Thread: Bi-Plane

As Christmas fast approached I was reminded by the Stinkette that I had promised to make my young nephew a plane (2½) for Christmas. We the deadline was fast approaching so I had to get a move on.

I had seen quite a few timber planes recently while traveling overseas however there was never one that combined all the features that I liked. I also have a few toy books with various plans …. But again not quite what I was after.

In the end I decided to come up with my own design. I used the plans for basic scale and dimensions and then drew up my own plans. Then it was off to the garage where the plans were quickly discarded (as they often are) and then I just built what I felt was right.

The result is a bi-plane with camphorlaurel body, unsure of the timber for the wings and wheels and a small bit of walnut for the propeller. The wheels were cut out with a hole saw, and then mounted on a mandrel on the lathe where they were sanded, rounded and had a tread cut into them.

(if you look closely at the photos you can still see the fluff from the Swansdown mop - finish was a mix of EEE, traditional wax and shellawax glow - just depended on how easy it was to apply the finish to the certain section)

It was finished at about 6pm Christmas eve (I was meant to have left by 4pm) ….. and presented the next day. When it was unwrapped I was initially pleased with the young fellows cry of “A Plane”, then it made one dive out of the air before it was left on the couch and he took off to play with his plastic car carrier and Lightning McQueen from the movie Cars. It is amazing what a little brainwashing by the marketing companies does for the kids ….. perhaps my humble little plane would have been better received if it was also Lightning McQueen.

Oh well!