Question: How were struts made for WW1 aircraft? Looking at photos, it appears that a metal bar/pipe/tube comes out of the struts and connects to the plane's frame. I ask because I want to make some WW1 ACs in 72d, and struts provided by the model makers seem to always be a problem.
Thanks for any info

simon

Some struts are made from wood, with metal fittings top and bottom, some are of metal tubing, and some are metal tubing with wood fairings covering them. It all depends which aircraft you're going to model.


One popular way to make struts is to use bamboo cooking skewers. Cut them to the proper length, shape them using files and sanding sticks, then drill them top and bottom for brass wire pins to fit into the wings.

I might try that method. Thanks Jessie!

Simon,
I used to use Contrail strut material, but as Contrail is long out of business now, it's much harder to find any. Therefore I've gone to another method, but it's a little more expensive. For 1/72 scale models I use Albion brass microtube (aluminum works too) cut to length with a much smaller diameter solid brass or steel wire positioned on the inside with the ends extending slightly out of the tube. I then crush the tube around the inside wire with a pair of smooth jawed hobby pliers. This gives me an airfoil shaped "strut" with instant anchor points on either end. These are incredibly strong, and there's very little sanding or shaping involved. For larger models in 1/48 or 1/32 scale, I use K&S copper or aluminum tubing to give me the proper shape (it saves money as Albion is not cheap). If the strut is not straight, you can use a small bench vise to get proper alignment.
VR Russ

Good ideas. So far looking around the net the metal bar appears to be used on:
Nieuport 28
SPAD XIII
FE 2b
Junker J 1