Hello All,
I’d like to get the hive’s opinions here. My son (12) wants to try his hand at a biplane, preferably a WWl subject. I have very little experience with biplanes. I’ve only built the Revell Stearman (great) and the Roden Gladiator (not great), and I’ve never done a WWl plane.
I know that biplane kits have a reputation for being difficult, but are there any that would be easy enough for a kid with kid-level skills?
Thanks in advance!
I’m not sure if there are any entry-level biplanes on the market since they need rigging. However , if your kid is ok with a WW1 monoplane a Junkers D.1 might be an ok choice since I don’t think it has rigging although I might be wrong. The only problem is the only one I’ve seen is made by Roden. I’ve read that it’s a decent kit ( except for silvering decals) , but I’m not sure if it would be a good entry-level kit.
The good old Revell Fokker DR.1 in 1/28 scale.
Re released by R of G recently.
whats not to love about the Red Baron if you are a 12 year old kid?
If he doesn’t care about rigging, any 1/48 scale or even 1/24 scale bi plane would be good.
Testors 1/72 scale Nieuport. It only has about 20 or so parts and looks fine without rigging.
But it’s easy to at least try.
For kid level skills I’d recommend kid level kits. GM’s suggestion of the old Revell Germany 1/28 scale Fokker triplane is good. They also make a SPAD and Sopwith Camel in that scale. In 1/48 they also rebox several old Aurora kits such as the Sopwith Camel, SE-5A, Fokker D VII and DR.I that are old simple kits. Round 2 has reissued some older Lindberg 1/48 biplanes that are good kits for a 12 year old. And eBay is full of them, both WWI and Between the Wars/Golden Age era aircraft. In 1/32, there are some nice simple biplane kits by Hasegawa of US Army and Navy Yellow Wings “Between the Wars” biplanes that are really attractive.
Those are the kits that many of us built around his age and with varieties of skill sets.
Yes, I think you’re right.
Thanks to everyone for the advice, and some great suggestions.
I’m going to see if I can pick up a couple of old Revell kits, and maybe a Sopwith Camel for myself!
I built the Camel (1/48)a while ago, my first biplane and so far the only one. The rigging is fairly straightforward, your son may try it. You don’t need to use all the fancy staff, just give it a try with a bit of tread and super glue.
Looks good, is this the old Revell kit?
Sorry, it has been a while, don’t remember whos make it is.
Best guess is that it is the old Aurora kit, or probably one of the subsequent reboxes by Smer, Monogram, or Revell Germany.