Sometimes I wish I had 4 hands instead of only 2. It really could improve my every day life - it also could improve my modelling skills.
Although I know that most possibly I would end my life in some freak circus or might become extra popular among the girls in adult entertainment...

Anyway, you might have noticed that sometimes in scale aircraft modelling it's essential that model doesn't move while you "dissect" it.

One of the biplane aircraft modelling challenges is placing the top wing. It's also really difficult to get the struts between the wings. Especially when you deal with the old vacuum-formed or resin kits. So you need the right tool to assemble the biplane cell. As I have noticed most of the times WW1 aircraft modellers like to scratchbuild the jig for every biplane they build. Jig helps placing and aligning the top wing.

Speaking of my priorities in the hobby today I should mention that tools and instruments take the first place in my list. I really appreciate a high quality tool more than some kind of rare model.. That's why I thought of purchasing something called Biplane Assembly Jig. I found mine in the list of Modelimex products - a shop I use to purchase Eastern Europe manufactured models and aftermarket. My investment in the joy of my hobby was something like 23 Euros:

- 19.25 Euros for the jig
- couple of Euros for shipping

I had ordered Sram's Biplane Assembly Jig and in couple of days I had it in my hands. I was very impatient, so I assembled it as soon as I got home. I bet you know how excited you get when you receive a fresh new kit or a instrument in your post box... The jig was perfectly bagged, but I didn't take any pictures of what was inside the box as I had to assemble As Soon As It's Possible! So, some of the pics are via Modelimex. Next thing I saw when woke out of trance was Sram's Biplane Jig assembled and ready to use... As I recall it was very simple and pleasant process of putting it all together.

So do we get in the box?

Enough metal bolts, rings and nuts 2 platforms (that hold the whole structure together) 7 "structure elements" made of plastic (I guess it's some kind of plastic) 8 angle bars (that hold the wings of the model).

Anyway, it's all enough to build a solid structure that will help you aligning and placing the top wing of your biplane models.

One thing that confused me - there's no manual at all! You have to figure out yourself which bolts and nuts to use on each of "structural elements". But, as I've mentioned before, I was in trance while building the whole structure (the jig), so I guess I had used my magic modelling skills to build it (which I guess most of you possess). And it was really easy. The whole structure is quite stable and I've
already placed the top wing of my unbuilt 1/48 Nieuport 17. It really works like a charm!

My conclusion

If you're really into World War 1 aircraft modelling you should really purchase this tool as it will greatly simplify the process of aligning, placing and glueing the top wing. I'm aware that there are other similar items on the market, but I chose Sram's Biplane Assembly Jig because of the price and simplicity of the whole construction. I also think that one of one of the main advantages of this Jig is that the main structural elements are made of plastic - so you don't have to be afraid that the already painted wings could be scratched by the structure elements of jig that holds your model.

Click the thumbs to find out more about this Tool as most probably my bad English says less than these photos.

Please remember, when contacting retailers or manufacturers, to mention that you saw their products highlighted here - on AEROSCALE.