Straightening & Painting Fishing Line

[Colt Ward]

Just wondering if anyone used this for either something like telephone lines or other wires.  I have cut a bit and it is curled.  I thought about hanging longer strands with a weight like a washer to 'straighten' it out and then cutting smaller pieces as needed.

For painting I thought just a spray of black but then it also has to be rolled over to get the other side . . . and its so light it would fly up from the spray.

[Weirdo]

I try to avoid flexible line and such for my antennae, as the paint will often crack and flake off when it flexes. My preference is stiff metal wire, and the blood of those who dare handle my minis. >:D

[Colt Ward]

Not going to use them for antennae- more like telephone lines or guy wires for towers or other structures.

I also saw one terrain photo where the creator talked about wrapping wire around a toothpick for some structural accent.

[klarg1]

Not going to use them for antennae- more like telephone lines or guy wires for towers or other structures.

I also saw one terrain photo where the creator talked about wrapping wire around a toothpick for some structural accent.

I have seen people use thin superglue to harden jewelry chains for miniatures work. The same trick might work for fishing line. (Basically, try to apply a very thin layer of glue along the line - do not use the gel kind!)

[Weirdo]

For something like that, my choice would be to use sewing thread, reinforced with klarg's superglue technique. It won't hold any weight, but you can adjust the length of the thread to make it just as slack or tight as you want, and once you put glue on it, the glue will soak in, making it rigid. I recommend something synthetic, that won't expand or contract much when your model is exposed to varying levels of humidity. The advantage of thread is that it's available in a nearly infinite variety of colors, so you can pick one in the desired color and not have to paint it at all.

[Wikkid]

Try using braid instead of nylon.

It's more flexible/softer, thinner for the equivalent line strength and generally dark coloured to begin with.

[Colt Ward]

All good ideas!

Guess the line will go into the survival kit.

[klarg1]

For something like that, my choice would be to use sewing thread, reinforced with klarg's superglue technique. It won't hold any weight, but you can adjust the length of the thread to make it just as slack or tight as you want, and once you put glue on it, the glue will soak in, making it rigid. I recommend something synthetic, that won't expand or contract much when your model is exposed to varying levels of humidity. The advantage of thread is that it's available in a nearly infinite variety of colors, so you can pick one in the desired color and not have to paint it at all.

Good point.

The torn myomer (or whatever) from this CAV model is made exactly that way:



My only hesitation is that the thread will retain a ridged texture, and will not be smooth, like fishing line.

[shadhawk]

To paint soft plastic items you need a flex agent in the paint. It is what body shops use to paint the plastic bumpers on vehicles now. It Les the plastic flex without the paint chipping off.
The string will work just use acrylic paint and thin it so it just colors the string. If you lay a heavy coat on then it will dry with a hard finish.

[Colt Ward]

Okay . . .

And I would think unpainted fishing line would definitely look like myomer is supposed to- just have to get it to bundle together and then all the ends flopping about would be right for a severed limb.

[worktroll]

You may be better off using thread, rather than fishing line, for telephone wires - it's more likely to hang naturally.

Fishing line I use in short lengths for antennae, for which it works very well.

Klarg1, I think the texture on the guitar strings will look really good when painted up - the added detail can only add to the effect.

W.

[shadhawk]

The texture of the thread will give it that little extra pop. Also thread comes in different colors and thickness so you have a lot of play room. Hit a good craft store.

[Feenix74]

I managed to pick up some black (surprising hard to find, every other colour including rainbow is readily available) mono-filament fishing line on ebay for use as antenna.

I like the idea of trying clear or grey braided fishing line for exposed myomer and will probably give that a go in future if the desire to do so arises.