Interesting page Jack C.

The suggestion of using an electrical tie is intriguing. I'd expect that the smaller ones would be rather limp, but they come in sizes with up to at least 150 pound rated strength (usually at least 18 or 24 inches long at that rating) that are considerably stiffer than most strips cut out of bottles and such, I would think. A bit of shopping at the hardware store might turn up a pretty good "imitation feather" of almost any stiffness desired.

John