WWI Smorgasbord
Merry Christmas!
Been on a biplane kick lately. Can't claim they're all anywhere near perfect. The DH 2 was a particular challenge!
I don't think the rigging on these was done the same twice. It's a mixture of 0.15mm fly leader, 0.2mm Albion Ni. Silver Rod (both of which are overscale) and &*@@! Line...sorry Eze Line. Now Eze Line is not eze and I'd given up on it for rigging. One thing which I find impossible was stretching it from one corner of a strut and holding and gluing the other end with CA. AAARGH!
I ususally drill the bottom wing and pass the fly leader through, pull it tight and stick it. You have to tidy up the bottom wing. Now I usually don't drill the top wing but simply stick it to the corner of the top strut. This is fragile and if you pull through too hard it comes off. I've realised that it's probably better to bite the bullet and drill the top wing too. If it doesn't work first time you end up with a very ugly and difficult to shift CA everywhere! Better to tidy up a top wing hole and have a first-time rigging.
Neither fly leader or silver rod stick particularly easily with CA.
Anyhow, I did revert to So Called Eze Line (actually INFINI Model product) for the DH2 because if you can stretch across two "open" points it actually makes quite a good job. This is the case with the rear part of the DH2. Think stretching between the aerial and tailplane on a WWII fighter. Also the Eze Line is scaled properly.
You won't see any "Bob's Buckles" or anything. I just don't have that level of skill.
Anyhow. I really enjoyed these challenging builds. I think the Camel the Spad and the Fokker DV took two seperate kits having wrecked the first attempt usually attatching the top wing which is the real critical point rather than the rigging. These kits are pretty cheap though and I refuse to be defeated.
I think they are all Eduard kits apart from the Spad and Nieuport.
Rigging is a challenge but I wish the manufacturers would at least mark where the rigging needs to be attatched.
Thanks for looking!
Awesome collection...I like it.
Thanks for the explanation on your rigging techniques; can't have to much info about one of the most challenging aspects of modelling.
Thanks again, and...
Merry Christmas!
Quite a collection and all look great!
All looking equally impressive to me, Ross @ross4
Rigging is a delicate and precise progress indeed, something which requires a lot of skills. This process is something which holds me back from building more WWI planes.
Your rigging results look perfect to me.
Merry Christmas.
Awesome collection, Ross!
Merry Christmas!
A fine group of models, all looking super. And "rigging"...what's that to us WW2 & beyond aircraft modelers?
Very impressive collection. I would love to try this but your discussion on rigging reminds me that I don’t have the skill, patience or vision so I’ll leave it to you experts.
That you got the Mt. Everest of WW1 models - the DH-2 - finished that nicely makes the whole collection a winner. Nice work on all.
Thanks all. Happy modelling 2025!