Building P.E. Parts-- oops, I meant " Paper " models
Well , I tried to get some photos up .No luck on my own . Here goes though . I will keep it simple and readable, okay ? Remember the list of tools I posted ? I am going to add one .Make sure you have very good shadowless lighting . Especially if you are an " Auld Phart " where your eyes are concerned . I Do recommend the use of an Opti-Visor though .
Here goes .First find a part like say a crane ( ships) or a wing spar ( plane ) Now cut it out with either the scissors I recommended or laying the paper sheet on a mat after cutting as far away from the lines as you can .The publishers of these things sometimes give you lots of room between parts ,sometimes not . Be careful Not to cut into another adjascent part ! Also , if it is say a crane boom you may , If you want to , cut out with the X-Acto all the little pieces between the frames . If it's your First time I wouldn't do it .
After you have cut out the part look for dotted lines on the part .These will indicate an inside fold or an outside fold . Refer to the guide sheet for icons . Now on that line , score Very Gently with a dull knife ,or if that scares you use a pointed tool for embossing leather . It's rounded slightly on the tip so it shouldn't tear through .When you have done this ,then using your steel straight edge fold the part on the lines in the direction indicated . A note again on scoring paper . Make an indented line . Don't use enough pressure to tear it .Only make a teensy groove . Also use enough pressure to keep the straight - edge from moving .Scratch-builders know what happens if you don't .
Now does it look okay ? Good , there will be an plain edge , that is where you glue it .Take a dot of Aleen's and put it on a piece of plastic or some scrap . Now take a round tooth-pick and roll it in the glue. You don't want a blob . Roll it gently on the paper, till you've covered the surface lightly .Now press it together . If you did it correctly , no glue will squish out . Now set it aside to dry . You can always bring it to a square cross-section before it dries , but while it's still real tacky - about two to five minutes depending on the part size .
By making the groove you set the fabric in the paper to fold . It breaks down the fabric on a micro-scopic level without weakening the paper . Have you gotten the folds right ? now , okay ! You now have a Boom ! . You will see , on ships and planes a method for shaping the object in question .In ships it's a baseplate at waterline and at the deck-line .These pieces have tabs on to which you glue the sides .You never glue the frames to the outer hulls unless instructed to do so . Now in planes you have formers. Remember those little guys, when you built a rubber powered E-Z-Bilt plane . Same Idea .
Next time .cutting and shaping a round part .( Radar , Sub's Bow ( modern ) or plane's nose .
The method you just used is one of the most used in paper-modeling . I would recommend going to Hastings or Barnes and Noble and seeing if they have a book about an New England Harbor. It is intended to let you cut out and build a small port village and some small boats .This isn't expensive and is a good way to start , really ! Well , till next time , Model On T.B.