forum.ww1aircraftmodels.com

WW1 Aircraft Modeling => Hints and Tips/Questions about modeling => Topic started by: Ringleheim on May 05, 2020, 03:39:15 AM

Title: Rigging in 1/48 Scale
Post by: Ringleheim on May 05, 2020, 03:39:15 AM

With the demise of WNW I have thought about building a WWI aircraft in 1/48 scale for the first time.

The first thing that hits me is that rigging must be really difficult in an even smaller scale than 1/32.

I have been rigging WNW kits with success following the tutorials at this site.  I'm going with the fishing line, brass tubing, wire-made turnbuckle approach.

Does anyone do that in 1/48 scale? 

I have the fishing line/wire/tubing down to about as small as you can get it, which looks good in 1/32 scale.

I fear it would be too big in 1/48.

How do folks rig in 1/48?  Any tricks anyone can share?

Thank you,
Jim

Title: Re: Rigging in 1/48 Scale
Post by: smperry on May 05, 2020, 04:45:45 AM

Jim
I would pre drill all the holes at each end of each run, then insert the preferably pre colored rigging line, be it mono or elastic, into the hole and secure with a tiny drop of CA. Elastic installs tight and mono will shrink and tighten right up if you expose it to heat from a hot wire or an adjustable voltage soldering iron. Add turnbuckles out of a small drop of white glue, partially dried and applied with a toothpick or thin wire so it will hold an elongated shape on the rigging wire. Paint steel or brass when dry. Fake glue turnbuckles are closer to scale in 1/48 than anything you can actually manipulate or poke rigging through. They are noticeable as turnbuckles on my 1/48 models, but you really have to squint hard to tell they are glue blobs.
HTH
sp

Title: Re: Rigging in 1/48 Scale
Post by: Ringleheim on May 07, 2020, 07:42:31 AM

Thanks for the reply. 

I feared 1/48 would be too small to use separate components for all the rigging.

I will experiment with this technique!

Title: Re: Rigging in 1/48 Scale
Post by: Ryan on May 07, 2020, 08:48:08 AM

Yeah I haven’t given up yet on 32nd and am also looking at some 48th subjects.

Title: Re: Rigging in 1/48 Scale
Post by: Brad Cancian on May 07, 2020, 03:09:52 PM

Hi Jim - I indeed do use turnbuckles / tubing in 1/48, using much the same method as in 1/32. Here are some examples, to give you an idea of how this looks in 1/48:

(http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b387/bradcancian/Salmson%202A2/Sal34_zpsbc4bd95e.jpg)
(https://hosting.photobucket.com/albums/b387/bradcancian/.highres/N174819.jpg)
(https://hosting.photobucket.com/albums/b387/bradcancian/1-48%20Caproni%20Ca20/.highres/CA2023_zpsruktejyf.jpg)
(https://hosting.photobucket.com/albums/b387/bradcancian/1-48%20Pfalz%20DIII/.highres/DIII08_zpsnwyxydse.jpg)

It is certainly oversize and not to scale, but I still feel adding these buckles give a a little 'something' more to the model.

I don't do this in 1/72 scale, that would be very out of place.

Cheers,

BC

Title: Re: Rigging in 1/48 Scale
Post by: Softscience on November 26, 2020, 05:37:47 AM

I use microtubing that I apply over monofilament and then use the through-hole method to attach. Paint the tubing silver to simulate a turnbuckle. Its not as intricately detailed as loops and brass rod, but is pretty nice, I think.

Title: Re: Rigging in 1/48 Scale
Post by: bobs_buckles on November 26, 2020, 07:12:47 AM

You could use 0.4mm brass tube with ultra fine fishing line. 1lb breaking strain should be fine for bringing the line back through the tube.
When you make your eyelets, run the copper wire or silver wire through a candle flame to soften. This will allow a much tighter turn onto your former.

Good luck!
Happy rigging!

vB  ;)

Title: Re: Rigging in 1/48 Scale
Post by: Stuart Malone on December 01, 2020, 04:52:35 AM

Jim,

I posted my rigging reference sheet in a sub topic.  You can find it here:

https://forum.ww1aircraftmodels.com/index.php?topic=9806.0 (https://forum.ww1aircraftmodels.com/index.php?topic=9806.0)

I hope you find it useful or at least a starting point for your own calculations.

Stuart