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Tools & Techniques

The following tools and supplies are helpful when assembling the models. You probably have some or all of the other recommended items already!

ruler

scissors

rubber bands

toothpicks

white school glue

tweezers

craft knife (and cutting mat)

A guide to symbols used

mountain fold

valley fold

guide line

Folding with a ruler Line up the edge and run your finger along behind. This yields crisp, straight creases without weakening the paper.

Bending Install curves by gently bending the paper to “train” it before gluing. This will preserve its spring and prevent buckling and creasing.

Curling For very tight curves, use a toothpick (or skewer or round pen) to help curl the paper.

Rolling A toothpick will help you roll ballast and bearings. Roll the paper tightly around the it, fasten the end with a dab of glue, and pull out the toothpick. For bearings, loosen the roll slightly before gluing—just enough to turn freely.

Cutting with a craft knife You can push out the larger parts with your fingers, but the paper will be less likely to crease or tear if you use a craft knife to cut the parts loose. Cut slits carefully with scissors.

Trimming flash Carefully trim the flash from around the edges of parts you have pushed out. This will make them look cleaner, and fit together better!

Don’t worry if you accidentally tear a piece or cut the wrong thing. In most cases you can patch up the tear from the inside with a small scrap of paper. Line up the two edges carefully, and glue the patch behind it, or between two parts. If the patch is small, it won’t affect the operation or appearance of the toy.

Spreading glue Use a toothpick to spread a drop of glue evenly over the whole surface to be glued. Very little is needed; in fact, a transparent film sticks much better than a thick layer. A little glue will make strong, clean joints. Too much glue will warp the paper and ooze out at the edges, and make your toy look messy and grimy. I recommend that you practice with scraps of paper before gluing actual parts.

Clipping toothpicks Nail clippers are great for cutting toothpicks to the right length. Snip the ends off after putting the toothpicks in place, and then seal them in place with a dab of glue.