1903 Wright Flyer construction

[gbentz57]

Hi all, I have been building, and flying remote control planes for years. Now I attempt to build them, and I guess there is no place to start... like at the beggining.

Does anybody have information regarding the colors of this plane? I'll be going to the Smithsonion and Kill Devil Hills to research this stuff, but any info would be helpful. (I like to drive a lot so I figure I may as well through in some research while I'm on the road!)

[Wildpig]

Hi and welcome.

The replica Wright Flyer at Kill Devil Hills has nearly pure white fabric.

The actual flyer at the NASM appears light brown to me. Whether that is how it looked in 1903 or the color developed over the past 100 plus years, I'm not sure. The famous B&W photo of the take-off suggest that it was an off-white. The aircraft is displayed in subdued light now, so actual color is hard to determine. Many years ago, when I saw the aircraft at the main door entrance, I remember it being a dirty white or a parchment paper look.
Another consideration, is the fabric on display now original? When the flyer was returned to the U.S. from England, Orville Wright did some "work" on the aircraft before it was displayed. Also, sometime in the early 1990's(???) there was a 'restoration' performed by the NASM. The extent of what they did, I don't know.

[kittyfritters]

If you are ever in Los Angeles go to the California Science Center in Exposition Park. There they have a Wright Flyer simulator, a complete center section of the wings that you lay down on, including the hip yoke for lateral control. For a humbling experience, especially if you are a high time pilot, try flying that thing. It really makes you appreciate what the Wright brothers did.

[Mitch]

Hello and welcome,

I was in my LHS today looking for new subjects, and came across an old plastic model of the "Flyer". This Hobby Shop has many older kits and they are open and available for inspection...so I took a look. The model kit was molded in different colors. Wood parts were a light brown color and the wings were what I would call "Creme". It may not be scientific, but I would say cover the wings in an off white, "Linen" or "Creme' color.

I just looked at the EasyBuilt site and I would say "Linen" would be the color I would use.

That's my 2 cents... Mitch

[Bill Gaylord]

Model Masters has a color in small bottles called SAND ANA, which I've used with an airbrush to create a near white linen and also add little weight. Depending on how far you go with the rigging and details, it can also be quite a chore to find good photos with all the specific areas shown. I love these early aviation subjects, and finally built the Avro Type F this past year. The Wright Brothers has always been at the top of the list also, just needing the motivation to do justice to the subject, which is not easy to rouse up.

For the Avro, I used the Sand ANA color, mixed with Model Masters British LT Gulf Stone to slightly darken the shade to a more beige color.