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For 1:250 scale ships, I tried 2 pound test Stren fishing line for crappie. I bought the gold color. You can color it with a Sharpie felt tip marker, or paint it. If you hang a length of it vertically for a while ( maybe days or weeks) with a few ounces of weight on the end, it will end up remarkably straight. I also used it for lifelines, by drilling the deck, inserting stanchions, then stringing the Stren line across the stanchions, gluing it at each stanchion with a spec of CA glue.
My favorite for shorter pieces that need to be dead straight is carbon fiber. I found some unidirectional carbon fiber sheet that is only about 0.007" thick. It splits really easily into narrow strips, so you can make strips about 0.007 by 0.007", which is 1.75" at 1:250 scale. (there are other sizes available) It is rigid, so you just cut it to length and place it. No need to put any tension on it. Very easy to use, and no mess at the ends where it attaches. I just dip the ends in glue to put a tiny amount on the ends, and place it. The stickiness of the glue will hold it in place while the glue sets. When you strip it, you will get some uneven strips, so discard them or cut them into smaller pieces. You can find it at CST Sales, carbon laminate. It's the stuff with teflon backing that you peel off.
Do be careful with it because you could get nasty splinters. (I haven't yet, but it could happen)
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