Warbird Information Exchange

I use black thread for my antennas. Is there anything better?

Ive noticed something for the first time last night working on my Monogram B-17. There is the aerial that goes from the top of the tail down to the right side of the radio room. On the left side of the radio room there is another antenna that runs down to the left wing in between engine 1 & 2. I had no idea that the 17 had that antenna, did anyone else?

_________________
Never drive faster than your Guardian Angel can fly!!

http://www.390th.org/
www.LSFM.org

Trae

Try 2lb fishing line or invisible thread.

Mike

Thanks Mike, do you paint it black?

_________________
Never drive faster than your Guardian Angel can fly!!

http://www.390th.org/
www.LSFM.org

Trae

thats exactly what I do.

Thanks CAM!

_________________
Never drive faster than your Guardian Angel can fly!!

http://www.390th.org/
www.LSFM.org

Trae

I use gray plastic tree material (the Academy/Minicraft stuff works well) and stretch it after heating--I think I learned the technique from a Shep Paine article in my youth.

I've got the full antenna installation arrangement for the B-17 somewhere in a stack, and it does show an aerial to an insulator on the left wing. Can't remember the exact nomenclature, but here is the fuselage insulator on the left side of TR's radio room:


Scott

I dont remember seeing one on Thunderbird. I will have to look next time im up on the wing.

I stretched the spruce before to make smaller antennas. I didnt think about strecthing a long enough piece for the long aerial. I think im going to try the fishing line.

_________________
Never drive faster than your Guardian Angel can fly!!

http://www.390th.org/
www.LSFM.org

Trae

Here' my Devastator that I used the fishing line technique on, its also on the B36 above that I built but its hard to see it. Just a little super glue, black paint and there ya go!

*edit* whoops the B36 pic is in the Custom Built to Suit Thread...Sorry yall

Thanks! I will see how it comes out! I will try to get some pics posted soon.

_________________
Never drive faster than your Guardian Angel can fly!!

http://www.390th.org/
www.LSFM.org

Trae

Trae,

I don't remember seeing the attach point on TR's wing during my trips down there, but then again I hadn't been looking for it. I did study a few wartime photographs, and some aircraft seem to have the insulator on the fuselage while some don't (or at least they don't show up in the photos). It will take me a bit of time to figure out where my aerial diagram is located, but I'll stumble across it sooner or later. Perhaps not all aircraft had this particular antenna for some reason? The attach point on the wing should be a small angle with a hole drilled in the free end for the insulator to connect to.

Scott

Thanks for the info! I havent had to much time to research the wing antenna, but I hope to soon. Its always cool to find out new things !

_________________
Never drive faster than your Guardian Angel can fly!!

http://www.390th.org/
www.LSFM.org

Trae

I knew I had a photo or drawing of the left wing antenna, turns out I had both! The wing mount appears to have a little fairing over it in this photo. I don't think the late F and G airplanes had the little fairing, just the mounting angle riveted to the wing structure.


Sorry about the "pointer" but you get the idea.

Depends, sometimes it makes them stand out to much. I go with steel or a gray color most of the time.

Mike

Thats true. I dont always paint them black. I built a Ta-152 and painted its antenna medium brown.

While we're talking about antennas, here is a little mystery--this Fort belly landed at Grand Island AAF in early '44. Notice that the trailing wire antenna is mounted on the right side of the fuselage rather than the more common mounting on the left side. I started looking at wartime photos, and most that I could make out had the antenna on the left. TR's is on the left side as well but do you suppose some aircraft had two antenna reels?

B-17G-30-BO 42-31904

The mystery of the B-17 antenna installation deepens...
Scott