Author Topic: Antennas? (Read 3177 times)

FLAKPANZER · « **on:** 14 June 2012, 14:02:39 »

Hi folks,

Just a quick question.

On old unseen metal Mechs like the Battlemaster, Archer, Wasp, etc -
What do you guys use to model antennas?

Thanks.

Weirdo · « **Reply #1 on:** 14 June 2012, 14:05:26 »

Staples.

abou · « **Reply #2 on:** 14 June 2012, 14:21:27 »

Tooth brush bristles.

billtfor3 · « **Reply #3 on:** 14 June 2012, 14:39:04 »

Fishing line

Ouchies · « **Reply #4 on:** 14 June 2012, 14:48:06 »

Really thin gauge wire.

FelixTheCrazy · « **Reply #5 on:** 14 June 2012, 15:58:10 »

Quote from: abou on 14 June 2012, 14:21:27

Tooth brush bristles.

+1, I've been very happy doing this.

Ronin Actual · « **Reply #6 on:** 14 June 2012, 16:00:35 »

Fingernail brush bristles, same as a toothbrush just more.

Dak · « **Reply #7 on:** 14 June 2012, 16:29:47 »

http://www.camospecs.com/Article.asp?FictionID=1

Old, but still relevant!

Dak

Saint · « **Reply #8 on:** 14 June 2012, 19:28:53 »

Quote from: abou on 14 June 2012, 14:21:27

Tooth brush bristles.

+1

willydstyle · « **Reply #9 on:** 14 June 2012, 19:48:54 »

How do you attach the bristles?

Ronin Actual · « **Reply #10 on:** 14 June 2012, 19:54:40 »

Superglue will do the trick, then paint 'em black.

Dragoon1 · « **Reply #11 on:** 14 June 2012, 20:54:25 »

+3 toothbrush bristles. They work great!

FLAKPANZER · « **Reply #12 on:** 14 June 2012, 20:55:30 »

Thanks for the information folks!

torren · « **Reply #13 on:** 14 June 2012, 23:20:41 »

I save my cats whiskers when I find them on the floor... they work great and longer lengths too...sounds weird but works.
Doug

klarg1 · « **Reply #14 on:** 15 June 2012, 07:29:20 »

I mostly use really thin brass wire.

For those that use more flexible bristles: Do you ever have trouble with paint flaking off over time?

phlop · « **Reply #15 on:** 15 June 2012, 10:19:31 »

I have never had trouble with paint flaking off. Toothbrush bristles is almost all that I use. If it is an old brush, you can have some that are curved or if you use some from the middle, they will be straight. O0

ExtremeBloodAspUser · « **Reply #16 on:** 15 June 2012, 14:45:16 »

Old guitar strings...Thick strings for assault mechs and lighter gauge strings for light mechs.

wackrabbit · « **Reply #17 on:** 15 June 2012, 21:13:06 »

Beading wire from Michael's Crafts .015", seven strands. the braided wire takes glue and paint really well, and is both flexible and not likley to puncture your skin while handling it. It's about $10 for more of this stuff than you are likely ever to use and it cuts with scissors.

Top Sergeant · « **Reply #18 on:** 15 June 2012, 21:19:37 »

Brass wire, but after reading this I think I'll try the bristles. :)

Wraithcannon · « **Reply #19 on:** 15 June 2012, 21:56:31 »

http://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,8207.0.html

abou · « **Reply #20 on:** 16 June 2012, 06:15:42 »

I'll just add that you treat the tooth brush bristles like you would the metal pins: get a pin vice and deepen the hole with a small drill bit so that your antennae sits deeply in metal and glue for security.

klarg1 · « **Reply #21 on:** 16 June 2012, 19:47:41 »

Quote from: phlop on 15 June 2012, 10:19:31

I have never had trouble with paint flaking off. Toothbrush bristles is almost all that I use. If it is an old brush, you can have some that are curved or if you use some from the middle, they will be straight. O0

Interesting. I'll have to give it a try. Thanks!

Although, now I have this image in my head of the CSO team pre-chewing a whole bunch of tooth brushes to make curved antannae...

Papabees · « **Reply #22 on:** 16 June 2012, 21:43:02 »

Go to the dollar store and buy a hair brush. $1.00, hundreds of them and they are already black.

Mattlov · « **Reply #23 on:** 16 June 2012, 21:45:47 »

Or, don't put them on. Seriously, at the scale of BT, an antenna would be so thin you wouldn't really be able to see it.

Using wire and such will put it on, but that antenna is going to be as thick as your leg, if not thicker.

awclawson · « **Reply #24 on:** 16 June 2012, 22:03:47 »

Nylon brush. Comes in black and does not draw blood if you poke yourself. One brush will do a lot and it was cheap. Got mine at Lowes. Use a 1/32 size bit to drill a hole and the bristle fits right in.

dirty harry · « **Reply #25 on:** 17 June 2012, 12:20:36 »

Tooth brush bristles or - in my case - the line of an old kite. I don't fly kites anymore, but the line will add hundreds of mechs... >:D

Quote from: Mattlov on 16 June 2012, 21:45:47

Or, don't put them on. Seriously, at the scale of BT, an antenna would be so thin you wouldn't really be able to see it.

Using wire and such will put it on, but that antenna is going to be as thick as your leg, if not thicker.

Well... shouldn't be a problem. BT mechs also use missile launchers with approximately 20'' holes (e.g. Black Lanner) or ACs firing bullets as big as a phone box (e.g. Koschei). So no need to worry...

Sigma · « **Reply #26 on:** 17 June 2012, 12:30:56 »

Quote from: Mattlov on 16 June 2012, 21:45:47

Or, don't put them on. Seriously, at the scale of BT, an antenna would be so thin you wouldn't really be able to see it.

Using wire and such will put it on, but that antenna is going to be as thick as your leg, if not thicker.

If you use fishing line or toothbrush bristles, scaled up they would be about half as big around as your wrist, which is still too big but a couple of orders of magnitude less than you imply. Those giant bits of wire though, ho boy.

At N-scale it's even better.