Where can I purchase 0.5mm OD brass tubing. I need it to make turnbuckles for rigging my WWI biplane.

post in the early aviation forum...you'll be flooded with advice

Hi Ron, I moved this to Early Aviation, hopefully those that make their own turnbuckles can help you better than me.
I checked my stash. Griffon Models makes .5mm brass tubing. I have some sized as follow: (all OD) .3mm, .5mm, .8mm, and 1mm. Unfortunately it's been a while since I bought them so can't remember the price, but I did pick them up at LuckyModel.com
Hope that helps somewhat.

Start with online model railroader shops like Whalthers.

When Des Delatorre recommended jbmodel.eu for brass pipes I ordered some and found their service very good:

http://www.jbmodel.eu/index.php/cPath/43

Unfortunately they are temporarily out of stock.

Hi Ron!
I bought mine from ebay for about 2 bucks!
type "0,5 brass tubing" and see what comes out!

0,5 seems to me a little odd, though.
I have 0,4 (very difficult to cut as it is easy to pinch where you cut) that I use with 0,1 mm mono, and 0,6 for 0,2 mm mono.
To me 0,5 seems too big for 0,1 and to small for 0,2... what matherial do you use for rigging?

hope this helps!
ciao
Edo

failing JBmodel who seem to be permanantly out of stock you could try Hiroboy in the UK who have a variety of sizes linky or Bobs Buckles he of the famous Bobs Buckles anotherlinky who will also cut them to size for you, again in the UK

Edo, If you put some hard wire (like piano or music wire) inside the tube when you cut it, it won't pinch.

I also understand you might be able to get some really fine tubing from medical supply stores in the form of needles, for syringes.

I used .018"OD/ .012" ID stainless hypodermic tubing for the turnbuckles on my Wingnut LVG.



Rather than cut the tubing, I use a "score and snap" technique I learned right here on Aeroscale, in a post by Mark Hamrick on his LVG build. Go here and scroll down about part way (should be page 4) to see his technique illustrated:

http://aeroscale.kitmaker.net/forums/138585&page=4

I bought my tubing from the same place Mark did - Small Parts, Inc. Prices are quite reasonable.

http://www.smallparts.com/b/700776011?searchRank=salesrank

I hope this helps.

Cheers,
Eric

Many thanks to everyone for you suggestions and comments. Haven't decided yet what to do about the turnbuckle issue but I'm sure things will work out.

have you tried using the Q-tips with the plastic handles?..by cutting off the buds, and using heat to stretch the plastic tube, you can make all the turnbuckles you need for cheap!!

No Jim. I haven't tried Q-tips. I'll give it a shot. Thanks for the tip on the tips!

Captain!
Thank you very much!
Got to find some hard wire though!