Читать книгу Supercool Paper Airplanes Ebook - Andrew Dewar - Страница 8

Tools and Techniques

These are the tools—the only tools!— you’ll need to make the planes.

stapler

ruler

scissors

Using a Ruler to Fold the Pieces

Use a ruler when you fold the paper. This will give you crisp, straight creases without weakening the paper. Pictured above is a valley fold, and below is a mountain fold.

Mountain Fold and Valley Fold

Bending the Wings

Gently bend the wings with your fingers to “train” camber (curvature) into the paper.

Once you’ve creased the paper, use your fingers to gently fold it to just the angle you need.

Pushing Out the Pieces

Carefully push or pull the paper pieces out with your fingers. Support the paper with both hands so it doesn’t tear, and be careful not to accidentally fold pieces.

Don’t worry if you accidentally tear the paper. In most cases you can patch up the torn piece by gluing a small scrap of paper to the back. Align the edges together, and glue the patch behind it.

Tidying Up the Edges (optional)

You can use safety scissors to carefully trim away the flash (the little tufts of paper left around the edges of parts you have pushed out). This will make them look cleaner, but it won’t affect the way the plane flies.

Stapling the Planes

Hold the layers of paper tightly when stapling, and use the marks as guides. But don’t push too hard or too suddenly when stapling, or the staple will bend.

Just squeeze the stapler as you normally would, and the staple will punch right through all the layers.

Use two rulers to firmly press down the ends of the staples. This makes the plane stronger and safer, but be careful not to pinch yourself!

Gluing the Planes Instead of Stapling Them

If you don’t have a suitable stapler, you can also use glue to build these planes. Using a toothpick, spread a drop of white school glue evenly over the whole surface to be glued. Very little is needed; in fact, a thin film sticks much better than a thick layer. A little glue will create a strong, clean joint. Too much glue will warp the paper and ooze out at the edges, and make your plane look messy and grimy. And messy, warped planes don’t fly very well. I recommend that you practice with scraps of paper before gluing actual parts.