Chanute's triplane (1896)

[Dick]

Originally Posted by KurtHenkel

Hi. Beautiful work!
Are the ribs bamboo? It looks like you start with bamboo skewers and then cut them to size. Is that correct? Is there a special silk you like to use?
Thanks for sharing your amazing work.
---Kurt

Exactly. Ribs and girders are made of bamboo sticks.
Natural silk - without any syntetic addives. Silk can be deyed in tea asseces.
Elements of bamboo I cut myself. Bamboo can be bent in boiling water.

[Dick]

Originally Posted by Sakrison

What's your source for bamboo? Do you cut your own dimensional pieces?
It looks like an interesting material to work with.

Yes, of course - I cut bamboo myself.
For model construcyion I use:
- bamboo sticks and bamboo toothpicks
- various sticks and matches
- natural silk
- water stain for wood
- acrylic paints

[elliott]

Excellent craftsmanship!

[Dick]

Update.
Rigging wings is completed.

[Dick]

Hello,
Now it's time to make a figure of aviator and model will be finished.
Regards,
Dick

[milenio3]

This is amazing! What a beautiful model.

I went ahead and read about Chanute.

I bet you can fly-test your model when completed,
maybe with a fan or a hairdryer; because you are using
all the same elements of the original design,
am I right?

[YankeeBoy]

Beautifully done. Bravo!

[Michael Mash]

Those last five images are excellent.
That rigging really makes it a sight to see.
Mike

[Dick]

Hello,
Aviator Mr. Augustus Herring in flight.
Several pictures of the finished model.
Regards,
Dick

[tawnyman]

Wonderful work, it captures the elegance and fragility of those early designs perfectly. I think your use of natural materials helps to keep it looking, well, natural. Julian