What about spring steel its made for the job? several suppliers do 5/16 x 20 or 22swg which is about the right thickness.
**LINK**
If he is only making a show model and does not need the springiness then I would go with my suggestion of getting some strips waterjet cut from sheet, Have a word with Ian at Sciss, they are model engineer friendly
Edited By JasonB on 24/06/2013 16:14:39