Group Build: Biplane - barnstormer to fighter

Rockin' Rob · 2026-07-16T14:56:19-0400

This is what I get for putting too much thought into something. PE. Panther man loves it. This is only, I think, my second or third time using it. The Nubs! The stupid Nubs! Here I was thinking if you use a fresh razor blade you should be able to cut that nub exactly flush and while why can't I do that there's got to be another way why can't I figure it out? Driving me batshit crazy. And then I realized that the Nubs are just part of the job. Quit fretting over something that is just part of the job. Wow. That's a load off my mind. So I got a pair of really good scissors and also an old pair of sprue cutters and snip snip snip cut the PE off and then worry about grinding the nub down if you need to. Some people need to slow down when they're building a model and some people, like me, need to quit overthinking things. It just slows you down.

Jakko · 2026-07-16T15:29:03-0400

Tamiya sells very good, high-quality small scissors specifically intended for removing etched parts from the fret. I only really use them for nickel silver, as brass is usually soft enough that you can do it with a hobby knife instead.

Rockin' Rob · 2026-07-16T15:38:58-0400

Jakko said:
Tamiya sells very good, high-quality small scissors specifically intended for removing etched parts from the fret. I only really use them for nickel silver, as brass is usually soft enough that you can do it with a hobby knife instead.

I requisitioned a pair of scissors from my wife's stash for her stash! Just kidding. About her stash not that I took her scissors.. really small meant for eyebrows and nose hairs and such. Works great.

BarleyBop · 2026-07-16T17:03:07-0400

Rockin' Rob said:
razor blade

Sorry if I mentioned this before... I do use scissors and mini shears of which I have a few styles, also a sturdy hobby knife with the sprue resting on glass so it doesn't 'bend away'. For the nubs, if there are any, I find a fine diamond file works best.

Ron2 · 2026-07-16T17:15:18-0400

Rockin' Rob said:
I requisitioned a pair of scissors from my wife's stash for her stash! Just kidding. About her stash not that I took her scissors.. really small meant for eyebrows and nose hairs and such. Works great.

Somebody is guna be in trouble!

Bob T · 2026-07-16T17:53:13-0400

We've moved on to a color coat. Have a couple spots to sand out and respray, but otherwise very happy.

Edbert · 2026-07-16T18:29:38-0400

Alright, I'm finished!

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1BqL4t7nSm/

Bob T · 2026-07-16T19:07:43-0400

Rigging attached to the upper wing...holes drilled in the lower. Broke my #80 bit, had to use a #79.

Ron2 · 2026-07-16T19:31:01-0400

Edbert said:
Alright, I'm finished!

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1BqL4t7nSm/

Is that yours???

Rockin' Rob · 2026-07-16T19:54:05-0400

Necessity is the mother of invention they say. Yeppers! Just another use for the Irwin Quick Grip. The rubber Jaws grip it nice and firm. PE problem solved.

Bob T · 2026-07-16T20:51:21-0400

Although it is hard to see in this photo, I think the rigging came out OK...

BarleyBop · 2026-07-16T21:23:17-0400

Bob T said:
rigging

Nice and taut, doing its job. Nice!

kevin · 2026-07-16T21:37:28-0400

It looks pretty good from here....

Werner Voss · 2026-07-16T22:22:41-0400

Edbert said:
The finest Corinthian leather!

View attachment 196284
(not a minivan, but what I thought of when seeing the seats)

I had a Cordoba when they came out. No T-Tops, but a sweet ride. The radio was AM,FM,8-track CB.

Rockin' Rob · 2026-07-16T23:52:49-0400

Bob T said:
Although it is hard to see in this photo, I think the rigging came out OK...

Looks a lot better than mine. I'm having some trouble.

Bob T · 2026-07-17T07:25:34-0400

Rockin' Rob said:
Looks a lot better than mine. I'm having some trouble.

Thanks, but oh yes, it was some trouble, and I only had 8 lines.
Broke my two smallest drill bits, messed up some of the paint.

I'll take a look later and make sure everything is square, clean up some glue, touch up the paint, and start working on the landing gear.
There is also supposed to be a small cylinder thing where the lines cross, but I haven't figured how to do that yet. (And may not)

wjbrandel · 2026-07-17T08:08:42-0400

I just got the Sopwith Camel last night the walrus is coming in on Sunday, Now which one do I want to build?
Decisions, decisions.

Bob T · 2026-07-17T10:23:31-0400

Had to fill a few gaps. I'll touch up the red later today, and add some small parts.
Still need to build the landing gear.

BarleyBop · 2026-07-17T11:54:19-0400

Bob T said:
build

That wing offset is something! And that red will make it a star on display!

Pantherman · 2026-07-17T15:07:09-0400

Rockin' Rob said:
Oh believe me I got files up the ying yang. All types. It's not normal PE. I can cut PE and not have any nub. I'm just wondering if there's a trick to cutting the really thick PE? Would heating it first work? I don't know and I don't want to test a piece because it's biplane rigging and I don't want to screw it up. If I do I'd have to order some brass wire because Andy's moved I think and hobby bench is out

If I find a particular hard PE, I tend to cut it from the fret with Tamiya PE scissors, then put it in wide mouth pliers and use a diamond file to trim off any spike's. Pantherman

Edbert · 2026-07-17T15:30:43-0400

Ron2 said:
Is that yours???

No!

Trying to be funny.

Rockin' Rob · 2026-07-17T15:44:12-0400

Pantherman said:
If I find a particular hard PE, I tend to cut it from the fret with Tamiya PE scissors, then put it in wide mouth pliers and use a diamond file to trim off any spike's. Pantherman

Yes sir. That's what I'm doing now. I probably should have watched some videos but I didn't. I don't know where I got the idea that you can cut all PE and not have a nub? And I found out the hard way on the PE rigging? Don't heat it up with the lighter thinking you're going to soften the metal and make it cut easier so you don't have a nub. It doesn't work. You're going to have a nub regardless. And now you made the PE nice and soft and bendable and curved and not looking like a piece of rigging wire. Live and learn.

BarleyBop · 2026-07-17T18:30:47-0400

wjbrandel said:
walrus is coming in on Sunday

Nice! Both @Pantherman and I have one in the stash...

Group Build: Biplane - barnstormer to fighter

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