plug wire question

[wayneman]

I have added a lot of realism to my projects through info gained on this site. I still am having a problem with plug wires (well really a lot of stuff but I'll stick to the wires today). I normally use wire from a phone cord but can't get it to bend naturally and look real (like gravity is naturally pulling it down). The best I have been able to do is an arch of sorts that looks pretty good but is still not quite "right". The wire also appears to look a little to big to be in scale. I was useing some wire that I bought online but it appears too small (it is easier to get it to bend and look right although it has a tendency to want to make sharp bends). I would appreciate any tips that you guys could offer.

[weasel]

have you tried painted sewing thread??

Edited January 20, 2010 by weasel

[ChrisPflug]

I like using metal wire, usually 28 gauge, bent to the proper "sag" and brush painted a flat color afterwards

small pieces of telephone wire insulation can make decent boots

Edited January 20, 2010 by ChrisPflug

[Guest Gramps-xrds]

I have added a lot of realism to my projects through info gained on this site. I still am having a problem with plug wires (well really a lot of stuff but I'll stick to the wires today). I normally use wire from a phone cord but can't get it to bend naturally and look real (like gravity is naturally pulling it down). The best I have been able to do is an arch of sorts that looks pretty good but is still not quite "right". The wire also appears to look a little to big to be in scale. I was useing some wire that I bought online but it appears too small (it is easier to get it to bend and look right although it has a tendency to want to make sharp bends). I would appreciate any tips that you guys could offer.

The reason phone wire looks out of scale is because it is. Plug wires are 1/4th or 5/16th of an in. In 1/25th scale that would be .010 or .012. The smallest insulated phone wire I've found is .020 or .030. Which would make a .020 wire be 1/2in scale.

[diymirage]

i bought what was called "beading wire" on ebay

i think i payed 4 dollars for a set of 6 different colours

[Guest snapper]

I have been having trouble with that recently too. I used a couple of charts of the internet (American wire gauge chart) to help me visualize more. The beading wire is a good idea, but I haven't tried that yet because I thought it would be too hard to bend and curve for a natural look. I haven't tried the thread yet either, but maybe I can look around some more.

The other thing that I have found that is important is to look for wire that is single conductor (not stranded). This will help you make the bends easier. You may find/search a lot of names for wire too like single conductor wire, hook up wire, kynar wire, wrapping wire, etc. I found some decent wire around 30 gauge on ebay that I think will get me by.

Like you, this is still a wip for me to find some good wire, and I'm interested in hearing from others about the exact gauge you might need for both 1/24 and 1/25 scales...

Edited January 20, 2010 by snapper

[CAL]

Yeah phone wire is good for some things but a bit big for plug wires.

Radio Shack 30g hookup wire look for WRAPPING WIRE is good for plue wires.

Edited January 20, 2010 by CAL

[droogie]

This might be useful:

http://www.swannysmodels.com/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1264032877

[Foxer]

This might be useful:

http://www.swannysmodels.com/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1264032877

Just remember, it's not typically the wire size that is important. The wire insulation is what you typically use for plug and other rubber, insulated wires. This not a standard size, but the wire gage does give an idea once you become familiar with wires.

[Eric Stone]

Yeah phone wire is good for some things but a bit big for plug wires.

Radio Shack 30g hookup wire look for WRAPPING WIRE is good for plue wires.

That is what I use, and it looks right to me. I only have red and blue, so I've gone into a couple of Radio Shack stores lately but they don't have it. If I describe it to them, they direct me to some sort of magnetic motor wire or something (3 colors, looks anodized, about the right size but totally wrong appearance for scale plug wires). I'm going to look at Fry's Electronics since they stock a lot of base component type stuff for building computers and other electronic gizmos. I'm looking for black and gray.

[diymirage]

I have been having trouble with that recently too. I used a couple of charts of the internet (American wire gauge chart) to help me visualize more. The beading wire is a good idea, but I haven't tried that yet because I thought it would be too hard to bend and curve for a natural look. I haven't tried the thread yet either, but maybe I can look around some more.

The other thing that I have found that is important is to look for wire that is single conductor (not stranded). This will help you make the bends easier. You may find/search a lot of names for wire too like single conductor wire, hook up wire, kynar wire, wrapping wire, etc. I found some decent wire around 30 gauge on ebay that I think will get me by.

Like you, this is still a wip for me to find some good wire, and I'm interested in hearing from others about the exact gauge you might need for both 1/24 and 1/25 scales...

it seems to be a sort of metal wire so it bends very nicely

it holds the benp perfectly

[Guest snapper]

Thanks for these tips - some good ideas to go out and hunt some more. I didn't think of Fryes...

diymirage - do you paint the wire afterward?

I have bought Radio Shack wire before, and it works pretty good and seems to be about the right size with the insulation (maybe slightly smaller than needed). I have only found the red, white, and blue there - no black. I've seen the anodized as beading wire with good size at Michaels, but like you mentioned Eric - totally wrong appearance.

[dwc43]

Why not use these. http://www.lpstech.com/distributors.htm#8%20Cylinder%20Distributors

They have the correct wire colors, cap colors and they look correct. Only way to go.

[diymirage]

Thanks for these tips - some good ideas to go out and hunt some more. I didn't think of Fryes...

diymirage - do you paint the wire afterward?

i havent yet because i have only used them on "new" engines

if i were to build a beater where i wanted the engine to look old then i would slap some grime on there

[MikeMc]

Why not use these. http://www.lpstech.c...%20Distributors

They have the correct wire colors, cap colors and they look correct. Only way to go.

Gotta agree with this....Kris Morgans stuff Rocks!!!!

Edited January 21, 2010 by MikeMc

[crazyjim]

Why just go to Scale Dreams that has the correct size wire and in a variety of colors. Rick also has scale wire looms.

[sak]

Get down to an electronics supply store and look for wire wrapping wire. Where I bought mine, has 30 gauge and I beleive it comes in slightly larager gauges too, which would make good battery cables. Comes in red, yellow and black. It is only very slightly larger than the race ignition wire from detail master, maybe only 1 drill bit size larger. Use the phone wire for the boots.

Jeff

[Eric Stone]

Well I went to Fry's today, and they only had red, blue, and green wrapping wire. I'll have to find some other places to check besides there or Radio Shack I guess.

I don't do the pre-wired stuff because they're $5 - $6... For $8 I have a spool of wire that'll last me a lifetime, and it's not that hard to drill out the distributor cap to do it myself.

[wayneman]

I really appreciate the responses. There are a number of them that I will try. I may try the wrapping wire first (keeping cost low is important to me, so I won't be buying online). I can't believe what a difference the research I have done on this website has made to my models. I had almost stopped building altogether. But the stuff now looks nothing like before! Again, thanks. I will try to snap a few photos of the 69 Charger I am finishing up and post them.