How to Stretch Sprue for Model Ship and Aircraft Rigging

This videos features a short tutorial on how to make Model Ship and Aircraft rigging from stretched sprue, using up all of those leftover sprues from plastic model kits. Please remember that adult supervision is required due to the use of candles and lighters.

Cut a spare part of the sprue and hold it over a flame, ensuring the plastic heats evenly. When it becomes soft, pull the ends away stretching the plastic into a thin wire. This can then be painted, cut and shaped as appropriate for your model.

Don't forget to comment with how you use your stretched sprue!

Modelminutes holds no responsibility for any injuries that may occur following the directions of this video.

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[MCT]

Nice to see an old technique being demonstrated. I first read about it in 'Airfix Magazine' in about 1967-8, and it is still a useful skill. Silver grey plastic used to be good for it. It has the added advantage of being very cheap!

[plesmem]

Great idea Matt! I used this technique for my model Sherman, which didn't have any antenae! Good job!

[filip]

I used this to make pistons for an open cockpit of a sr71, it was hard to get 2 diameters but after some practice it managed to do it. Good thing i keep the runners from all my kits, i found the plastic used for gundam kits be easier to work with.

[jeremieragois]

Damn, I was expecting something complicated, this was sorted in 20 seconds 😂

[sonicplayroompiano]

This looks like pretty thick sprue. My tamiya sprue for 1/24 Scale rally car keeps breaking early. I can barely get 2cm worth. Figured it out. You have to pull apart quite quickly.

[itsowen]

Used this on my spitfire and it looks fab

[ryzenenjoyer]

This is nice but i already put some sowing thread as a radio wire on my hurricane, it is ok but a bit loose, it propably is a lot easier than this 🤔 and safer but ill maybe put this into my next hurricane. Great video as always!

[asian]

This is a smart idea, I’m going to use this for my zero that I’ll build

[konstantinosv.]

I use it for Aircraft antennas and also if a small part breaks i replace it with stretched sprue (for example control stick)
:)

[buzz.b]

After all the years of chucking the "rubbish" away, I never knew you could do that. I could've created the city-like structure atop the Executor with just the throw away scrap.

[peterzellinger]

how do you make it stick to the antennas, or wherever it belongs? i tried rigging HMS prince of Wales, but they dont stick to the masts, ive tried superglue and normal modelling glue, but they dont stay in a straight shape

[jpwphotographicstudio]

Always save black sprues, as don't need to paint, I use for aerials for armour models.

[strickersniper]

I need to use it on the uss kitty hawk parts on it fell off and I need to replace them

[arandomyoutuber]

I'm using a plasticy paper card and I cut it into a small rope for rigging.

[alfepalfe]

Broke off the pitot tube from my j35 model and lost it so I made a new one using this metod.

[piotrekszczepanski]

I use stretched sprue as a radio wire on my M4A2 Sherman.

[julianmhall]

I mentioned in one thread the possibility of using fishing line;

Pros: Avoids using any flames, uniform thickness.
Cons: Might be a b***er to cut, being flexible won't stay in one shape whereas cooled down plastic may.

[Addendum: I knew there was something else - the perils of growing old. If painting is required why not do it first then fit the aerial? That avoids an errant brush stroke touching the model.]

[scalesmodellingmagic]

Playing with fire is illegal here so I guess this is out of the question