Basic Bi-Plane Rigging 101

Tools 'n' Tips Article by Fernando Torre in 2003

 

 

I have received inquiries about how I rigged my DH-4 on the ARC gallery lately..... so I have decided to post an explanation here in order to encourage anybody out there ,that has been thinking about tackling one of these little buggers, but was discouraged by the rigging element of it .
I don't pretend for a minute to be an expert, nor do I claim that this technique is the right one to use,  I simply offer what I have developed on my won on the subject, but at least it will give some one a place to start .

1-Planning -
-First I look at the model in the box and decide where I am going to run the rigging with the help of any pictures or drawings I can ... I try to run the rigging exactly in the same place as the real one, but if it is going to be impossible to put it in the same place then it is better to compromise a little if you have to, and move it ... the important thing is that it "looks right " especially in this 1/72 scale.

2 -Drilling -
-Once I have figured out where the line is going to go, then I pre-drill holes though the plastic with a small hand pin vise with as small drill bit ... the holes have to be clean and free of plastic chips.

3- Model Assembly and Paint-
-I assemble the plane and paint (on the DH-4 I assembled and painted the main fuselage, bottom wing and the top wing separately) apply any camouflage lozenge decals and roundels if the rigging is going to go though them (like on a hawker furry for example) ... keep paint sample for touch ups if you are mixing, of course.

4 The Line
- The line I use is a thin thread made of vinyl called "invisible thread" you can buy this at anyplace where sewing supplies are sold ...do not use polyester because in time it will unravel and look hairy and dusty !

5- Starting to Rig
- Once the plane is assembled and painted ... simply find the place where you want to start your rigging (like the edge of the fuselage ) apply a very small drop of crazy glue (CA instant glue ) in the pre-drilled hole, take a length of thread with tweezers, place the end in the hole that has the glue and wait for it to dry (a few minutes).  It is very IMPORTANT that your first hole with glue dries SOLID because you run the thread though the other holes, you will need to pull and apply some tension to the thread to stretch it a little so that it looks right ... so the glue at the first hole better be totally dry!

6- RIGGING
-Try to rig as much as you can in one piece of thread. It will be faster and easier in the long run... On the DH- 4 I started at the base of the fuselage ... waited 5 minutes for the glue to dry ... then I ran the thread up though the wing (second spar front ) over and back down though the wing (second spar back)... to bottom wing (third spar back) ... down under and through the wing back up (second spar front)... etc when I get to the outer edge of the wing I hold the thread with a small piece of thread and apply very small amounts of glue to the holes where I have run the tread with a tooth pick in order to secure the thread in place ... once the glue has dried I take an X-Acto knife with a fresh no.11 blade and I cut way the extra thread (like on the top of the wing).. etc.

Take care to cut only the thread and dry glue as close as possible to the paint, but not dig into it repeat the rigging pattern in reverse until you achieve the crisscross pattern that you want

7 -Touch-Ups
-Once you have accomplished the rigging you set out to do and have smoothened the surface where you have cut the glue and thread ... apply a touch of paint to the wing surface etc ... and VOILA! after you finish decals and details the plane is done .
Hope that this helps.

Fern

Photos and text © by Fernando Torre