Sopwith Triplane

[pb_guy]

Started assembling the fuselage sides. I used a jig on the top of the cabane struts to ensure that they end up parallel to each other, thus fitting the wing more accurately.
ian

[pb_guy]

Fuselage formers and stringers added. Weight 1.54 grams.
ian

[dputt7]

Neat work!

[pb_guy]

Thanks. Prompted by the other peanut guy, I started with the engine. I started by cutting a 1/4" sq. stick, about 6" in length, out of a larger block of balsa and rounding it with sandpaper (by eye, not a drill). I then sliced overlength pieces and wound them with thick thread. The hub is 1/4" thick. Pieces glued in place. Engine cowl is the next project.
ian

[TheLurker]

...started by cutting a 1/4" sq. stick, about 6" in length, out of a larger block of balsa and rounding it with sandpaper...

Or... punch or drill a suitably sized hole in the bottom of an empty (well, duh) soup can, rough shape the stick to size and then gently push it through the hole while rotating it.

I can't sand things to eye to save my life (frighteningly short sighted, spherical distortion from spec lenses, nuff sed?) so this is a way of getting a decently cylindrical dowel without too much waste.  Probably slower than your way of doing things though.