glued, stopping it from snapping anything else off. It also keeps up the appearance of being straight without having to use heat to tighten up lines.
Another tip I recently have been exploring for such things as short straight lines or stays, etc. is using paint brush bristles. They are easily glued and stay straight without heat. Go to Home Depot or Lowes or your local hardware store and check out the large paint brushes, find the color bristles you like and you won't even have to paint the lines after or before installing them. Many of the brushes have very fine bristles that will work well in 1/350, much less so in 700. WS