How to make wire clips?

[joelwideqvist]

I'm wiring some of my 1/12 bike kits and I've seen some amazing clips made in a lot of threads. Anyone who can share their techniques on how to make them? I've tried regular masking tape but it tends to come off and I've also cut smaller pieces of Tamiya rubber tube and slided those over bundles of wire but I guess there are several other ways to do them. All ideas are welcome!
/Joel

[joelwideqvist]

No one?
/Joel

[KevHw]

To be honest I have no idea what you're referring to. Wire clips to me, means either bonnet hood pins on cars, or the clips for holding on the wheels of some bikes (I think they're called r-clips). But from reading what you've tried to do, I can only think you mean some sort of scaled down electrical connection..? In which case I can only suggest trying shrink wrap. I know some people use that when connecting multiple wires into one.

[racer93]

What Joel is referring to are "zip ties" that hold wires together as they wind their way from instrumentation to the engine, transmission, etc. The equivalent thing in today's road cars are the black corrugated plastic tubes that wires are routed through to keep them together.

Daniel

PS--My suggestion is to use a thin piece of electrical tape (black) or a painted piece of bare metal foil for it. Or, heat a very thin piece of PE metal and curl it around the wires. Experiment! That's the beauty of modelling...

[Didymus]

Paint some wine foil black and cut into very thin strips. Wrap a strip around a bundle of wire. Pull the ends tight, give a twist (like a tie) at the bundle to hold it in place. Superglue. Trim off the excess.

Ddms

[joelwideqvist]

Thanks for your inputs and suggestions.

Originally Posted by racer93

Experiment! That's the beauty of modelling...

Yes it is, and the beauty of a forum is that you can learn and inspire each other. Some times I find it better to ask instead of inventing the wheel all over again.

/Joel

[drunken monkey]

There are also a range of etched cable ties in various styles and scales.
Not really seen these used so I can't comment on how they look when applied.

[MPWR]

Originally Posted by joelwideqvist

I'm wiring some of my 1/12 bike kits and I've seen some amazing clips made in a lot of threads.

Let's see some pics of what you're talking about...

[joelwideqvist]

Here's a blurry image

http://www.onetwelvth.com/tips/allma...nakedright.jpg

And herre's a link to a build that has inspired me a lot through out my building careere.

http://www.pbase.com/johnsontang/image/5693862

See those clips holding together the two wires coming from the steering and down into the plastic tube heading to the engine? Looks awesome.

When I've tried it, masking tape has always lost its grip after a while and started to lift from the wires. Cutting small pieces of rubber hose is my best shot so far.
/Joel

[MPWR]

Those little metal bits above the radiator, right by the right handgrip? The ones that are supposed to look like nylon tie-wraps?

Those are photoetch bits. No idea who makes them, but they come from some 1/12 bike detail set or other.

[sjelic]

Here you go Joel, PE is the only "real enough" way to go.

http://www.mediamixhobby.com.sg/cata...oducts_id=5344
http://www.mediamixhobby.com.sg/cata...oducts_id=5345

[joelwideqvist]

Thanks MPWR and Sjelic, I've tried the ones in the second link, but I'll give the first ones a go too.
Thanks again.
J