What material is best for model rigging?

Stretched sprue is traditional and free. EZ-Line elastic thread is popular for its forgiveness. Monofilament (fishing line) gives the finest result. Metal wire (nickel silver) is best for control cables that need to be straight. At 1:48, use 0.08-0.12mm material.

How much waste should I allow?

Allow 20-30% waste for experienced modellers and 40-50% for beginners. Rigging breaks easily and you often need to redo lines, and each line needs extra length at both ends for attachment. This calculator adjusts your base allowance by material: stretched sprue snaps and over-stretches most (+15%), metal wire kinks (+5%), monofilament is neutral, and EZ-Line elastic is the most forgiving (-5%).

What diameter should rigging be?

Real aircraft rigging wire is typically 3-5mm diameter. At 1:48 this scales to 0.06-0.10mm. At 1:72 it is 0.04-0.07mm. Use the thinnest material you can handle — slightly overscale looks better than too thick.

How do I attach rigging lines?

Drill tiny holes at attachment points using a pin vise with 0.3mm bit. Thread the line through, secure with a tiny drop of thin CA glue. For turnbuckles, use small loops of fine wire. Apply tension before the glue sets.

ModelCalcs

Rigging Calculator — Biplane & Ship Rigging Lines

Calculate rigging line lengths for biplanes, ships and other rigged models.

Number of Rigging Lines

Count every wire, cable and stay — a WWI biplane often has 20–40

Average Line Length (mm)

Measure a typical run on the model, attachment point to attachment point

Scale1:72/1:48/1:32 are the standard aircraft scales; pick Custom for ships (1:350, 1:700) or armour (1:35)

MaterialAdjusts the waste allowance: stretched sprue +15%, metal wire +5%, EZ-Line elastic −5%

Waste Allowance (%)

Base allowance: 20–30% for experienced modellers, 40–50% for beginners (the chosen material adjusts this)

How We Calculate This

Calculates total rigging material needed based on line count and average length, with a waste allowance that is nudged by the chosen material (stretched sprue snaps most, EZ-Line elastic is the most forgiving).

Formula

Total length = Number of lines × (Average length + 2 × Attachment extra per end)
Effective waste = Waste % + material adjustment (monofilament 0, EZ-Line −5, metal wire +5, stretched sprue +15 percentage points)
With waste = Total length × (1 + Effective waste %)
Scale wire diameter = Real wire diameter (default 4mm, editable 1–10mm) ÷ Scale ratio
Real-world equivalent = Total length × Scale ratio (the full-size length the rigging represents)

Frequently Asked Questions

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Last updated: February 2026

All calculations are estimates. Always verify quantities before purchasing materials.