Hi Robin,
at a scale of 1:96 you need the thinest stuff you can get hold of to make scale railing, i have used overhead wire from the railway firms before now, but you can only get that in 200mm lengths.
last year i was introduced to this Nickel Silver from Albion Alloys, and it can be obtained in 1 Meter lengths which is very handy for railings.
i think i would say at this thickness its about the same as Brass Rod, very flexible, i did not have to bend it at all for the Turret, it just followed the contors of the Stanchions, for the rest of the railings of the main superstructure i will have to bend it, and yes it bend very well, just about 90° angle with no curve in the corner.
i have not soldered it yet, the railing on the turret have only been tacked in place with a needle pin size drop of supper glue on the first and last stanchion, the paint work will hold the rest in place.
again i would say at this thickness it reacts about the same as Brass but more Flexible and holds its form until a good pressure is applied.
sometime if you just touch brass rod at 0.2mm it bends and stays that way, this Nickel Silver does not.