Remove funky antenna wire on BBI 1/18 planes?

dragon53 · Post by **dragon53** » Thu Dec 20, 2007 6:41 am

Is there anyone else who removed the funky antenna wire on BBI 1/18 planes?

I got my new BBI Donald Duck P-51 yesterday and compared it to my 21st Century Big Beautiful Doll P-51. The BBI P-51 is superior to the 21C in most areas---except the antenna wire.

AlloySkull · Post by **AlloySkull** » Thu Dec 20, 2007 10:32 am

I don't know but the funky antenna string on my 32x Me-109 inspired my to take stripped single strands of speaker wire and install them on several planes. I first wrapped around the mast and superglued to the tail or whatever surface, but I'm trying to think of a new way. But I don't think anything's as easy. It only takes about 5 minutes for one plane. The Me-262 upgrades from toylike to model material with a good looking antenna tied to the back of the seat in the cockpit, and centerlined and glued to the tail, flush.

Post by **aferguson** » Thu Dec 20, 2007 10:39 am

i always remove antena wires....overscale and fuzzy looking cause they're made from string.

You could always replace them with fishing line but i just leave them off as i find i'm always banging into them.

Yoxford · Post by **Yoxford** » Thu Dec 20, 2007 10:44 am

On my BBI P51, I used piano wire, micro springs, and plastic buts for the insulators.

http://img295.imageshack.us/img295/2359 ... 002xy5.jpg

tkjaer21 · Post by **tkjaer21** » Thu Dec 20, 2007 12:11 pm

Yoxford wrote:On my BBI P51, I used piano wire, micro springs, and plastic buts for the insulators.

http://img295.imageshack.us/img295/2359 ... 002xy5.jpg

Nice job on the antenna custom. Where can you get them?

Yoxford · Post by **Yoxford** » Thu Dec 20, 2007 12:44 pm

Thanks Tkjaer,

I picked up the piano wire at my local hobby shop, nothing special just it is spring steel very tough and very fine.

As for the spring and isolator, below are links of two shots of the antenna and spring tension assy. on the my BBI Corsair. The isolators are plastic tube sanded and painted.

I was looking for micro springs and during my search, found an old BIC lighter and thought "wonder what size spring makes this work?"
yup BIC uses 1/18 scale antenna springs for their lighters!

http://img440.imageshack.us/my.php?imag ... 010to3.jpg

http://img427.imageshack.us/my.php?imag ... 004ld1.jpg

Post by **aferguson** » Thu Dec 20, 2007 12:58 pm

yeah that's pretty spiffola...

King O' Fools · Post by **King O' Fools** » Thu Dec 20, 2007 2:03 pm

With BBI's approach at least there's room (potential) for improvement as far as the antenna is concerned. I don't think there's a way to replicate the antenna setup in the 21st version.

Has anyone tried "drilling" a hole through the canopy?

A hot needle may do the trick, but I wouldn't chance spoiling the only part of my BBD that's flawless

Completely OT: I decided to put together my Black Hawk yesterday only to discover the two halves of the body had been cast in different shades of green.

I almost screamed in horror at the sight.

That's a huuuge screw-up, BBI.

ELITE FORCE: AS PATHETIC AS IT GETS!!

Black_Dragon_One · Post by **Black_Dragon_One** » Fri Dec 21, 2007 9:48 am

you might want to try both...use the drill bit to drill a starter then follow through and use a heating needle to soften the edge.