by David Griffith » Thu Jan 17, 2013 4:25 am
Dear Steve,
For the rigging lines, I'd suggest using Caenis thread. This is the incredibly fine monofilament intended for tying fishing flies on tiny hooks. It comes on a reel, and short lengths will have a natural curve that make it easy to have a natural droop. Cut pieces that are a little bit longer than you need, glue in place and allow to hang naturally as it sets, and then trim off the excess.
For the nets I'd recommend using ladies' nylon tights (panty-hose for the Americans among us). Get the finest denier you can find and the cheapest as well. Expensive brands with lots of Lycra will not work nearly as well. Also choose black.
Cut a thin strip, say 5mm or 6mm wide, and it will roll up into a thin tube or string. You can brush it with diluted PVA glue to stifen and make it easier to handle. This is ideal for rolled up torpedo netting, and not quite as heavy looking as a shoelace, which might be OK in 1/350, but is too big for 1/700.
I have never tried making deployed torpedo nets but have used this stuff to make deck edge nets for an aircraft carrier. Put some kind of open box, a kit box, say, inside the leg of a pair of tights, so that an area of the fabric is stretched out a bit over the open part of the box. There will then be fresh air under the fabric. Brush diluted PVA over the fabric. Blow very vigorously at it to burst the menisci that form over the holes in the fabric. Leave it to dry overnight and you will have something that is stiff enough to be cut to shape and that will not roll up or distort too much.
Kind regards,
David Griffith
Dear Steve,
For the rigging lines, I'd suggest using Caenis thread. This is the incredibly fine monofilament intended for tying fishing flies on tiny hooks. It comes on a reel, and short lengths will have a natural curve that make it easy to have a natural droop. Cut pieces that are a little bit longer than you need, glue in place and allow to hang naturally as it sets, and then trim off the excess.
For the nets I'd recommend using ladies' nylon tights (panty-hose for the Americans among us). Get the finest denier you can find and the cheapest as well. Expensive brands with lots of Lycra will not work nearly as well. Also choose black.
Cut a thin strip, say 5mm or 6mm wide, and it will roll up into a thin tube or string. You can brush it with diluted PVA glue to stifen and make it easier to handle. This is ideal for rolled up torpedo netting, and not quite as heavy looking as a shoelace, which might be OK in 1/350, but is too big for 1/700.
I have never tried making deployed torpedo nets but have used this stuff to make deck edge nets for an aircraft carrier. Put some kind of open box, a kit box, say, inside the leg of a pair of tights, so that an area of the fabric is stretched out a bit over the open part of the box. There will then be fresh air under the fabric. Brush diluted PVA over the fabric. Blow very vigorously at it to burst the menisci that form over the holes in the fabric. Leave it to dry overnight and you will have something that is stiff enough to be cut to shape and that will not roll up or distort too much.
Kind regards,
David Griffith