forum.ww1aircraftmodels.com

WW1 Aircraft Modeling => Hints and Tips/Questions about modeling => Topic started by: ward on March 16, 2013, 11:31:15 PM

Title: Miniature Brass Tubing/Copper Wire
Post by: ward on March 16, 2013, 11:31:15 PM
Hi All-
  I am trying to find a source for miniature copper wire and brass tubing for turnbuckles and engine detailing. I've been on the JBmodel site and they have the nickel silver stuff in the .3mm size but I haven't seen brass. Can anyone share their sources with me?  Thanks in advance!                                                                     Jeff
Title: Re: Miniature Brass Tubing/Copper Wire
Post by: IanB on March 17, 2013, 12:32:28 AM
Albion Alloys in the UK has brass, nickel silver, and aluminium tube down to .3mm x .1mm (OD-ID) as well as a whole host of other useful stuff....
http://www.albionalloys.co.uk/

Ian
Title: Re: Miniature Brass Tubing/Copper Wire
Post by: Andi Little on March 17, 2013, 12:49:54 AM
Here's an option that worked..................

I was struggling like yourself and Pete from Nottingham shared this link with me...........

http://www.historexagents.com/shop/hxshop.php

Search down the left hand side for Griffon Models - proceed there and search down for "brass tubing" - Not too scary price-wise - postage was very reasonable and my order arrived within 48hrs.
They had all I wanted in stock and a great choice ... had a little look around since and haven't found anywhere better yet - so you can take that as a recommendation.
Title: Re: Miniature Brass Tubing/Copper Wire
Post by: gcn on March 17, 2013, 01:51:32 AM
For thin copper wire take apart a Cat5 cable and use the cable from that. That should keep you going for a few years.

Title: Re: Miniature Brass Tubing/Copper Wire
Post by: uncletony on March 17, 2013, 04:24:42 AM
If you are looking for a US supplier, Sprue Bros carries the Albion stuff...
Title: Re: Miniature Brass Tubing/Copper Wire
Post by: Andi Little on March 17, 2013, 04:41:29 AM
If you are looking for a US supplier, Sprue Bros carries the Albion stuff...

Do you know? I hadn't even considered that!! ............... And in acknowledgement: I've just been and made sure there's no confusion as to my location - and put in my age too, but I am assuming most have twigged I'm a geezer?

If nothing else as a courtesy to those that would like to know to whom it is they're talking to - "oo-er get him"!
Title: Re: Miniature Brass Tubing/Copper Wire
Post by: Des on March 17, 2013, 05:31:50 AM
I have found www.luckymodel.com to be excellent both with stock and price, and they have free post. Their site is a bit hard to navigate but if you type in Griffon then scroll through the Griffon range you will come across the brass tube.

As far as small copper wire, strip any type of electrical cable and you will find all different sizes of copper wire, the cables used for computers, printers, phones, rechargers all contain very small wire, the smallest I have found is 0.07mm which is tiny. A lot of these IT cables can be picked up at the two dollar shops and contain enough wire to last you a life time.

Des.
Title: Re: Miniature Brass Tubing/Copper Wire
Post by: kinnies on March 17, 2013, 02:57:51 PM
I can only agree with Griffon Models - luckymodels also has free shipping :D - just ordered a bunch of packs.

I also got lead wires, which come in handy for all sorts of piping etc. from UMM.

Cheers,
John
Title: Re: Miniature Brass Tubing/Copper Wire
Post by: lcarroll on March 18, 2013, 05:39:21 AM
I can only agree with Griffon Models - luckymodels also has free shipping :D - just ordered a bunch of packs.

I also got lead wires, which come in handy for all sorts of piping etc. from UMM.

Cheers,
John

You can get small guage lead wire in spools from sports fishing suppliers, commonly used for fly tying etc. In Canada/USA Cabellas has it in their on-line listings. Handy stuff, got this from fellow member Chris Johnson.
Cheers,
Lance
Title: Re: Miniature Brass Tubing/Copper Wire
Post by: LindsayT on March 18, 2013, 11:28:48 AM
luckymodels also has free shipping :D

Hey John,

I thought luckymodels had free shipping, too but when I go to their site now it shows a shipping cost calculated. Not onerous, but more than free, which is my favourite price. Are you doing some sort of Internet alchemy to get the free shipping?

LT
Title: Re: Miniature Brass Tubing/Copper Wire
Post by: Des on March 18, 2013, 06:06:58 PM
I just ordered some more brass tube from Lucky Model and it was free shipping by air, maybe it depends on the country you live in (I'm in Australia)

Des.
Title: Re: Miniature Brass Tubing/Copper Wire
Post by: stefanbuss on March 18, 2013, 11:08:29 PM
I can confirm the same for Germany - free shipping for Griffon brass tubes via air mail from LM.

Stefan
Title: Re: Miniature Brass Tubing/Copper Wire
Post by: Ian from Doncaster on March 19, 2013, 04:13:46 AM
I ordered some tubing from Historex yesterday, 0.3, 0.4 and 0.5 mm as I am almost out of those sizes.  My order has been dispatched today so should arrive very soon...
Title: Re: Miniature Brass Tubing/Copper Wire
Post by: kinnies on March 19, 2013, 10:15:51 AM
Hi LT,
From what I recall,  Griffon products are shipped free and perhaps other products. But most other items are not shipped free.
John
Title: Re: Miniature Brass Tubing/Copper Wire
Post by: Ian from Doncaster on March 20, 2013, 05:45:06 AM
I ordered some tubing from Historex yesterday, 0.3, 0.4 and 0.5 mm as I am almost out of those sizes.  My order has been dispatched today so should arrive very soon...

The tubes duly arrived today, ordered on Sunday, sent out on Monday.  I will use the 0.3mm inside 0.5mm to represent spark plugs on my latest build...
Title: Re: Miniature Brass Tubing/Copper Wire
Post by: Todd Holaday on March 27, 2013, 08:27:18 PM
I would like to try some .2mm OD brass tubing.  There are several sources that sell 12" lengths but you have to buy 20 pieces.  The total is about $50 for 20.  Anyone know a source for a smaller quantity?  .3mm OD is the smallest I see available from Griffon or Albion.
Title: Re: Miniature Brass Tubing/Copper Wire
Post by: gcn on March 27, 2013, 10:22:00 PM
I'm interested in what you would use 0.2mm for that would make 0.3mm look overscale.
Title: Re: Miniature Brass Tubing/Copper Wire
Post by: gcn on March 28, 2013, 12:01:41 AM
I would imagine that those brass sleeve turnbuckles are .5mm od, which is the standard size most people use rather than the smaller and readily available .03mm od. I think the .5mm looks ok in 1/32 and 1/48 but thats just my opinion.

I would also think that it would be quite hard to thread suitable rigging through a .3mm tube let alone a .2mm one. You certainly wouldn't be able to double it back through the turnbuckle, which again IMO creates a neater finish.

Good luck with your search, I would be interested in seeing any results.


Title: Re: Miniature Brass Tubing/Copper Wire
Post by: Todd Holaday on March 28, 2013, 04:26:53 AM
Thanks.  I decided to try the rbmotions pe turnbuckle set.  Ordered some today.  I'm going to put a caliper on them when I get them for fun to see what the od's are.  And I'm sure you are right about doubling the line back through.  Thanks for the advice.
Title: Re: Miniature Brass Tubing/Copper Wire
Post by: ALBATROS1234 on March 29, 2013, 05:21:29 AM
also check local art supply and fabric/craft stores i found spools of super fine wire in the beading areas. also see description of a tool i designed on des main website. its easy to make and makes the job of producing eyelets much faster and more consistant.

http://www.ww1aircraftmodels.com/page26.html
Title: Re: Miniature Brass Tubing/Copper Wire
Post by: Ian from Doncaster on March 29, 2013, 05:29:48 AM
You're not wrong there, I recently picked up some 0.4mm beading wire in copper, brass, black and also steel - the latter is almost like braided wire.  I took a sample pic but it didn't come out too well...