[flyingtech55]

Hi Sparkymike

For your control cables, you could try stuff called Laystraight wire. This is used by aero-modellers who fly control-line model aeroplanes. These are diesel or glo-motor powered models which fly round in circles and are controlled in pitch (only) by the pilot who stands in the middle holding a handle to which two flexible stranded cables are attached and which go to a bell-crank inside the model. The cable is obviously pretty strong and comes in two thicknesses; Lightweight Laystraight and Heavyweight Laystraight. The lightweight stuff is a bit light for our use, but the heavyweight size, which is only heavyweight by model aircraft standards, is very useful stuff and may well be exactly what you need.

It comes in about 100ft reels as the models typically use line lengths of 30ft to 35ft. It should be available in good quality model shops and is not at all expensive. The alternative is called closed loop control cable. This is also used in model aircraft, but radio controlled ones. This wire is very simiar to the heavyweight Laystraight but is plastic coated so that it runs more smoothly through guides. This is also available in model shops but is considerably more expensive and comes in much shorter lengths.

HTH

TimR