Aerials

[Hardcastlehotspur]

Anyone any good tips on what to use for scratch-built aerials?

I 've used wire from telephone cables, which is quite good, but I feel I fail miserably when it comes to something to connect it to the vehicle.

Any tips would be gratefully received.

Thanks in anticipation.

[sarge831]

I use bristles from a wire brush, drill a suitable size hole, spot of superglue on the 'aeriel' and insert. As they are so stiff they also serve as an anti handling device! , Softer plastic bristles can also be used if you prefer. Aeriel mounts can be made from greenstuff or similar, or from bits of sprue

[Hardcastlehotspur]

Thanks for that Sarge831.

I had tried bristles once before, but not from a wire brush. Shall have to try that.

I've seen "greenstuff" mentioned before, but haven't a clue what it is. More research required I think.

Thanks again.

HH

[adt70hk]

Greenstuff is a two part modelling putty

[Hardcastlehotspur]

Thanks adt70hk. Will look out for it.

[Armourfast-Colin]

The problem with hard aerials is that you can bet your boots as to who will be the first one to get attacked by them & it won't be the person who (as Sarge831 is hinting at) some Oik wanting to pick up your creation!

Also, I've seen stretch sprue used, but this (as are many other "hard" suggestions) is then breakable. What I'll be using (as & when I can get round to it!!) is some bristles from an old paint brush... look "whippy" enough for aerials & I won't end up feeling like a pin cushion!!

[adt70hk]

Thanks adt70hk. Will look out for it.

HH

No problem. It's a bit softer than milliput and has slightly different properties to milliput. I know of at least one person who uses a mixture of the two to get the best of both worlds.

As for aerials themselves, I use the plastic bristles cut from your standard kitchen broom (long handled). They're almost impossible to break, bend in every direction, work with standard poly glue and one broom should be enough to do several armoured divisions, if not a couple of corps!! I drill a hole and then slip a short length of fine plastic tube over the hull end to help hold the bristle in place on the hull.

I've also discovered that if you bend them hard through 90 degrees using a pair of tweezers they stay bent and don't snap like styrene. I use them, when improving my base kits, as handles on the crew and engine hatches. They also seem to come in slightly different thicknesses to suit your needs.

Have a close look at this viewtopic.php?f=9&t=60 and you'll see what I mean about the handles and aerial.

All the best.

Andrew

[sarge831]

Thanks for that adt70hk, I tried plastic bristles but did not like the finish, but yours look ok, as do the handles etc, have to treat the wife to a new brush but will pay more attention to the quality of the bristles this time!

[Hardcastlehotspur]

Mant thanks everyone for your excellent suggestions. Very much appreciated.
I have plenty of options to try out on current and future tanks.

[adt70hk]

Thanks for that adt70hk, I tried plastic bristles but did not like the finish, but yours look ok, as do the handles etc, have to treat the wife to a new brush but will pay more attention to the quality of the bristles this time!

Sarge

No problem and thanks for the feedback on my efforts. Also, please let me know how getting your wife a brush for your anniversary goes down!!

Andrew