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Reviewed by Cookie Sewell

There used to be a popular sign in fractured German talking about machines which were "nicht fur gefingerpoken und prodden" and other bizarre phrases. Of course, they were to warn idiots not to play with them.

Two items which people all too frequently are tempted to "play" with are propellers on model aircraft and antennas on model vehicles ("twanging" them is one thing idle hands tend to do). Barry Beldam used to solve that problem by making his antennas from surgical stainless steel similar to acupuncture needles, so that any moron "twanging" his antennas would suddenly find himself impaled on a model tank.

That would appear to be one drawback with this product, for the antennas are made of the same stuff and razor sharp at the tips. Each antenna is 156 mm long (5.46 meters or 215"/17.9 feet in scale) and comes with a cast on white metal "spring" at its base. This to me is an odd length, as most US whip antennas are either 109" (2.77 meters or 79mm in scale) or 118" (3 meters or 86mm in scale). This length works out to 5.46 meters or 215", way too long for modern US applications. Soviet and Russian antennas are also cut in meter lengths – 1, 3 and 4 being most popular.

The WWII US antennas are not much different, other than the one for the HF command and reconnaissance sets (SCR-193, SCR-506) which are 15 foot whip types or 180" long (4.57 meters or 131mm). The British No. 19 wireless antennas are used with 8, 12, or 16 foot antennas, and again this antenna does not match.

If you pick up a set and use them, watch out for the tips (!) and cut them to match the length you need.

Minimeca products are available via MINIMECA@teleline.es, or larger hobby dealers.

 

Cookie Sewell AMPS

Review Copyright © 2002 by Cookie Sewell
Page Created 27 April, 2002
Last updated 22 July, 2003

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