Bang seat handles from wire

[Tarkas]

I've seen many mentions of modellers creating ejection seat overhead handles from wire. My current build had a PE handle, but it fell off and the carpet monster ate it so a wire replacement seems like a good idea. The question then arises, what sort of wire should I use for a 1/72 model, and where would I get it in the UK? All advice gratefully received...

[iggie]

I've used both thin lead wire and fuse wire; the lead wire I bought at a model show, the fuse wire from a good old fashioned hardware shop

[fredk]

I use the wire inside bread-bag ties or thin copper wire from power flex.
I have a special pair of pliers for making wire circles. They are for jewelers use.
Thats the way I did these;

[Tarkas]

Thanks to both of you. I particularly like the bread-tie idea -- though I can't remember seeing those ties on bread of late. I have an idea for an alternative source, though.

fredk, I like the handles you made; hope I can do something half as good. It may be tricky to bend the wire into a B-shape, but it's more than worth a try.

Thanks again.

[fredk]

... It may be tricky to bend the wire into a B-shape, but it's more than worth a try...

Two ways for B handles;
1. with heavier wire I wrap the wire around two pins stuck in a piece of wood. leave plenty of length for the tails, then trim off just before glueing on
2. with thin cooper wire, make a D handle, glue on, then gently push the centre of the D into the head-box. Usually you need two pins* for the wire to bend around, one pin* for each loop of the B. * or micro-drills

tip; if you use iron wire you can use a magnetised tool for placing the handle. they are small and fiddly to put on

you used to be able to buy packs of 100 bread bag ties in the likes of discount home shopping stores and Iceland. Although I call them bread bag ties they are now usually called freezer bag ties

[TeeELL]

From personal experience (15 years out of 37) riding ejection seats with top handles (or B handles in modelling terms), the handles droop and the yellow and black stripes are faded. For larger scales, it is perhaps worthy of note that the black (ish) and yellow (ish) are spiral.

[Dazzled]

From personal experience (15 years out of 37) riding ejection seats with top handles (or B handles in modelling terms), the handles droop and the yellow and black stripes are faded. For larger scales, it is perhaps worthy of note that the black (ish) and yellow (ish) are spiral.

Yep, the handles always droop but when I was doing overhauls on Harriers and Jaguars, in the late nineties/early noughties, the armourers used to take away the tired old seat when we received an aircraft and replaced it with a spiffed up refurbished item, complete with shiny new pull handles, when we finally put the aircraft back together. Do you remember the armourer's joke and song TeeELL?

I find a good way to create these handles out of any wire is to paint them yellow and put the black on with a fine marker pen afterwards. It gives a good impression of the real thing.

[TeeELL]

Hi Daz,
I do not recall either I’m afraid!

[Dazzled]

Song:
One I'm an armourer
Two I'm an armourer
Three I'm an armourer
Eerrrr?

Joke.

Q. What's the difference between a bomb and an armourer?
A. Not all bombs are retarded.

[iggie]

Song:
One I'm an armourer
Two I'm an armourer
Three I'm an armourer
Eerrrr?

Joke.

Q. What's the difference between a bomb and an armourer?
A. Not all bombs are retarded.

Excellent!!!
It also works if you substitute scaffolder for armourer

[TeeELL]

Oh, very good! I must tell my cousin that, he was a RAF armourer.