Sources of control-line wire

Sources of Control-Line Wire

Sullivan/SIG/Brodak - Superline - Staystrate - Fishing line
Mejzlik Modellbau - Lone Star - MBS - McMaster

There are three main sources of stainless steel American line: Sullivan, SIG and Brodak. All produce stranded line in 4 diameters: 0.008", 0.012", 0.015" and 0.018".

Sullivan lines are stocked in the UK by Irvine Engines. They are only available ready made up in certain lengths and diameters. It should be possible to obtain them in the UK from your model shop, but Irvines will only stock items which they can rely on selling. I have a sample of these lines in kit form from Irvines but no news as to their general availability.

I understand that some, or all, of the Sullivan products have been taken over by Brodak. I can confirm that they have retooled the 5" line reel originally produced by Sullivan.

Irvine Engines, Unit 2, Brunswick Industrial Park, Brunswick Way, New Southgate, London. N11 1JL.
Tel: +44 (0)20 8361 1123
Fax: +44 (0)20 8361 8684

Apart from the ready made lines of Sullivan origin mentioned above, Brodak are producing lines in kit form. Each kit includes steel clips, end hardware and assembly instructions. These also include stranded line in 0.021", 0.024" and 0.027" diameters in 2 and 3 line sets, together with solid lines in 0.010", 0.012" and 0.014" diameters.

Brodak Manufacturing & Distributing Co., Inc.
Phone (724) 966-2726
FAX (724) 966-5670
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.brodak.com
You can request a catalogue by phone. Price is $4.00 in the US.

Brodak products are available from:
PS Aero Products 2000, 46 Hillside Gardens, Edgware, Middx. HA8 8HE.
Tel/Fax: +44 (0)20 8958 6731.
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.psaeroproducts2000.freeserve.co.uk

SIG lines in kit form are stocked in the UK from time to time by:
The Model Shop, 230 Wellingborough Road, Northampton. NN1 4EJ.
Tel: +44 (0)1604-631223.
They only stock the 0.015" and 0.018" sizes.

SIG Manufacturing Co. Inc., P.O. Box 520, Montezuma, IA 50171-0520
Phone: 515-623-5154
Fax: 515-623-3922
Toll Free Orders: 800-247-5008
Modeller's Hot Line: 800-524-7805 (Tech Support)
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: http://www.sigmfg.com
Catalogue available at:
$3.00 US
$6.00 Canada
$8.00 Elsewhere

'Superline' is a brass plated line, available in single and three-strand form. The single strand line is 0.3mm diameter, while the three-strand is available in 0.33, 0.40 and 0.50mm. All sizes are available in lengths of 35, 500 and 1000m on suitable reels from:
Modelec, 59 Hedge Lane, Palmers Green, London N13 5SZ.
Tel: +44 (0)20 8245 7237.
Mobile: 07973 166441.
email: [email protected]
Mail order only.

'Staystrate' 3 strand tinned line is produced by PAW. It is available in 0.012", 0.015" and 0.020" diameter. The first two sizes are available in 33, 50 and 100m lengths. The 0.020" size is available in 25 or 50m lengths. All on reusable plastic reels. It should be obtainable in the UK from model shops.
Progress Aero Works, Union Mill, Union Street, Macclesfield. SK11 6QG.
Tel/Fax: +44 (0)1625 423891.
email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.paw.ac

Many flyers are using stainless steel fishing line, which is available as plain stranded wire or covered with a plastic coating. Many sizes are available, but it is usually sold as being of a certain breaking strain and it is necessary to measure a sample to find the diameter.

I have used LEEDA 'Predator' fishing trace in 20lb breaking strain, which is a 7 strand uncoated line of about 0.011" diameter and a bronze colour. A 30 meter reel (enough to make up a set of 52' 6" lines) cost �6-00 from my local fishing shop.

Gary Church ([email protected]) reports that he is using a green coloured coated line called 'Toothy Critters' which is available from Hinders of Swindon (Tel: +44 (0)1793 333900) in 40 or 50lb breaking strain which measures 0.015" and 0.018" respectively.

Mejzlik Modellbau produce lines which are aimed at use for team racing and speed models, including made-up sets.
Single strand - 0.30 mm x 35 m - 0.012" x 38 yards.
4 strand - 0.40 mm x 32 m - 0.016" x 35 yards.
7 strand - 0.40 mm x 32 m - 0,016" x 35 yards.
7 strand - 0.65 mm x 22 m - 0.026" x 24 yards.
Mejzlik Modellbau, Borova 14, 644 00 Brno, Czech Republic (Europe).
Phone: +420 5 43218888.
Mobile phone: +420 777 888000.
Fax: +420 5 43218880.
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: http://www.mejzlikmodellbau.com
A catalogue in PDF format can be downloaded from this site.

Bulk lines can be obtained in the USA from Lone Star Models (Riley Wooten).
Stainless steel cable (7 strand):
0.012", 0.015" & 0.018" in 1000' and 300' reels.
0.027" in 300' & 30' reels.
0.033" in 30' reels.
Stainless steel cable - nylon covered:
0.015", 0.018" & 0.024" in 30' reels.
Lone Star Models, 115 Industrial Street, Lancaster, Texas 75134. USA.
Tel: Orders: 800 687 5555
Help: 972 218 9663
FAX: 972 218 9211.
Website: http://www.lonestar-models.com/
A catalogue in PDF format can be downloaded from this site.

Another US bulk supplier is MBS Model Supply.
0.012" x 1000' Bulk Stranded Control Line
0.015" x 1000' Bulk FAI Stranded Control Line
0.018" x 1000' Bulk Stranded Control Line
0.021" x 900' Bulk Stranded Control Line
0.027" x 300' Bulk Leadout Wire
They also offer made-up sets of single strand lines:
2 X .010" X 48� Solid Wire
2 X .012" X 52� Solid Wire
2 X .014" X 60� Solid Wire
2 X .018" X 60� Solid Wire
2 X .012" X 70� Solid Wire
2 X .014" X 70� Solid Wire
MBS Model Supply, P.O. Box 282, Auburn, KS 66402-0282.
Tel: (785) 256-2583
FAX: (785) 256-2396
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: http://members.cox.net/mbschuette/
A catalogue in Word format can be downloaded from this site.

Probably the biggest US bulk supplier are McMaster-Carr. They offer wire in many forms and materials including steel, stainless steel, aluminium and titanium in a range of sizes from 0.005" to 0.188" diameter. They have numerous retail outlets, each with its own email address.
Website: http://www.mcmaster.com/

Last updated 16 February 2003. Dave Day [email protected]

Comparison of Imperial and Metric line diameters (to 3 figures)

Imperial (inches)	Metric (mm)	Standard Wire Gauge (SWG)
0.008	0.203	36
0.012	0.305	30
0.013	0.330	29
0.015	0.381	28
0.016	0.400	27
0.018	0.457	26
0.020	0.500	25
0.020	0.508	25