Following the success of making a wooden train for my grandson’s birthday last year, I decided to make him another wooden toy for his next birthday. As he has now developed a keen interest in looking up at airplanes flying overhead, I thought a wooden biplane would make an ideal gift.
I looked at several different designs for inspiration, but none matched exactly what I had in mind. I therefore decided to design and build the biplane myself.
Using various pieces of wood that I had available in my garage, I began by shaping the fuselage. This was drilled and turned down to achieve the required shape and proportions.
The slots for the wings and tailplane needed to be square, so I used a mortising drill to create the necessary openings. Once these were completed, dowels were cut to size and the various components were assembled to form the finished aircraft.
To add a finishing touch, I used my laser cutter to produce some decorative signs from veneer. These were then attached to the biplane before the whole model was varnished to protect the wood and enhance its appearance.
The finished biplane is a handmade wooden toy, designed and built from scratch, combining woodworking skills with a little creativity to produce a personalised birthday present for my grandson.
