Читать книгу Planes for Brains - Michael G. LaFosse - Страница 9

CHAPTER 2

Masterful Folding Techniques

Crisp, precise and neatly folded paper airplanes look best and fly best. Making sharp creases without bruising the paper also takes a degree of skill, which comes with practice. It is also true that freshly folded planes fly best. Here are some tips that will help you fold neatly.

Creasing Carefully

Assuming that the corners are square, neat folding begins with properly aligning the parts of the paper before committing the fold with a crease.

Secure the alignment by first pressing at the middle of the fold, and then slide from the center to the right, (if using your right hand), or to the left (if using your left hand). Return to the center and create the other half of the crease. This simple technique decreases the amount of creep (or deviation) away from the fold line.

Whether you use a folding tool or just your fingers, first coax the paper gently to decrease the radius of the bend uniformly along the crease line, adjusting the placement several times before committing the decision with a fold, then sharpen the crease.

Once paper planes have had a chance to sit for a while, the folds will begin to relax. Dramatic changes in temperature and humidity make this happen rapidly. Always re-sharpen your creases before flying a plane that has been sitting for a while.