Interesting Rigging Techniques

By: Adrian Koh

Panty Hose! The elastic stretchable kind.! don't go raiding your wife's or girlfriend's intimates drawer, you can just go out and buy your own, after all they cost only a couple of bucks per pack and come in useful colors like black. (If the store checkout clerk gives you a strange look, you can reply that you cross-dress too!)

Background information:

Nylons or panty hose are stretchable and are created using extremely fine (about 8 microns) filaments which are net woven as several strands at one time (little wonder why they rip so easily) On close inspection of each tuft of material you will soon notice that each strand is made up of several smaller strands.

Usage:

Use a pair of tweezers and cause a run in the nylons. Depending on the length you want, you can pull out a length usually up to 3 ft long without problem. Depending on the scale you are using, you may wish to double or even triple out the individual strands. Here is a guideline for the different uses and scales:

1:700

• Aircraft antennae: 1 strand would suffice (same for bracing wires on some biplanes in 1:700. it is difficult to see but on really close inspection , wow!)
• Ship radio antennae and rigging:
  Normally 2 strands (but 3 for battleships or really large vessels)

1:300

• Aircraft antennae: 2 strands; bracing wires e.g. for the Walrus aircraft on the Repulse or the Type "0" Pete on the Musashi also 2 strands
• Rigging: 3-4 strands on destroyers and frigates
  4-6 strands on battleships
• Antennae: Same

1:250 and 1:200

• Aircraft antennae: 3 strands
• Rigging and antennae for ships: 6 strands.

I figure that 6 strands is the maximum before it looks unrealistic.

Application:

1. Stretch out a strand long enough for use
2. Apply a very small amount of super glue (use the tip of a toothpick) to the first place of anchor for the antenna strand and touch the strand to the glue.
3. Hold in place till glue dries (usually this is about 10 seconds)
4. Stretch the end of the strand to the other anchor point (note : if you are using more strands, you may wish to twist the strands so that they seem like 1 thicker strand) and pull to tension slightly.
5. Apply super glue over strand and anchor point (not the entire strand)
6. When glue is dry trim off excess with a very sharp hobby knife blade.
7. There must be some tension in the nylon strand. (The strand should have a little elastic 'give' if you push down with your finger. This gives you some leeway and insurance against "Gee Mom! Check This Out!" kids... you know what I mean!)

Experiment by yourself to get the technique after a few tries you will find that it is really quite useful.

You can add insulators and simulate locks by adding a tiny drop of super glue gel to the appropriate points.