HOW TO: make a realistic antenna (for cheap!)

[hks_kansei]

ok, no pics sorry, but it is fairly simple.


you'll need:
small spring (such as in those clicky pens)
Cigarette lighter (the sort that makes a jet of flame is better)
Vise or clamp
pliers
plastic (small piece of sprue) (OPTIONAL)


METHOD:
step one: take the spring and clamp about 5mm (0.197 in) of one end tightly (dont worry about clamping the spiral pattern)

step two: heat the spring with the lighter (when it glows red, take heat off, otherwise it will break) while gently pulling on the end of the spring with the pliers (heat and straighten one spiral at a time)

step three: you will notice the spring become straight. you can clip the ends and stop here, but for more detail.

take a piece of sprue, place it on the table or bench (if you dont want the table burned, do this on concrete outside) heat it up with the lighter until it is a liquid (DO NOT TOUCH IT, IT HURTS A LOT AND STICKS TO YOU) take the straight spring and dip an end into the liquid plastic (rotate the spring while doing this) then remove.
let cool.
then take your lighter, and heat the plastic blob on the end of the antenna (only heat for about 2 secs, and rotate while doing)

you should end up with a lovely straight antenna, even with the little ball thingy on top of it.

[ales]

That sounds like way too much unnecessary work. Instead of trying to straighten the spring you can just use a thin metal rod (get it from your local hobby or RC store) - it will probably be thinner and also I doubt you'll be able to make a spring as straight as the metal rod would be. The thicker end can be easily made with superglue.

[2.2 Straight six]

just use a bit of guitar wire, its thin and springy. and cheap.

[freakray]

hks_kansai, have you actually done this?

I have concerns about advising inexperienced folks to heat a piece of metal up till it glows red, that's a lot of heat which can do everything from cause serious burns to start a fire if it's simply dropped on something flammable.

I don't advise any inexperienced person trying the method shown here.

[SupaMan89T]

you could use the end of a pin like for your wall as the intenena part but that is a good how to i might try it!

[Dublinguy]

Another solution I found for making the antenna was the plastic ties/wraps that you get in boxes of freezer bags (well in Ireland you do), Take one of them cut the plastic cover off, cut to length and paint.

You always seem to get to many of these types of ties in the boxes so plenty of left overs, easy to cut and no safety issues (unless ur missus finds out you have been nicking them and there is none left to close the bag).

[deedlit]

Another solution, a lot easier:

1 - Take a small length of part-tree, 4-5 cm are enough
2 - Light a candle
3 - Take your plastic part with pliers (at each end)
4 - Approach your plastic part to the flame, 5-6 cm from the flame are engouh to make the plastic melt. Too close and the plastic will burn.
5- When your plastic begins to melt, remove it from the flame and slowly move your hands apart. This will stretch the plastic out, and make it thin.
6 - Cut the desired length and paint, voilà!!

[Sticky Fingers]

Yep, that's the way as explained in Tamiya instructions and it's the one i use and would recommend

[mrceej]

Originally Posted by deedlit

Another solution, a lot easier:

1 - Take a small length of part-tree, 4-5 cm are enough
2 - Light a candle
3 - Take your plastic part with pliers (at each end)
4 - Approach your plastic part to the flame, 5-6 cm from the flame are engouh to make the plastic melt. Too close and the plastic will burn.
5- When your plastic begins to melt, remove it from the flame and slowly move your hands apart. This will stretch the plastic out, and make it thin.
6 - Cut the desired length and paint, voilà!!

Exactly what I was gonna say.

[Nobbys Nuts]

Why not just use a hair from a paint brush (the type you would paint a house with - not a hobby brush).

[allparish12]

can we get some pics?

[yater13]

Another option for antenna's if you have access to old computer equipment is to use the pins from a dot matrix printer head. These are about 0.0080" (0.20mm) in diameter, very straight, but very brittle. They normally are attached to some form of carrier that works well for attaching to the inside of the body for frenched style, or can be easily cut and inserted into a small hole in the body. With some 0000 steel wool, they shine up very nicely.

[Nobbys Nuts]

Originally Posted by allparish12

can we get some pics?

Paint Brush bristles.


Sorry its not closer. Cant get a close up at the moment as the car is on display in a local hobby shop.

[allparish12]

Originally Posted by Nobbys Nuts

Paint Brush bristles.


Sorry its not closer. Cant get a close up at the moment as the car is on display in a local hobby shop.

thanks, thats a good pic of what you were talkin about, but I was hopin that onw of the dudes who wrote a tut could post some.

[Chuck Kourouklis]

Wouldn't be surprised if an approach like this were legislated out of feasibility by now, but about ten years ago, a dental office in my old complex sold me a box of hypodermic needle tips.

I'd use a dremel cutting wheel to trim the tip and the syringe sleeve, then slide in a segment of wire to simulate one of the older telescopic antennae. The superglue tip mentioned earlier was what I did to simulate the bulb on top.