What if

General Modelling Forum => Tips, Tools, and Techniques => Topic started by: McColm on October 12, 2016, 11:41:53 AM

Title: How do you hang your builds from the ceiling
Post by: McColm on October 12, 2016, 11:41:53 AM
Hi Guys,
What's the best way to hang your builds from the ceiling?
Title: Re: How do you hang your builds from the ceiling
Post by: kerick on October 12, 2016, 12:11:07 PM
The best method I've used is to make a loop of fishing line and loop it under the fuselage in front of and behind the wings.
Title: Re: How do you hang your builds from the ceiling
Post by: Librarian on October 12, 2016, 02:44:37 PM
Def. fishing line. Thinner the better...almost invisiblises against a white ceiling. When you tie the knot add a drop of superglue for piece of mind :thumbsup:.
Title: Re: How do you hang your builds from the ceiling
Post by: TheChronicOne on October 12, 2016, 02:50:08 PM
I'd like to address the ceiling for a moment...   (lol)   


Make sure you use something at least about a couple inches long and when you drive them into the ceiling (I recomend brad nails)  do it at an angle and then one going back the other way then loop your line arounr it right at the top. This way it won't "pull" back out of the ceiling.

I made a crappy MS paint picture:

(https://www.whatifmodellers.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FzxNoMGZ.jpg&hash=a5160e4b1f2050417d4a790375d0598dfc3b8bdb)

If you go straight in or only use one, the possibility of it sliding out exists. Doing it this way the angles work against each other and it would take a substantial bit of force to pull it out.

2 inch brad nails.

(https://www.whatifmodellers.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.diychatroom.com%2Fattachments%2Ff5%2F69125d1365959103-why-2-inch-brad-nails-grip_rite_brad_head_nails.jpg&hash=ed8059750ac21fe46d9fc590e3be9437c708fbd5) 

They're thin, less noticeable, and can be bought in white or off whitish color which will match most ceilings.
Title: Re: How do you hang your builds from the ceiling
Post by: sandiego89 on October 12, 2016, 04:36:23 PM
Thirded on fishing line.  I have used a spool of 6 pound test and they have hung many models for years without incident. 

I use cup or eye hooks that screw into the ceiling.  I feel having the screw threads makes it much more secure than a nail and easier to hang or remove the model if you want to take it down.   The eye also allows a natural balance point.   

Here is a 1/32 F-104 that has hung for years in my garage on a single cup hook and a single piece of fishing line that has a loop circling both the rear and forward end of the fuselage.  The eye hook goes direct into the cottage cheese drywall ceiling.  1/700 MACON behind it. 

I took these in a dark room with flash, so the line shows up very well in these photos, but in person the line is much less visible.  Concur with Librarian that it is almost invisible against a white ceiling. 

(https://www.whatifmodellers.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1193.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Faa360%2Fsandiego89%2FDSCF1522_zpstrgoew3g.jpg&hash=73ff5c0868fd9df55c3787b57099deab08a34e50)   

My 1/72 B-36 is hung beneath small (1/144) stash shelf in the garage.  Hanging was the best option for such a huge model, but for some reason Mrs. Sandiego89 did not want it in our living room. :rolleyes:  I used screws to tie off the fishing line, and two strands under the fuselage, and a third on one wing.  I wanted extra "just in case" lines on this one.   

(https://www.whatifmodellers.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1193.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Faa360%2Fsandiego89%2FDSCF1517_zpssraqy6ci.jpg&hash=aec6075fc20b24f3b726558e2b16409671e8b7a6)

(https://www.whatifmodellers.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1193.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Faa360%2Fsandiego89%2FDSCF1520_zpsfkkhslg0.jpg&hash=d5545e8e4e9b940e170b76370fa4118802340d4e)

I have also use small eye hooks screwed directly into the top of a model, but finding the center of gravity can be a problem.  It does allow a bit less exposed line, but just looping around the fuselage works fine.

Again the line is almost invisible in person, but this harsh flash helps show the set up.     

-Dave
Title: Re: How do you hang your builds from the ceiling
Post by: TheChronicOne on October 12, 2016, 04:45:28 PM
....Mrs. Sandiego89 did not want it in our living room. :rolleyes:   Haha!!!   


Looks like some real good advice, here! ^ 
Title: Re: How do you hang your builds from the ceiling
Post by: McColm on October 12, 2016, 07:50:37 PM
Thank you for your advice.
Title: Re: How do you hang your builds from the ceiling
Post by: Old Wombat on October 12, 2016, 09:11:48 PM
I don't ... Tanks look silly hanging from the ceiling! :wacko:
Title: Re: How do you hang your builds from the ceiling
Post by: TheChronicOne on October 12, 2016, 09:25:23 PM
Quote from: Old Wombat on October 12, 2016, 09:11:48 PM
I don't ... Tanks look silly hanging from the ceiling! :wacko:

(https://www.whatifmodellers.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FAGthMzV.jpg&hash=4be095541dd89f881af25fc403bbe06a3396531e)
Title: Re: How do you hang your builds from the ceiling
Post by: zenrat on October 13, 2016, 03:22:41 AM
I just broached the subject of hanging builds from the ceiling with Mrs z.  I got The Look.

When I was a kid I used to drill a hole in the top of the plane and glue an L shaped piece of sprue into the hole and tie a thick piece of black cotton thread to it.  I attached the thread to the ceiling by tieing a loop in it then hooking the loop round a drawing pin (thumb tack for Americans - drearing pun for kiwis ;D) which I them pushed into the ceiling.  Nothing ever fell and I used this method for everything up to and including 1/72 B17 and C130.

Title: Re: How do you hang your builds from the ceiling
Post by: Captain Canada on October 13, 2016, 03:31:32 AM
Pretty much all of the above. I mostly use thread tho. My LHS guy just super glues the thread to his models.

:thumbsup:
Title: Re: How do you hang your builds from the ceiling
Post by: JayBee on October 13, 2016, 04:43:16 AM
I don't anymore. I used to but that would be some 50+ years ago.  :wacko: :wacko: :wacko:
Title: Re: How do you hang your builds from the ceiling
Post by: PR19_Kit on October 13, 2016, 05:43:11 AM
Quote from: JayBee on October 13, 2016, 04:43:16 AM
I don't anymore. I used to but that would be some 50+ years ago.  :wacko: :wacko: :wacko:

What Jim said, and I NEVER have................
Title: Re: How do you hang your builds from the ceiling
Post by: NARSES2 on October 13, 2016, 06:18:13 AM
What Jim and Kit said. Stopped when I got dive bombed by a Sunderland one night  :o
Title: Re: How do you hang your builds from the ceiling
Post by: JayBee on October 13, 2016, 07:25:43 AM
Quote from: Old Wombat on October 12, 2016, 09:11:48 PM
I don't ... Tanks look silly hanging from the ceiling! :wacko:


Well I can think of a couple.


https://www.hannants.co.uk/product/AMU72202



http://www.whatifmodellers.com/index.php/topic,27970.0.html



:wacko: :wacko: :wacko: :wacko: :wacko: :wacko: :wacko:
Title: Re: How do you hang your builds from the ceiling
Post by: TheChronicOne on October 13, 2016, 08:46:30 AM
Quote from: JayBee on October 13, 2016, 07:25:43 AM
Quote from: Old Wombat on October 12, 2016, 09:11:48 PM
I don't ... Tanks look silly hanging from the ceiling! :wacko:


Well I can think of a couple.


https://www.hannants.co.uk/product/AMU72202



http://www.whatifmodellers.com/index.php/topic,27970.0.html



:wacko: :wacko: :wacko: :wacko: :wacko: :wacko: :wacko:

Wow!!! That's super cool, dude!! It's like 17 things at once!
Title: Re: How do you hang your builds from the ceiling
Post by: kitnut617 on October 13, 2016, 04:56:39 PM
erm! skyhooks  --------   
Title: Re: How do you hang your builds from the ceiling
Post by: Old Wombat on October 13, 2016, 06:09:35 PM
Quote from: kitnut617 on October 13, 2016, 04:56:39 PM
erm! skyhooks  --------

Skycranes, maybe.

(https://www.whatifmodellers.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2F108.166.64.146%2Faircraft%2Fimgs%2Fsikorsky-ch54-skycrane_5.jpg&hash=e95bc19d32cb40b2cb083c1e8146b25c57f81775)

But only for light ones.
Title: Re: How do you hang your builds from the ceiling
Post by: TheChronicOne on October 13, 2016, 07:21:49 PM
Take it to the max and build one of those sky cranes in like... 1/24 and us it in place of the light fixture on a ceiling fan then hang whatever you please.   :wacko: :wacko: :wacko:


" In flight "
Title: Re: How do you hang your builds from the ceiling
Post by: Joe C-P on December 31, 2016, 10:37:33 AM
I wish I still had my old Skycrane model now.  :mellow:

I've only build small planes, 1/72, so I use a double circle of fishing thread and a pushpin, and go around the wings so I can change the attitude. I twist the ends by the pin into little loops as one would a bailing pin on a ship and make certain the pin is pushed all the way to the ceiling or wall.

But what would be truly grand would be a hanging a sperm whale and a bowl of petunias.  ;)
Title: Re: How do you hang your builds from the ceiling
Post by: zenrat on December 31, 2016, 05:05:50 PM
Quote from: JoeP on December 31, 2016, 10:37:33 AM
...But what would be truly grand would be a hanging a sperm whale and a bowl of petunias.  ;)

Thinking "Oh no, not again..."  :mellow:
Title: Re: How do you hang your builds from the ceiling
Post by: Rick Lowe on December 31, 2016, 06:33:27 PM
Quote from: zenrat on December 31, 2016, 05:05:50 PM
Quote from: JoeP on December 31, 2016, 10:37:33 AM
...But what would be truly grand would be a hanging a sperm whale and a bowl of petunias.  ;)

Thinking "Oh no, not again..."  :mellow:

It's waaay too early in the New Year for such Geekery Foolishness... :rolleyes:

Then again, one should start as one means to go on...   :thumbsup:
Title: Re: How do you hang your builds from the ceiling
Post by: McColm on December 31, 2016, 11:06:24 PM
You could be on to something, if you use a plastic/wooden rod  to give the impression that the helicopter is in hover mode lifting the tank. The rod would be hidden by the base or background.
Title: Re: How do you hang your builds from the ceiling
Post by: Rick Lowe on January 01, 2017, 01:34:58 AM
I've seen a photo of a Chinook lifting an M-113 out of a rice paddy and thought that would be a cool diorama - you'd have to make the cables/slings out of stiff wire, but it should be doable.

Or have a Skycrane lifting a PBR, as in 'Apocalypse Now'.

Something different, anyway.