My old Hippo loop antenna

[Buzzsaaw]

Hi.. I'm new to this forum. Sure glad to find it too.

I've got a 46-420 Hippo that I grew up with. I remember in the early 60s playing on the floor with this radio playing in the back ground. When I was around 6 or 7 I got into it.. For some reason, as kids do, I removed the loop antenna. Lost the back too.. durn! Now years later I unpacked it and thought I might restore it. A question for you folks: I've looked for some of that old wire, cloth wrapped and I think 26 ga for the loop antenna. You know of a source for this? And just how to get it to form into a “tape form” to look like the original?
Or is there a better way to do this.. find a junker broken case.. build a loop around a small frame or get a repro back and wind one around that..??

I appreciate your advice. I've been viewing BandersentTV's vids on rebuilding and restoring radios. I really enjoy them. Takes me back to my early years at the old VoTech and later repairing Tv's at a local shop. I loved it!
Thanks