What guage is 1/24th & 1/25th scale spark plug wire

[Sixx]

does anybody know the guage of 1/24th & 1/25th scale spark plug wire and the guage of braided wire in this scale?

I want to buy some in bulk not from the obvious suspects.........PSF, protech, detail master.....etc.

I am looking at electronic wire suppliers. I had heard that 30 guage is the way to go. would it be better to get solid or stranded?

[MPWR]

Good question- but for that matter, what gauge is full scale plug wire?

7mm is a fairly common size for plug wire (but certainly not the only size). It can be larger than that sometimes, and in the case of the wires leading to coil packs mounted atop spark plugs, smaller. So it takes some knowledge of the wiring on the vehicle you're replicating.

Several years ago I found a 3 pack of spools of enamel insulated wire in an electronics shop (it was a radio shack). The smallest measures about 0.011", which is about perfect for 7mm plug wire in 1/24. The other sizes I use for making damper springs and detailing other things.

You want solid wire- ever seen twisted plug wire on a car?

[jmesawitz]

I lean towards 32 gauge, solid core. Matter of taste. 30 is about the smallest you will find @ radio shack.

Here is a custom wire store to check out.
I got service on my order in 5 days.
micronmeters 32,34,36 & 38 Gauge available in 6 colors.

[Sixx]

Good point MPWR about the not seeing any twisted wire on a car!

I think this micronmeters is a great place to start~ I have talked to some guys at work, electricians, communications specialsits and you guys!

I'm sure I will be able to find what I'm looking for

Thanks again

[Baxter!]

Do you have a set of dial calipers..?
Go to your car and measure them....do the calculations, ie (X/1/24, 1/25, 1/43)...and viola..!

I have found old tape recorders a great source for plug wire and even coil wires, there are usually 2 guages of wire on most recorders.
and the belts that drive the mechanisms are the perfect color, size and texture for doing belts on scale cars.

just my 2 cents...

[MPWR]

Coated stranded wire like what Micronmeter sells may be the closest thing to actual plug wire in 1/24, but that doesn't mean that it's the best option for simulating scale plug wire. It's not very stiff, so it doesn't hold a given shape very well. Granted full scale plug wire is much the same- but the 1/24 stuff (obviously) doesn't have anything close to the mass per unit length as the full scale. So while full scale wire may drape nicely across engine components, the 1/24 stuff will tend to stick up in crazy arcs. You can push it down into the shape you want it, but the wire isn't stiff enough to hold the proper shape so it quickly returns to whatever shape it wants (instead of what you want).

If you want scale plug wire that will stay put and hold the shape you give it, solid enamel wire (wrapping wire) does the trick nicely. Another great option is very fine solder.

[Exotics_Builder]

Originally Posted by jmesawitz

I lean towards 32 gauge, solid core. Matter of taste. 30 is about the smallest you will find @ radio shack.

I agree on 32 gauge. 30 Gauge IMO is too thick for spark plug wire.

[Sixx]

Thanks guys for the great info~

and the the great start in finding suitable wire, I appreciate the help, as always

[Turbokid15]

32 guage is about right. Most of your full scale cars have 7 to 8.5 mm spark plug wires. If you go hi-po you can go up to 9.5 mm