Flags

[Weaver]

I want a flag flying from a radio aerial in 1/76th scale: what's the best way to do it?

[NARSES2]

What type of flag ? National flag size or a penant sized one ? Plus fluttering in the breeze, streaming out behind the vehicle or limp and dangly...... someone calm Radish down 

I used to use old "metal" toothpaste tubes for flags when I was wargaming. You could paint them whilst flat and then pose them quite realistically. That type of material is best for a national type flag. For a penant use some thin card or thick paper as they tend to stream very easily in any form of breeze, and you can "work" a "pose" up with some white glue.

Chris

[Weaver]

Cheers Chris.

It'd be a Union Jack attached to a radio whip aerial. It can't be a full size or it'd bend the aerial: I'm thinking it'd be about 15mm long.

[Mossie]

Some stiff foil might work, like the type you get on wine bottles.

[NARSES2]

Mossie's on to something with the tin-foil idea.  If it's to thick then just give it a good thumping with a hammer to thin it out a bit.

[Weaver]

Thanks folks!

Just found this outfit:

http://www.modelflags.com/index.html

Cloth flags down to 10mm 

[Mossie]

If you want to stiffen them up to flutter the cotton flags, PVA or varnish might do the trick, but the best bet is some spray starch.  Not as common as it once was, but you should be able to get hold of it fairly easily.

[beowulf]

if you want some really thin foil i can make a suggestion...........make a trip to 'poundland'....they have some wonderful mega thin tape about 40mm wide....shiney silver....you could always fold it double and cut to size..........or even fold it double around the antenna......and then paint......ive seen it used as a substitute for bmf...ive got it to use on firewalls of 1/24 race cars, etc

[Weaver]

If you want to stiffen them up to flutter the cotton flags, PVA or varnish might do the trick, but the best bet is some spray starch.  Not as common as it once was, but you should be able to get hold of it fairly easily.

There's a video on their site. The flag seems pretty stiff anyway, and the guy flutters it by folding it up and heating it with a hairdryer.

[PR19_Kit]

http://www.modelflags.com/index.html

Cloth flags down to 10mm 

I've used BECC flags on some of my R/C boats and they work well. They do a huge range too, not that you'll need them for this job, but handy for future reference.

[Weaver]

Just bought some 10mm and 15mm Union Jacks of these folks (couldn't decide which size... )

They also do vinyl lettering in really small sizes; as low as 2mm! I've ordered black sheets in 2,3 and 5mm.

They also do coloured and clear masking lining in sizes down to 0.5mm, and I've ordered one of those (masking).

I'll let you know what they're like when they get here!