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Old 13 September 2005, 07:36 AM   #8 (permalink)
EricGoedkoop
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Welcome to the 'Drome, Simon!

The only advice I would offer you is on rigging, especially monoplanes like the E.III. It looks like you're using monofilament (fishing line, invisible thread) and running it through the wing. This is an easy way to do it; the problem is that the monofilament doesn't make a sharp bend but rather curves as it's passed through the hole, resulting in wires that look slack, even though you know you pulled them as tight as you dare. A similar thing happens at the back end on the rudder/elevator control lines - it's even harder to get a short run of monofliament to pull out straight point-to-point and stay that way. I speak from experience, not criticism - I've been there.

My suggestion, for what it worth - try straightened wire for the control lines. It's hard to find some that's thin enough to look right, buut in 1/48th scale you can get away with strands stripped out of the copper side of speaker wire. Cut a piece about 4" - 6" long. Get yourself two pair of needle-nose pliers and wrap each end of the wire around the jaws of one of 'em a few times so it won't slip out, then pull. The wire should stretch about 1/4" or so and as it stretches it will straighten itself out perfectly. Pull too far and it will break - and you'll break a lot of them until you get the feel of it. I did and still do. Color the straightened wire black with a marker and go to town. It can be cut with an Exacto knife and will hold in place with just a drop of white glue.

For bracing and warping wires on monoplane wings, I still use monofilament but I run the upper lower lines separately. Drill two holes (one in front of the other, chordwise) at each attachment, loop a new piece of monofilament through them and tie the ends in a loose knot. Pass the bracing/warping wires through this loop on the top and bottom of the wing, and then pull the knot tight. A drop of glue will hold it and the excess can be easily trimmed away. This allows you to adjust the upper and lower wires independently to keep everything taut, and your lines will terminate flat against the wing instead of arcing through it.

Good luck, and keep at it!

Eric
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