Rigging Bi-Planes etc

by Bill Bunting
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Rigging

...is something I never looked forward to.  I had never done it before and I was worried that the thread would go slack or break.  That was until I discovered some very neat fishing line.  It is called “SpiderThread” and is used to tie up little sacks of fish roe to be used as bait.  I bought it at “Canadian Tire”, a chain store in Canada – sort of a “automotive parts/hardware/sports” store.  I got 100yds for $3.99.  I am sure that it would be available from any good fishing supply store.  The unique thing about this thread is that it stretches.  It is almost like rubber or latex in composition.  I rigged the plane by anchoring one end of the thread on one of the strut posts with cyano.  When thoroughly dry, I threaded the line through a hole in the wing, over the next strut post, through the corresponding hole on the other wing, the thread was then brought back to the originating location and glued with cyano.  I found it easier to leave lots of excess line when starting and finishing.  Once dry, the excess was trimmed with a very 

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sharp blade be sure to cut the excess off the “starter” before you bring the “finishing” end back (you’ll understand as soon as you do it). I put a drop of cyano into each hole and then touched up the paint.  The beauty of using the “SpiderThread” was that by putting a little tension on the line while rigging I eliminated any slack and also was never in danger of over stressing the struts or breaking the thread.

Bill

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Photos and text © 2003 by Bill Bunting