My shop is overrun with scraps! Like many woodworkers, I just can't throw away good useable materials, so the challenge is to use them up. Sure, those scraps of MDF will probably go to some sort of jig, but blocks of cherry material need to be used for better things.

The first thing I have chosen to make is this biplane. The original plan came from my old Shopsmith project book, and I have made a few biplanes based off of those plans, but I have tweaked them a little here and there. This plane is no different, as I've modified the wing shape, the stabilizers, and the landing gear, just enough to make this a fun project.

These scrap blocks are the cut-offs from the cabriole-style legs on the Pie-Crust Table (There are actually 9 videos on that project that you ought to check out), and though they are weird shapes, at least one of those hunks was big enough for this plane's fuselage. Add some of the thin cherry stock from a slant-front desk project from a couple of years ago, and a wad of dowels and some wheels, it seemed to be a good project.

So, apart from some simple cutting out of shapes, some fairly precise measuring and drilling, the rest of this project allows for some creative shaping and sanding to refine the shapes to your liking. It is a fun project to make for your kids, or your grandkids, or some other kid. This isn't so much a "toy," as it is a display model for a bedroom. You could make this a bit more rugged to be played with, but I think you'd have to keep the glue handy...

Have fun!

#diy #gifts #keepsake #biplane #toys #wooden