Author Topic: EZ Line  (Read 3591 times)

Offline ebergerud

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EZ Line
« on: September 01, 2014, 01:54:49 PM »
Before I can build a biplane, I've got to finish a destroyer as yet unrigged. I was on WNW website a while back and noticed that they seem to be endorsing EZ Line. I've got some and have found it great for making aircraft aerials. While I can't see its obvious advantages over standard mono for rigging a plane (2lb test appears to get the nod here) I wouldn't ignore a thumbs up from WNW. If others think EZ is worth a shot I'll use my "small" to rig the 1/350 scale DD nearing completion (it may be too thick in theory because nothing is too thin for ship fanciers - check out the much admired 20 denier Uni Caenis beloved by the hardiest souls - I think it's measured by the molecule) and get used to it. If EZ is perhaps just one's man's choice, I'll stick with mono for the ship (probably 1lb Berkley NanoFil with a whopping diameter of .001" which ship purists look down on, but I can see it). I've got 2lb P-line in reserve for a plane. I'll look around the board here and if a different brand/color is favored I'll pick it up as anything is easily found in an area like this with a lot of fly fishermen.  Mono is the devil I know. 

Eric

Offline Dave W

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Re: EZ Line
« Reply #1 on: September 01, 2014, 03:35:07 PM »
Hi

This is just one person's experience with EZ line so treat the remarks with that in mind. I found it fine for aircraft aerials in 1`/48th but a nightmare for rigging in larger scales.

The problem I had was/ is the EZ Line is a flat strand medium and if it twists on itself it looks terrible when glued in place. So every single strand has to be very carefully placed and double checked to ensure there's no kinks and twists in the stuff.

I use steel electrical wire strands rolled under a flat ruler on glass then cut to length and glued with PVA or super glue gel. In 1/32 scale nothing looks more lifelike than real wire.

This is just one view and others will no doubt have better opinions of stretchy line stuff  :)

cheers

Dave Wilson
Gold Coast
Australia
Owner and Administrator of ww1aircraftmodels.com and forum.ww1aircraftmodels.com

Offline Des

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Re: EZ Line
« Reply #2 on: September 01, 2014, 04:09:33 PM »
This is a second person's experience with EZ line. I always use 0.12mm monofilament for my rigging of 1:32 scale models, but with all the talk about this EZ line I thought I would give it a go, well, what a disaster, as David mentioned, it has a flattish profile and when twisted it looks pretty crap, also if stretched too much it looks a different thickness to other lines that are not stretched as much. But the biggest disadvantage is that it adds no structural strength to the model at all where as mono does and does it extremely well, I will be sticking with my trusted and proven mono.

Des.

PS. This is just my experience, other guys have had a lot of success using stretchy lines.
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Offline PrzemoL

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Re: EZ Line
« Reply #3 on: September 01, 2014, 05:49:05 PM »
I will echo what the other have already said. Some time ago I bought a roll of EZ-line and after a test I put it to the deep bottom of my drawer for the reasons precisely described above. So, it is not just one person's view...
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Ash nazg thrakatuluk, agh burzum-ishi krimpatul.

Offline Ian from Doncaster

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Re: EZ Line
« Reply #4 on: September 01, 2014, 06:37:27 PM »
In my experience EZ line has good and bad points.

On the plus side, the elasticity makes it very forgiving and you will always (except see below) get a nice tight line.  You don't get a curve radius whenever there is a slight bend - on exiting a fuselage hole for tail rigging for example - that can happen with mono.  You can even tie this stuff off in a knot and trim the spare.  It takes CA reasonably well, can be painted with care, and loses some of the flatness (especially the thinner version) when stretched. You can even thread it through 0.5mm brass tubes to replicate turnbuckle bodies or ferrules, however it helps to cut across the tread at an angle to get a point to start the threading.  In my experience, the stretched line helps the structure, if not with rigidity then certainly holding everything together - so if one wing moves slightly when you rig the second side, you don't get any slack.

However, as others have said, it can twist and have varying thickness dependent on tension.  Threading through brass tube although possible is very difficult and frustrating.  Painting has to be done after fitting, as if done before fitting the paint can flake or look patchy after stretching.  Also painting after fitting risks splattering the rest of the model surface.  I compromise by painting mine before fitting but stretched already.  As for CA, it can take it too well - if you use any more than a tiny drop at an eyelet or into a surface, then the first mm or 2 of the line can become offset compared to the whole line, due to the glue altering the tension at and near the attachment point.

If you already have EZ Line and various mono, just my thought but why not try a practice run?  Maybe use an "empty" sprue and rig between the sprue structure and compare the types against each other?

mike in calif

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Re: EZ Line
« Reply #5 on: September 01, 2014, 11:18:35 PM »
I've had much the same experience with EZ line. The local hobby has some of the Uschi v Rosten elastic line, which looks to be a tighter tolerance, and more round than flat.
 The WNW kits sure can help one to buy aftermarket goodies at an almost exponential rate.

Offline drdave

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Re: EZ Line
« Reply #6 on: September 01, 2014, 11:37:06 PM »
I have the converse experience. I use the black thin EZ line and dont have issues with twist. It takes tension better than monofilament, which always pops out my expensive turnbuckles! It does not always thread thru gaspatch buckles, but can be wrapped around the tip and then glued. I have found it DOES add some structural integrity, and it has not sagged in 2 years. Its now all I use...... :)

Offline Dave in Dubai

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Re: EZ Line
« Reply #7 on: September 02, 2014, 02:50:49 AM »
Monofilament is my wire of choice as I wonder whether EZline will perish and disintegrate as it ages?

I don't like the thought of attempting to re-rig all of my WNW aircraft in twenty years when I cannot see them in any case!

I have recently used some biplane rigging material which I picked up in Japan made by a company called "Modelkasten".

The results I had with this were very good, and an alternative to mono, but with a little bit of stretch in the stuff.

Will be going over to the "dark-side" of flat wire rigging with my DH-9 build shortly as mono won't look like the real deal, however I may live to regret this later.

Time will tell....

Offline Old Man

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Re: EZ Line
« Reply #8 on: September 03, 2014, 02:24:04 AM »
I use the stuff pretty generally, resorting to thin wire only for short lengths. I also only build in 1/72, so my experience may be different. I suspect I would not endorse it for larger scale builds. But the thinnest range they make does very nicely on 1/72 builds. In that scale, it is not true it adds no structural strength; rigged wings are much sturdier, and by varying the 'pull' in places one can even correct small alignment problems on occasion.

That said, I certainly intend to look into the Uschi v Rosten material.

Offline Jim

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Re: EZ Line
« Reply #9 on: October 07, 2014, 09:55:27 PM »
...I have recently used some biplane rigging material which I picked up in Japan made by a company called "Modelkasten".

The results I had with this were very good, and an alternative to mono, but with a little bit of stretch in the stuff...

Dave: Does the modelkasten line have a steel colour to it? I've been looking around for mono that I don't have to paint ever since the world's greatest rigging line that Steve Robson had sold out.
Woof!

Offline rhallinger

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Re: EZ Line
« Reply #10 on: October 08, 2014, 12:14:22 AM »
I generally use monofilament for most rigging applications, but have found EZ-Line to be useful in certain short applications, particularly where delicate control horns or sharp entry angles directly into the flying surface are involved.  The EZ-Line will stay very taught but not put excessive pressure on the delicate part, and will enter the flying surface at a sharp angle without deforming and bending slightly at the entry point the way monofilament does.  The example I am thinking of is the elevator horn rigging on my Camel, which runs through both top and bottom wing elevators and over horns on both wings. 

Regards,

Bob