Skip Posted July 27, 2013 Share Posted July 27, 2013 Ok, when I see pictures posted on here of plug wires they look like most people are using larger diameter wire than the Detail Master wires I've used for years. So what diameter wire are you guys using? Are you going for scale diameter or what looks good? Both are ok because part of scale realism is fooling the eye to make you think what you are seeing is correct. To me the Detail Master plug wires look too skinny especially on performance engines, they're way too thin looking on a Hemi or any other racing engine. Is there another commercially available plug wire out there for race engines? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pro Tech Posted July 27, 2013 Share Posted July 27, 2013 Skip, we carry plug wire in 6 colors plus many other items, pic below, check us out. Charlie Pro Tech Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Art Anderson Posted July 28, 2013 Share Posted July 28, 2013 Ok, when I see pictures posted on here of plug wires they look like most people are using larger diameter wire than the Detail Master wires I've used for years. So what diameter wire are you guys using? Are you going for scale diameter or what looks good? Both are ok because part of scale realism is fooling the eye to make you think what you are seeing is correct. To me the Detail Master plug wires look too skinny especially on performance engines, they're way too thin looking on a Hemi or any other racing engine. Is there another commercially available plug wire out there for race engines? Consider this: If a sparkplug wire on a real engine were 1/4" in diameter, in 1:25 scale it would be just .010", which is pretty doggon small to most eyes. For that reason, some of us do like using slightly larger wire for plugs, for a visual effect, even though they might be a bit oversize in actual scale. For wire, I would look at copper beading wire, as that comes in a pretty wide variety of sizes, and being copper, it's soft and quite flexible. Art Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ace-Garageguy Posted July 28, 2013 Share Posted July 28, 2013 (edited) I have pretty good luck going for close to scale-correct. Figure some recent performance plug wires are 9mm outside diameter. That's .354331 inches. Divide that by 25 for 1/25 scale, and you get about .014 inches. There are tons of different kinds of craft-store beading wire (as Art suggested) in both colored, coated metal and plastic materials in diameters close to that (and the packages are labeled as such), and there's also very fine insulated electronics wire. Thinner wire looks better on stock engines (8mm) and thinner still on vintage '30s-'50s stuff (7mm). 7mm wire will be about .011 inches in 1/25 scale, and I can easily see the difference. Edited July 28, 2013 by Ace-Garageguy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Art Anderson Posted July 28, 2013 Share Posted July 28, 2013 I have pretty good luck going for close to scale-correct. Figure some recent performance plug wires are 9mm outside diameter. That's .354331 inches. Divide that by 25 for 1/25 scale, and you get about .014 inches. There are tons of different kinds of craft-store beading wire (as Art suggested) in both colored, coated metal and plastic materials in diameters close to that (and the packages are labeled as such), and there's also very fine insulated electronics wire. Thinner wire looks better on stock engines (8mm) and thinner still on vintage '30s-'50s stuff (7mm). 7mm wire will be about .011 inches in 1/25 scale, and I can easily see the difference. Good on Bill for the information as to diameter of at least some current plug wire! .014" is pretty much right on to US AWG 27-gauge wire, but that isn't readily available at any of the Michael's or Hobby Lobby stores I've been in, either here in Lafayette, or in Indianapolis--but both 26-gauge (.0159") and 28-gauge (.0126) are readily available in soft copper beading wire. For as close to scale as possible with this 1:1 size in mind, I'd go with 28-gauge, because once painted, it will probably be at least .014" diameter. Art Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wisdonm Posted July 28, 2013 Share Posted July 28, 2013 I've used this guy's stuff. Nice size, low shine, reasonable price, and several colors. http://www.ebay.com/itm/231020230320?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmc010 Posted July 29, 2013 Share Posted July 29, 2013 i use 32 gauge magnet wire from radio shack its the perfect size comes in several colors, readily available and dirt cheap for more wire than you will probably ever need Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Kucaba Posted July 29, 2013 Share Posted July 29, 2013 I bought 3 spools of wire wrapping wire(that's what Radio Shack called It) comes in red white and blue. You can color the white by just drilling a small hole in a sharpie and pulling it thru the hole. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeyB08 Posted July 29, 2013 Share Posted July 29, 2013 Would something like this be okay for plugs? http://www.ebay.com/itm/50-FT-30-AWG-KYNAR-WIRE-WRAP-WRAPPING-WIRE-U-PICK-COLORS-XBOX-360-PS3-CASEMOD-/271231271921?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3f26a4c3f1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jantrix Posted July 30, 2013 Share Posted July 30, 2013 Mikey. I have been using 30 gauge wrapping wire for years. Check out the engines in my album and decide for yourself if it will work for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blunc Posted July 30, 2013 Share Posted July 30, 2013 the kynar type wire wrap can be had in several colors as seen in James link, good sources are Digikey.com, Mouser.com and Newark.com they will also have larger/smaller gauges that can be used for other details like brake lines or radiator/heater hoses. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blown03SVT Posted July 30, 2013 Share Posted July 30, 2013 I bought 3 spools of wire wrapping wire(that's what Radio Shack called It) comes in red white and blue. You can color the white by just drilling a small hole in a sharpie and pulling it thru the hole The tip with the hole in the sharpie sounds pretty awesome... I will have to try that. I am cheap and use wrapping wire as well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crazyjim Posted July 30, 2013 Share Posted July 30, 2013 I've started to carry spark wire at Crazy Scale Auto Parts in 14 different colors. Just click on the link below and then go to wiring. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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