RFC/German wire diameters

[GrahamB]

Hi All,

I was searching for a table that I imagined I had that shows actual diameters of the various rigging and control wires used by the RFC/RAF (1/4-in BSF, 2BA etc) and Germany but it is nowhere to be found. Does anyone have any information on this subject? I know there are recommended thicknesses for modelling but I'd prefer to see the original measurements.

Many thanks.

GrahamB

[uncletony]

Hi All,

I was searching for a table that I imagined I had that shows actual diameters of the various rigging and control wires used by the RFC/RAF (1/4-in BSF, 2BA etc) and Germany but it is nowhere to be found. Does anyone have any information on this subject? I know there are recommended thicknesses for modelling but I'd prefer to see the original measurements.

Many thanks.

GrahamB

I can quote you all the wire dimensions for a Fokker D.VII (but it would take some time to compile off the drawings) ; RFC rigging tables can be found for most planes with a little digging I think...

[GrahamB]

Hi Bo,

Thanks. The rigging tables are OK it's just the actual diameters/thicknesses that elude me. I'm sure I've seen some information somewhere but I've not had any luck 'Googling' either.

Cheers,

GrahamB

[uncletony]

The BSF sizes (1/4, 9/32) are in inches

2BA is about 4mm:

http://www.trfastenings.com/pages/Decimal+Equivalents

[IanB]

Thanks for posting those Bo, I've been looking for this info myself for a while to make sure my rigging is to scale. I guess I'll have to switch to .06mm in 1:72! Interesting to note that the inner flying wires and u/c bracing wires are larger.

Ian

[GrahamB]

Yep, many thanks for this. This makes sense now. If any other wire thicknesses turn up in my own searches I'll post them as well.

Cheers,

GrahamB

[uncletony]

Re: Fokker D.VII

Control cables are 4mm
Internal bracing wires are 2mm

[GrahamB]

Thanks again Bo.

Found this reply by the late and great Dan-San on another forum that gives actual widths of the streamline wires (I even tried the website of one of the principal makers, Brunton but no luck there);

"The dimensions I gave are for RAF Streamline wires, on the first thread I only gave the width, here are the width and thickness:
1/4 bsf, the section is .4" x .09", Thread dia. 1/4"
4BA is: .17" x .06". Thread dia. 5/32"
2BA is: .18" x .07". Thread dia. 3/16"
Blue skies,
Dan-San"

So folks,  please note that the 1/4" (and 9/32) refers to the terminal thread diameter.

In summary then:

2BA       is 4.6 mm x 1.8 mm. In 1/32: 0.14 mm X 0.06 mm
4BA       is 4.3 mm x 1.5 mm. In 1/32:  0.13 mm x 0.05 mm
1/4BSF  is 10.4 mm x 1.5 mm. In 1/32: 0.33 mm x 0.05 mm
9/32     no data yet
Fokker control 4mm. In 1/32: 0.13 mm
Fokker internal bracing 2mm. In 1/32: 0.06 mm.

(all figures rounded up)

I've measured the fine EezyLine (flat x-section) at about 0.3-0.35 mm unstretched, the fine UvR (also flat) at about 0.08 mm unstretched and the medium (flat) at just under 0.2 mm. Don't have any of the thickest yet. Experimentation with different levels of stretch to achieve scale thickness to be done (I use microscopes at home with micrometer scales).

Cheers,

GrahamB

[GrahamB]

I found the 9/32 BSF wire size on a website (Hyperscale)

width 10.26 mm, thickness 2.56 mm.  In 1/32 this is 0.32 mm and 0.08 mm respectively.

Cheers,

GrahamB