PRESENTATION 

These are photos of two tiny models : Biplanes. Models were built mainly from the box with the addition of plasticard and stretched sprue, but with the use of no aftermarket high tech sets (either photoetched brass or resin). 

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CONSTRUCTION

Construction was quite straight forward on both kits. I started with cockpits which being open if narrow need a little detailing. That's were I used stretched sprue and plasticard to build fuselage framing. I built instrument panels with plasticard. Instrument were cut from unused decal sheets. I cut instrument one by one and placed them according to documentation, which is scarce on inner details. Seats were filed thinner. I added belts with tape. Polikarpov cockpit was painted a light grey, whereas Boeing cockpit was painted silver. I am not entirely sure with these these colors. 

Fuselage halves where glued together than filing was done in minutes as these kits are simple but good and also because fighter biplane really are small birds. Lower wings were easily added with a small attention on wheel well on the I153.

Upper wing ailerons were cut and positioned in a deflected position on the Polikarpov.

Engines were painted then installed in pre-painted cowlings. Exhaust shrouds were rebuilt on the Russian aircraft using stretched Q-tips cut in tiny bits. They therefore are hollow and far sharper than original kit parts.

Detail and add wheels and gears.

Paint fuselage. Red fuselage design is painted on Boeing. All painting was done using Humbrol paints. I used a mix of airbrushing and brush painting on the Boeing. I first painted green main color.

I then used a sharp knife to draw contours on fuselage and engine cowling. The knife blade with raise a very small ridge on plastic fuselage. This will be just enough to lead guide brush and paint flow providing your paint is not too thick. I first painted a white layer of paint then the red color. Otherwise red won't cover a medium green.

This also is the time to build, detail and paint upper wing. As ever care must be taken for a good positioning of upper wings on biplanes. 

Rigging was added using stretched sprue. Then time to complete painting and add decals. 

CONCLUSION 

Eric

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