Tow cable forming

[Gb64c]

Hi

Wonder if anyone has a good technique for bending and forming plastic tow cables for thier kits.

I try using a candle and typically it just melts and get all screwed up.

Has anyone microwaved them?

[Art17847]

i have heard of builders using warm water to soften the plastic ....good luck

[schweinhund227]

Which Model are you talking about...

maybe it would be easier to replace them with metal
twisted wire ?

Let us know !

[Gb64c]

Which Model are you talking about...

maybe it would be easier to replace them with metal
twisted wire ?

Let us know !

Most of the Tamiya are straight hard plastic.

I good source for some small braided wire might be helpful

[MikeyKb]

Which Model are you talking about...

maybe it would be easier to replace them with metal
twisted wire ?

Let us know !

Most of the Tamiya are straight hard plastic.

I good source for some small braided wire might be helpful

If anyone can recommend a good source for small braided wire, it would be greatly appreciated! Buying the AM tow-cables can cost a small FORTUNE!! I refuse to pay $20 for a frigging tow-cable/wire!

Thanks!!

[schweinhund227]

Picture frame hanging steel cable comes to mind

As one source!

Any hardware stores have them.

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/7 ... L1500_.jpg

[MarkVerploeg]

Get some wire that a florist would use to support fragile flowers
They are about 0.30 mm thick
They should be uncoated (no plastic layer) and are made from copper or brass as that is a standard material for this kind of wire and it comes on a roll of many meters or yards
The color shouldn't matter as they get painted anyway
so check out a gardening center near you
most should have some of this wire in the decorating department and it should be lots cheaper then after market cables
altough i payed €3.50 per meter for them a few weeks ago
hope this helps
cheers Mark

[Gb64c]

The picture frame wire is nice but the scale seems incorrect, for at least the wire I have.

Typically I just leave them off

[Yevgeny]

I will be soon trying to bend plastic cables from Tamiya kit.
I'm not getting any extras for this model (early Panther kit), so will have to do with plastic cables.
I read somewhere that you need to put it in very hot water and bend it a little bit at the time, placing it hot water before each time.

Will report how it worked.

[Nev]

Good idea they can get expensive.

This site sells cable I might try some out at a later date.

http://www.rbmodel.com/index.php?action ... &group=084

[Joker56]

Old guitar strings work well, bit tough to bend though