SEARCH FINESCALE.COM

Enter keywords or a search phrase below:

Lindberg JN-4 finished

3400 views
28 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: Twin Cities of Minnesota
Posted by Don Stauffer on Thursday, March 29, 2018 8:50 AM

JohnnyK

 

 
Shipwreck
Great job, Don. Just looking at the rigging terrifies me!
 

 

 

I agree. I do not build biplanes because of the rigging. How on earth did you do the rigging? Please share.

 

 

 

It does depend somewhat on the era and the individual aircraft.  But, for WW1 era planes like the Jennie, with thin wings, I drill tiny holes in both top and bottom wings.  I glue thread to top wing, and feed thread (usually monofilament nylon stuff) through hole in bottom wing, which goes clear through.  I use slow drying (gel) CA cement.  I put a clothespin on end that comes through bottom wing before I apply cement, so there is some tension on the thread, then hit it with the glue and then with accelerator.  I use a scalpel to cut the thread as closely as possible to wing bottom surface, and then use a toothpick to put a daub of paint on that spot.

If the top wing is very thin the thread will often be visible from the top of the top surface, so I have to trim carefully and paint that spot also. 

By pre-tensioning the thread with the clothespin no shrinking is needed.

I must say the JN-4 requires more rigging than anything other than a DH-2 I built.  Both planes had a lot of control wire rigging in addition to the wing rigging, and drag and anti-drag bracing from fuselage to wing.

 

 

Don Stauffer in Minnesota

  • Member since
    March 2015
  • From: Close to Chicago
Posted by JohnnyK on Wednesday, March 28, 2018 7:51 PM

Shipwreck
Great job, Don. Just looking at the rigging terrifies me!
 

I agree. I do not build biplanes because of the rigging. How on earth did you do the rigging? Please share.

Your comments and questions are always welcome.

  • Member since
    March 2003
Posted by rangerj on Wednesday, March 28, 2018 6:12 PM

Setting aside all of its faults I like that kit, and you did a banged up job on it. That kit is older than most of the forum members and it has stood the test of time. It is time for a new Jenny and I would live to see one in 1/32nd scale. Again, yours is fantastic. It reminds me of that day and age of modeling for me and doing that kit and the 1/48th Aroura WWI bipes. 

  • Member since
    May 2006
  • From: Chapin, South Carolina
Posted by Shipwreck on Monday, March 26, 2018 8:35 AM
Great job, Don. Just looking at the rigging terrifies me!

On the Bench:

Revell 1/96 USS Constitution - rigging

Revell 1/48 B-1B Lancer Prep and research

Trumpeter 1/350 USS Hornet CV-8 Prep and research

 

 

 

  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: Twin Cities of Minnesota
Posted by Don Stauffer on Monday, March 26, 2018 8:26 AM

1943Mike

Looks great in natural light!! I'm still very impressed with how you made the spoked wheels. The Kickin' Mule  and numbers look like you faded the paint a little .. whether you did or not ... no matter, it looks just perfect to me!

 

The wheels are PE from Tom's Model Works.  You have to use the kit tires, but the PE spoke and rims were bigger than the kit wheels, so I had to make my own tire halves.  Turned them from sheet styrene.  I used a lathe, I suppose one could use a dremel and the mandrel that the abrasive disks mount to.

I purposely made the mule a bit gray rather than black, plus I oversprayed the whole plane, after decal work done, with a medium gray (actually the gray used on part of paint scheme) to age/weather the plane.

 

Don Stauffer in Minnesota

  • Member since
    December 2010
  • From: Salem, Oregon
Posted by 1943Mike on Sunday, March 25, 2018 11:41 PM

Looks great in natural light!! I'm still very impressed with how you made the spoked wheels. The Kickin' Mule  and numbers look like you faded the paint a little .. whether you did or not ... no matter, it looks just perfect to me!

Mike

"Le temps est un grand maître, mais malheureusement, il tue tous ses élèves."

Hector Berlioz

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Northern California
Posted by jeaton01 on Sunday, March 25, 2018 11:11 PM

Very nice, Don, beautiful pictures.

John

To see build logs for my models:  http://goldeneramodel.com/mymodels/mymodels.html

 

  • Member since
    January 2003
Posted by Darren Roberts on Sunday, March 25, 2018 8:14 PM
Missed that one the first time around. NOICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  • Member since
    January 2015
Posted by PFJN on Sunday, March 25, 2018 7:41 PM

Wow, that turned out really nice looking Smile

1st Group BuildSP

  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: Twin Cities of Minnesota
Posted by Don Stauffer on Sunday, March 25, 2018 4:02 PM

Spring is here, most snow has melted in the backyard, and the sun is out (mostly) today.  Got some of my sunlit photo backdrop photos today of the Jennie I finished this past winter.

Don Stauffer in Minnesota

  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: Twin Cities of Minnesota
Posted by Don Stauffer on Thursday, December 14, 2017 9:13 AM

Toshi

I’m most impressed with your build.  I have yet to currently do a Bi-Plane kit as of yet.  I did do a Bi-Plane as a very young youth, the old a Monogram Wright Brothers Flying machine.  I’m somewhat intimidated by the rigging of the Bi-Plane, I need to get over that.  lol!  Again, a beautiful and amazing finish to a unique build!  Congratulations sir.

Your friend, Toshi

 

As a start, I'd recommend the Revell 1:48 Stearman. It is a great kit, and the price is a steal!  The cabane struts are molded into the fuselage, so adding the top wing automatically puts it at the right angle to fuselage.  The rigging on the Stearman is minimal compared to older biplanes.

 

Don Stauffer in Minnesota

  • Member since
    March 2015
  • From: Streetsboro, Ohio
Posted by Toshi on Wednesday, December 13, 2017 12:11 PM

I’m most impressed with your build.  I have yet to currently do a Bi-Plane kit as of yet.  I did do a Bi-Plane as a very young youth, the old a Monogram Wright Brothers Flying machine.  I’m somewhat intimidated by the rigging of the Bi-Plane, I need to get over that.  lol!  Again, a beautiful and amazing finish to a unique build!  Congratulations sir.

Your friend, Toshi

On The Bench: Revell 1/48 B-25 Mitchell

 

Married to the most caring, loving, understanding, and beautiful wife in the world.  Mrs. Toshi

 

 

  • Member since
    February 2012
  • From: Olmsted Township, Ohio
Posted by lawdog114 on Friday, December 8, 2017 6:50 PM
Very well done Don. Thanks for sharing..

 "Can you fly this plane and land it?...Surely you can't be serious....I am serious, and don't call me Shirley"

 

 

 

 

  • Member since
    October 2016
  • From: .O-H-I-O....
Posted by DasBeav on Friday, December 8, 2017 4:55 PM

Great work, Don! You did justice to the original.

 Sooner Born...Buckeye Bred.

 

  • Member since
    March 2015
  • From: Close to Chicago
Posted by JohnnyK on Friday, December 8, 2017 2:24 PM

Wow, that is a really nice build. You must be a really patient person to be able to install that rigging.

Your comments and questions are always welcome.

  • Member since
    September 2006
  • From: Bethlehem PA
Posted by the Baron on Friday, December 8, 2017 1:08 PM

Great build, Don, and well done on the rigging!  That's a veritable cat's cradle in each wing bay.

The bigger the government, the smaller the citizen.

 

 

  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: SW Virginia
Posted by Gamera on Friday, December 8, 2017 10:20 AM

Yeah, really nice work there Don. Yes

"I dream in fire but work in clay." -Arthur Machen

 

  • Member since
    July 2014
  • From: Franklin Wi
Posted by Bakster on Friday, December 8, 2017 9:08 AM

This looks great, Don. Fantastic work. One for the museum.

  • Member since
    June 2014
  • From: New Braunfels , Texas
Posted by Tanker - Builder on Friday, December 8, 2017 7:30 AM

Hi Don ;

 I have that very kit ! Now I don't have the resin engine and stuff . Still as with other Lindberg Models it is a mild challenge .You did a very nice job on that Jenny !

GAF
  • Member since
    June 2012
  • From: Anniston, AL
Posted by GAF on Friday, December 8, 2017 6:59 AM

Congratulations Don on "gettin' 'er dun!"  Big Smile  You did a great job on that Lindberg kit, and the insignia turned out fine.

Gary

  • Member since
    December 2003
  • From: 37deg 40.13' N 95deg 29.10'W
Posted by scottrc on Thursday, December 7, 2017 8:22 AM

Don,

Good job on that old Lindberg kit.

 

  • Member since
    April 2013
  • From: Eleva, Wisconsin
Posted by Greatmaker on Monday, December 4, 2017 3:58 PM

Fantastic build Don. Just can't fathom the amount of patience required for all that rigging.

Thanks for sharing the journey

 

  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: Twin Cities of Minnesota
Posted by Don Stauffer on Monday, December 4, 2017 8:29 AM

1943Mike

Don, fine job on the Jenny.

Do you have any tips/warning/suggestions regarding the way you built the Lindberg kit?

As you know I'll be building it some day and have the resin engine. I also ordered the spokes that you used but I'll have to figure out how to work with those - no lathe but a regular drill and a couple of Dremels ... maybe I'll work it out somehow.

Anyway, your thread is now bookmarked as one of the benchmarks for when I get around to it.

 

I can tell you a few things not to do :-)  I figured I would pre-rig the tail and the upper wing, since these pieces have rigging that is complete within that part.  Mistake!  I ruined some of those lines putting the wings on, and had to redo those areas.

Also, I attached the landing gear to the fuselage before I added the wings.  In spite of jigs and measurements I did not get it level.  When I re-did it after wings on, I found the long wings very helpful in establishing the level of fuselage/wing assembly.

I used two schemes for rigging.  The first is where I drill holes in the wing to run rigging lines through, then glue and cut off excess with scalpel.  Second, for the bracing of interplane and cabane struts, is to use long piece of thread, knot around top or bottom of strut, go diagonally up to next attach point, repeat, etc.  Fewer holes in top wing to touch up, and it goes quicker.  You must plan each line to determine which way is better for each piece of rigging.

 

Don Stauffer in Minnesota

  • Member since
    July 2010
  • From: Tempe AZ
Posted by docidle on Sunday, December 3, 2017 11:11 PM

Beautiful work Don. Very nice job on the rigging!

       

 

 

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Northern California
Posted by jeaton01 on Sunday, December 3, 2017 10:38 PM

Super, Don.

John

To see build logs for my models:  http://goldeneramodel.com/mymodels/mymodels.html

 

  • Member since
    December 2010
  • From: Salem, Oregon
Posted by 1943Mike on Sunday, December 3, 2017 10:25 PM

Don, fine job on the Jenny.

Do you have any tips/warning/suggestions regarding the way you built the Lindberg kit?

As you know I'll be building it some day and have the resin engine. I also ordered the spokes that you used but I'll have to figure out how to work with those - no lathe but a regular drill and a couple of Dremels ... maybe I'll work it out somehow.

Anyway, your thread is now bookmarked as one of the benchmarks for when I get around to it.

Mike

"Le temps est un grand maître, mais malheureusement, il tue tous ses élèves."

Hector Berlioz

  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: Towson MD
Posted by gregbale on Sunday, December 3, 2017 6:37 PM

Really stunning work, Don. Truly gorgeous.

Cheers

Greg

George Lewis:

"Every time you correct me on my grammar I love you a little fewer."
 
  • Member since
    June 2017
  • From: Winter Park, FL
Posted by fotofrank on Sunday, December 3, 2017 3:58 PM

Geez, Don, what a great build. My wife bought me this very kit a couple of years ago. It was such a struggle when I started to build it mainly because one fuselage half was badly warped. It's still in the closet somewhere. What a great looking build. You even strung the wings! So nice.

OK. In the stash: Way too much to build in one lifetime...

  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: Twin Cities of Minnesota
Lindberg JN-4 finished
Posted by Don Stauffer on Sunday, December 3, 2017 3:19 PM

Finished my Lindberg 1:48 JN-4.  I was even able to get a few of my outdoor sunlit photo backdrop shots. The model features a resin engine, photo etched wire wheels, and homemade decals.

First, here is a shot of the original, one in the NASM that was the inspiration for this build.

Don Stauffer in Minnesota

JOIN OUR COMMUNITY!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

SEARCH FORUMS
FREE NEWSLETTER
By signing up you may also receive reader surveys and occasional special offers. We do not sell, rent or trade our email lists. View our Privacy Policy.