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What do you guys use for nets or netting? I need something non-rigid that will adjust around curved surfaces, so window screening is out. I want to use it on something like a weather balloon.

Red Solo Shot-Walker is on the bench now, but intrepid aviators of the Grot Balloon Corps are calling to me!
"build us! build us! let us fly!!!!

Sounds like you're off to the greengrocers.
Those net bags are all over the place in lots of gauges and it's a great way to boost your vitamins.

Get some gauze bandages that you can cut/trim to the appropriate size and then soak them in watered down PVA glue before placing them over top of the balloon.

That will let it cure into the right shape and then be removed without too much hassle.

Hrm, those net bags aren't as common on this side of the pond, but I'll have to see what I can dig up. Thanks for the tip, Alex!

@Kaniuwen -- I'm actually modelling the weather balloon, and the net is to go around it, holding it 'down' (or in this case holding the balloon corpsmen up). No need to separate the net from balloon once it's together. I'll see how thin the gauze is when you unfold it out all the way -- i'd like something that behaves like a little bitty fishing net, where the squares can deform and collapse etc.

Coh Magnussen wrote:
Hrm, those net bags aren't as common on this side of the pond, but I'll have to see what I can dig up.

Keep your eyes peeled. I'm sure that buying them from source is a no go as they'll be sold in huge rolls and i'm fairly sure that they are going out of fashion what with the dolphins complaining and all.
They must still pack some stuff in them like logs, xmas trees or possibly those exfoliating body puff things????
What about garden net, fishing net, hairnets and fishnet stockings?

At first I assumed you meant like a reusable shopping bag made of string... the xmas tree wrappers have holes too big, but i'm going to spin past the bagged oranges and onions just in case (the apples come in solid plastic bags, and i think the potatoes do too). Amazon can hook me up with more of this stuff than I can shake a stick at, but it's hard to judge the mesh by a picture, I'd rather be able to see/feel it.

I'm not sure I want to explain to my wife why I ordered fishnet stockings... for myself... . I'm thinking i might be able to find something resembling aquarium fishnet at the fabric store though...

Netting like this?



Alternatively you could brave a venture into the women's clothing isle and get some fish net garments?

You may also find net covering punnets of soft fruit like plums and nectarines and I'm sure babybel cheese comes in a net bag too.
How big is this airship?

Chicken wire. You can find smaller chicken wire if you look around for it. It'll be stiff enough to mold for what you're trying to do. It's 'rigid' but flexible.

Also you get to see baby chickens which are awesome because they go PEEP PEEP PEEP

Also, just show your wife this thread and order some fishnet stockings. I've used them before for camo netting and they work great. An essential piece of equipment for any modeler.

 Alex Kolodotschko wrote:
Also, just show your wife this thread and order some fishnet stockings. I've used them before for camo netting and they work great. An essential piece of equipment for any modeler.

Bolded and underlined part is really important, unless you want a really awkward conversation.

Hehe, I can just see that conversation now.

@Desubot -- yes, that would probably work out just fine. If I could find some that is more "square" in it's relaxed state that'd be better, but I can likely make something like you've shown work (and in fact such will be my backup plan!).

Hmmmm then you may need to look around for some poly mesh.



fabric and possibly the tinsel section for holiday stuff.

another alternative that i think may hold your answer might be air filters iv seen them with a nice looking mesh on them.


altnerativly you could get aluminum mesh and pound and burnish the crap out of it onto a mold.

Onions usually come in fine net bags where I'm at right now.

Turns out I had a mesh bag sitting on my kitchen counter with bamboo spoons in it... Now I have a mesh bag sitting empty on the hobby table . I'll play around with that and see how it behaves (after I finish the Solo Shot Walker... trying to reduce the amount of WIP and hopefully the corresponding chaos)

Cheesecloth should work well for your application.

T