Been privy to this tip for quite some time as whenever I changed the strings over I’d always keep the clippings and a few of the others, good one to share!
After watching this video the other day I ordered the guitars string that you suggested, they came in yesterday and did antenna today . Hank that’s the way to go , just like down town. Thank you.
Guitar strings are very handy to have at the bench! Only drawback to them is their rigidity...very tough to get a smooth bend. Dog whiskers also make great whip antennas....got a perfect built in taper to em!
A great tip man! I have tried the sprue stretch method many times without real success, and when I did make it work, I broke off the antenna first time I picked up the model. Thanks for showing us this method. Now- where did my son put his guitar strings! Cheers from Australia 🇦🇺!
Oh yup, good ol daddario light gauges, happy I got a huge pack of those a few years back (switched from Ernie Ball, too expensive), maybe I’ll rip up a pack of those next time? Thanks for the video! P.S. Beautiful Tele on the thumbnail, may need to get my Tele game up since I’m too much of a semi hollow hoarder!
I have used this methode for quite a while aswell and it works great. However I have one quick thing to mention, don't use cheep sprue cutters for this task. Steel guitar snares are very hard and could damage your cutters easily, happend to me
I actually don't recall! I retired this set to antenna-duty a few years back & I honestly didn't check the color before snipping. It was definitely one of the bottom ones though... believe it was the G or B to your point. The E is a little too small with these XLs 🎸
My method is more economic. I use lower guitar string (D, A strings) for tow cable. But for atena, I use solid core vape coil wire with 28 awg size. They are very easy to bend. You can use it as atena and many other things. For a small roll (30 meters), you can build a big collection of tanks
Perhaps a tip for you and others, E Z line makes a stretchy line that is used for scale model AC antennas. It works great as a tie down for armor model antennas. Many of the antennas on tank turrets were tied down so they didn’t get knocked around by trees/underpasses, etc
I saw a guy using the plastic kind. He cut and pulled it apart. Then made another cut on the opposite side. The end result looked like it had a spring on the bottom.
Awesome! Sure looks sturdier than the ol' sprue melting trick. by the way, what model is that? I've been looking into getting a T-34/76 for a while now, I'm wondering if you have any recommendations.
it looks a lot like the tamiya T-34/76 in 1/35, but turret is either modified or from another kit i think. it's an alright kit but the rubber tracks are very tight and its a 1974 mould i think.
Hmm... two feet is pretty big! I'm not positive on the measurements, but try searching for a 1/16th scale kit. That might get you in the right ballpark!
@@sidneywaller9191 Varnish is like a clear coat of sealant for models, it keeps all the paint safe. However, you will eventually have to dust them anyway.
Aack! Send me your spare sprue! I used all mine up trying to make plastic antennas. I failed, but I will continue to try to succeed. Not going to spend money to buy third party antennas.
Tip - don’t use your best expensive precision sprue cutters for this, cutting hardened steel like piano wire, or guitar strings, really messes up cutting blades. Make sure you have some cheap cutters for this job. Another tip for cat owners - please don’t pluck your cat, but occasionally you find shed whiskers, when you do collect them and put them aside because they make brilliant whip antennas, very scale because they taper to a point like the real thing.
Are you kidding me. That is absolutely AWESOME!!!! Thanks a ton
Sure thing!! 👍🍻
Great tip. Went straight out and bought a $3.50 steel string and all my 1:72/75 AFVs now have great aerials!
Been privy to this tip for quite some time as whenever I changed the strings over I’d always keep the clippings and a few of the others, good one to share!
...and here I was stretching sprue... Thanks for the tip!
Haha hey, the stretched-sprue technique is a classic that I definitely still use sometimes - this is just another solid option 👍🍻
Did that too since I was a teenager. (61 now...). Works perfect too.
Awesome video!! HAve done this technique numerous times but with piano wire.
Thanks. Music wire is pretty tough and specialized cutters may be an option to make life easier for your spruce cutters.
Yeah this is about the max amount of stress I'll put them under - just choke up a bit & it works alright! 😅
After watching this video the other day I ordered the guitars string that you suggested, they came in yesterday and did antenna today . Hank that’s the way to go , just like down town. Thank you.
Ahh fantastic! Really glad to hear it - thank you 👍
Guitar strings are very handy to have at the bench! Only drawback to them is their rigidity...very tough to get a smooth bend.
Dog whiskers also make great whip antennas....got a perfect built in taper to em!
Being a guitarist as well i find it pretty useful 😁 nice trick mate .
Awesome! Works out well, eh? 👍🎸
Can't wait to try this with the 1/24 Challenger T/A model I'm building now. Thanks!
Awesome! Enjoy!
Hi Frank, that was a great idea mate, I have used strings before but used glue, but nest time I will used heat, best regards from Australia 👍👍👍👍
Give it a go! Makes things a little easier I think 👍 thanks for watching!
I always made antennae with a piece of sprue. Heat it and then drag both ends from each other until you have the thickness wanted.
Outstanding Hank! Great trick, never saw that one before. It works great! Cheers 😃.
Thank you - it's a really easy one once ya know! Hope it's helpful 🍻
A great tip man! I have tried the sprue stretch method many times without real success, and when I did make it work, I broke off the antenna first time I picked up the model. Thanks for showing us this method. Now- where did my son put his guitar strings! Cheers from Australia 🇦🇺!
Yeah the sprue stretch can be tough sometimes! This is a nice alternative - and good luck on the string search! 😅🎸
Great tip! Thank you
Thanks for watching! 👍
Fantastic idea 😊
will try those technique. look easy.
It's pretty straight-forward for sure! 👍
Another great video!!! Thanks, Hank!
Thanks for watching! 🍻
Wow, what a great idea 💡 Thanks
Oh yup, good ol daddario light gauges, happy I got a huge pack of those a few years back (switched from Ernie Ball, too expensive), maybe I’ll rip up a pack of those next time? Thanks for the video! P.S. Beautiful Tele on the thumbnail, may need to get my Tele game up since I’m too much of a semi hollow hoarder!
Haha there ya go! Ernie's are solid as well. And thank you - she's a beaut'... had her for nearly 20 years now! 🤯
@@SpruesNBrews Really proves how a guitar can go a long way, with proper care!
Love the trick, but where is your mat coming from? I am 100% jealous of it.
Cheers Hank - nice one, Liam
Thanks - cheers! 🍻
This is a GREAT Tip. Now I have something to do with the guitar strings I break. Awesome 🍻🍻🍻
Yes! Broken strings are best - no sense in wasting if you don't have to! 👍🎸
I have used this methode for quite a while aswell and it works great. However I have one quick thing to mention, don't use cheep sprue cutters for this task. Steel guitar snares are very hard and could damage your cutters easily, happend to me
Pretty groovy! 🎸
Thanks! 🎸🤘
Thanks👍
Thanks for watching! 👍
Great tip, Hank. Went and grabbed some for myself.
Oh great! Hope they work well for you, too 👍
Great idea👏👏
Thanks! 👍🍻
For guitar players, could you tell us which string you chose at the :50 second mark? I'm guessing a G or B string? Thanks!
I actually don't recall! I retired this set to antenna-duty a few years back & I honestly didn't check the color before snipping. It was definitely one of the bottom ones though... believe it was the G or B to your point. The E is a little too small with these XLs 🎸
My method is more economic. I use lower guitar string (D, A strings) for tow cable. But for atena, I use solid core vape coil wire with 28 awg size. They are very easy to bend. You can use it as atena and many other things. For a small roll (30 meters), you can build a big collection of tanks
I love it!
Great!!
Good tip!
Thanks!
Perhaps a tip for you and others, E Z line makes a stretchy line that is used for scale model AC antennas. It works great as a tie down for armor model antennas. Many of the antennas on tank turrets were tied down so they didn’t get knocked around by trees/underpasses, etc
I saw a guy using the plastic kind. He cut and pulled it apart. Then made another cut on the opposite side. The end result looked like it had a spring on the bottom.
Hank, I have a few tubes of modeling putting I,ve never opened they seem hard can they be salvaged ?
Unfortunately I think if they're hard, they might be too far gone to work. Sorry!
Awesome! Sure looks sturdier than the ol' sprue melting trick. by the way, what model is that? I've been looking into getting a T-34/76 for a while now, I'm wondering if you have any recommendations.
it looks a lot like the tamiya T-34/76 in 1/35, but turret is either modified or from another kit i think. it's an alright kit but the rubber tracks are very tight and its a 1974 mould i think.
Thank you! It's one of the classic 1/35 scale Tamiya kits - their "Uralmash" turret version 👍
@@SpruesNBrews Nice, I'll take a look at it.
That is why use used Guitarstrings for my models.
Next to build Models,I play Guitar.
Same! Right on
so what's with tele from the thumbnail?
Where can I find a 24in long Sherman tank model or already built thank you
Hmm... two feet is pretty big! I'm not positive on the measurements, but try searching for a 1/16th scale kit. That might get you in the right ballpark!
@@SpruesNBrews 1/16th scale ok thanks 😎👍👌💸💸💸💸💸🍻
@@DavidCooper-rl2ue A Sherman at 1/16 will be about 18 inches long
Yep. Andy’s 1/16 Sherman is 18”.
@@DavidCooper-rl2ue Two feet long is absolutely gigantic, I doubt any kits exist that are that big
hey buddy how is life treating you today I have a question what is the best way to protect your model from damage dust from sitting for a while
Give it a nice coat of varnish. However, if you want to go the extra mile, it may be worth it to invest in a display case
@@FB2ABG I have big display case never used varish what would be the best one
@@sidneywaller9191 Varnish is like a clear coat of sealant for models, it keeps all the paint safe. However, you will eventually have to dust them anyway.
@@FB2ABG thanks for helping out I thought that was it you been a great help stay strong and keep up the good work
@@sidneywaller9191 Thanks, you too my friend
Genius
Thanks! Not my idea originally - though I have no idea where it came from!
Good reason to save your broken guitar strings!
For sure!! 🎸
Dang i could have had a v8 kind of thing , lol . Thank you .
Haha 🍻
Aack! Send me your spare sprue! I used all mine up trying to make plastic antennas. I failed, but I will continue to try to succeed. Not going to spend money to buy third party antennas.
Tip - don’t use your best expensive precision sprue cutters for this, cutting hardened steel like piano wire, or guitar strings, really messes up cutting blades. Make sure you have some cheap cutters for this job.
Another tip for cat owners - please don’t pluck your cat, but occasionally you find shed whiskers, when you do collect them and put them aside because they make brilliant whip antennas, very scale because they taper to a point like the real thing.
Cat whiskers!? No way - never would have guessed! 🤯
Scale is the most important aspect, but you never explain..
Doesn’t work for me
Nvm I got it lol