Once when making up the servo/tiller arm linkage, I found myself short of some suitable wire. That is of a suitable diameter to fit into the holes in the arms, stiff enough not to flex under load but easy to bend into shape.
Having no handy model shop nearby stopped me nipping out to buy some "piano wire" these shops always seemed to stock. Luckily, Mrs Guest needed to go to the local supermarket and so provided a solution to the linkage problem. It was just before "Bonfire Night", which for the sake of overseas members I'll explain is when we in the UK celebrate the failure of one Guy Fawkes and his gang to blow up parliament along with the King and politicians it contained back in 1605. This involves setting off fireworks and burning an effigy of Fawkes on a bonfire.
The supermarket was selling fireworks and my thoughts immediately turned to buying a packet of sparklers. Again for anyone unfamiliar, these consist of a metal wire which has a coating that when ignited burns with a modest shower of sparks. When the coating burns out you are left with an unburnt but handy length of wire.
I bought a pack of large and small sparklers and, after the grandchildren had their fun, I had some lengths of wire 1 and 1.5 mm in diameter. This wire was much softer than piano wire but still suitable for single linkages on smaller models. If double (closed loop) linkages are used then this wire is suitable where more force needs to be applied. Neat "Z" bends can be made in this wire too.
So thanks to Mr Fawkes, my linkages could be made. But, please no comment on whether someone ought to try repeating his plans on today's crop of politicians.
Glynn Guest