[Cruver Collecter]

I picked up a Gemini Aces Hans von Hahn Bf 109F awhile back and thought it looked great, but with one fairly standout drawback. The antenna mast just looked way out of scale. So last night I did some measurements and comparison and found the antenna mast looked to be spot on for 1/48th scale. This morning I opened a 1/48th scale Hasegawa BF 109F-2 kit and compared the antennas and parts matched up length wise (Gemini Aces antenna still much to wide at base for even1/48th scale). The Gemini Aces Bf 109F looks pretty good, but the antenna just had to go. This morning I decided I might as well scratch build a antenna for the model. I got lucky and found a piece in my model junk box that was not to far off, and after a little filing and trimming ended up with a fairly nice looking antenna for the model. Gave the new antenna a coat of AeroMaster RLM 74 GRAUGRUN and it matched up pretty good with the model. Here is a shot of the new antenna, still might shorten it just a bit.

[HotTrap429]

That looks "spot on" CC. I love Gemini Aces' Bf109s and that's saying a lot since I don't usually get 109s. I've got two of these and I love em. Never noticed the antenna before - glad you did.

[modern]

Did the real Bf 109's have aerial wire going across to the tail?

Do you think Gemini could reproduce this with these models if they did, to make them more accurate?

[Cruver Collecter]

Originally Posted by modern

Did the real Bf 109's have aerial wire going across to the tail?

Do you think Gemini could reproduce this with these models if they did, to make them more accurate?

Yep the Bf 109s had a wire aerial from mast to the rudder. I imagine it would be to much of a hassle for the companies to equip them so, but it would easy too make an antenna wire using stretched sprue. Stretch it let it dry and then give it a coat of flat black paint. Attach it loose with CA and after it dries in place wave a hot piece of wire or a heated file over the stretched sprue which will cause it to taught up. Easiest way I know to make wire antennas that look good.

[Cardinal]

Okay folks, I've just discovered the 'perfect' product for use in creating the wire section of the aerials on many WWII models (if it's something you really feel you need to do ).

The product is 0.30mm nylon coated Beading Wire (used for making jewellery) that should be available from most craft stores - it stays remarkably straight/stiff with little intervention required .

[Cruver Collecter]

Originally Posted by Cardinal

Okay folks, I've just discovered the 'perfect' product for use in creating the wire section of the aerials on many WWII models (if it's something you really feel you need to do ).

The product is 0.30mm nylon coated Beading Wire (used for making jewellery) that should be available from most craft stores - it stays remarkably straight/stiff with little intervention required .

With stretched sprue I can get a antenna line with a diameter close to or slightly smaller than 2lb test fishing line. That and it is free if you have some old kits about.

[modern]

Cheers for that info. Do you know when the Spitfire's stopped using this type of wire, and should they also feature on the Gemini Spits or Mustangs?

[flyXwire]

Originally Posted by Cruver Collecter

With stretched sprue I can get a antenna line with a diameter close to or slightly smaller than 2lb test fishing line. That and it is free if you have some old kits about.

The old "streched sprue" trick always worked for me too!

[STARMAN 352ND]

Originally Posted by Cardinal

The product is 0.30mm nylon coated Beading Wire (used for making jewellery) that should be available from most craft stores - it stays remarkably straight/stiff with little intervention required .

Cardo Thanks for the tip.
JP

[Cardinal]

Originally Posted by STARMAN 352ND

Cardo Thanks for the tip.
JP

You're welcome JP . (Although the sprue technique works well, I lack the patience and it also has nowhere near the strength of the .3mm Beading Wire .)