The antenna is composed of all brass components* starting with a bent perforated sheet soldered to a wire.  The wire is inserted into two discs that act as hinge wheels.  An axle rod fixed to the top shell with a generous dollop of grey plumber's epoxy fits though center holes in the discs.  Lastly, a pin inserted into one of the discs acts to stop the antenna swing when it hits the top shell's inner surface:

Perforated Brass Sheet

Thanks to William Krewson, author of a 1995 Cinemafantastique Magazine article on Wah Chang, we've had the rare opportunity to study one of the last remaining unused portions of the perforated brass sheet Wah used in the antennas.  Exact specs on the material are:

          Thickness:  0.027" average (varies between .025 and .029, depending on where the micrometer is placed)

          Hole Diameter:  0.078" (5/64")

          Hole to Hole spacing:  0.125" (1.000" across eight) in all three possible row directions

Photographs of the roughly 3"x6" sample, including a full size scan (at 300 dpi) on the right, are as follows:

Where to get:
We are unaware of any ready-made off the shelf pre-perforated product that replicates this component.  Unless you are willing to pay for a shop to custom punch some brass, you'll need to drill by hand.

Readily available from online/hobby/hardware stores is 1/32" (0.032") thick brass sheet .  That is pretty close - just 16% over - and that might do for many hobbyists.  If, however, heightened accuracy is your goal, you will probably find this to be a bit on the thick side, adding extra weight and decreasing the apparent visual size of the holes (seeing more metal when viewed from the side tricks you to think the holes are smaller than they really are).  If you can find brass stock closer to 0.027, you're going to be much happier with the end results.

In the 3.25" x 1.75" flat sheet you need per antenna, there are over 450 holes!  On some lazy weekend, set aside a couple hours for the task.  Stacking up a few sheets and drilling all at once allows several batches to be made at once.  Below is a template to guide your drill bit.

... and may higher powers steady your hand and fortify your elbow.

A 1/16" (0.063) diameter rod or wire.  [Most comms we see use brass, but probably two so far, certainly Epsilon and likely Gamma, curiously have a steel wire instead.  Your call.]  You'll need about 11" length per.

Where to get:
eBay or hobby / hardware store.  If you get no on-line listings with "wire" replace with the word "rod."

A 5/8" (0.625) diameter brass rod cut to make nominal 1/8" wide discs.  Widths vary on the comms we have measurements of from about 0.115 to 0.135 inches, so figure the average is spot on 0.125."  A 1/8" diameter hole is drilled in the center to accommodate the axle rod (see below).  Edges are ever-so slighted rounded - as a sliced and bleeding finger on an actor tends to slows filming.

Where to get:
eBay or hobby / hardware store.

A 1/8" (0.125) diameter brass rod cut to a length of 2.00"

Where to get:
eBay or hobby / hardware store.

We've seen two types and sizes of metal pins.  In Epsilon and Zeta, it is steel (if that spotted surface discoloration we see is rust) or aluminum (if aged epoxy), probably 3/32" (0.094) diameter and cut to about an 11/32" length.  In Alpha, it is brass or copper 1/16" (0.063) diameter wire snipped to a maximum length of 5/16" with a pair of wire cutters (as presumed by the pointed beveled end).

Where to get:
eBay or hobby / hardware store.

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