There are literally thousands of visual guides on the web showing how to do this or that paper airplane. I'm not publishing another one. Instead of that I'll share my best tips that will help you achieve better results when making just any paper airplane.
Building paper airplanes is not a rocket science, but when you start doing it you always see it's not as easy as it looks at the pictures. So let's discover the best tactics for building great paper airplanes right now!
1. Work on a hard, flat and clean surface.
Don't try to make paper airplanes while lying in bed, neither do it on the floor. You need a desk or a table - flat, smooth and hard surface where you can do the sharp and precise folds without crushing the other parts of the paper.
Make sure the surface is also clean - even small grit may spoil your paper aircraft when you press it down to make some fold. Clean your desk of all the stuff and garbage, secure a good lighting and you are ready to make the best paper airplane!
2. Draft with a pencil
While it's not a common practice, it's not a bad idea to draft the folds that you are going to make with a tin pencil directly on the paper that will be used. This tactic is most useful when there are complex instructions and when symmetry is important. Folds that are outlined are much easier to follow.
If you don't want your airplane to have lines on it, you may outline a model only for practice and use a clean sheet of paper when you are sure you are ready to do the real one.
3. Keep your unsuccessful models
When you start making paper airplanes some of the models will go nowhere - especially if you follow instructions for some unknown model. Sometimes you will not understand the directions well, sometimes the paper will crush or tear, sometimes you'll just lose interest.
My advice is not to throw away these models at least for a while. They are excellent to refresh your memories what didn't work, why and how it can be fixed. Often you can learn more from the failed models than from your best looking paper aircraft.
4. Use colored paper
This is one of the best tactics to make successful paper airplanes. No, the color will not change the way the airplane flies, but it will change the way you are making it. It's much easier to understand what is going where, when one of the sides of the paper is colored.
Many of the instructions also use colored paper or colored drawing to show clearer what is back and what is front. If you follow such instructions it is a great idea to use colored paper. Besides that colored models look great!
5. Use a ruler
A simple ruler can make even the hardest folds easy and fine. It prevents the paper from folding and crushing on the wrong places and helps you feel more stable and secure. Using a ruler can also help you take measures when the instructions say things like "about 1.5 inches from the edge".
I use a plastic and transparent ruler to see the paper under it.
6. Experiment
Making paper airplanes is supposed to be fun. There's nothing wrong if instead of the model you planned to make you end up with something else. Don't be afraid to experiment - sometimes the best paper aircraft comes in an unexpected way. Adding a fold here and there or skipping one can suddenly improve the airplane you are making. Sometimes you may even add a cut with the scissors if you feel it's a good idea.
While experimenting is more appropriate for experienced paper airplane builders, even a beginner shouldn't be afraid to do them. Paper is cheap especially if you use recycled one!
7. Practice
No one started to make great paper airplanes by reading books. You are unlikely to be an exception. Don't lose too much reading and observing, start doing. Your skills, ideas and taste for experiments will improve with every new airplane you make. Once you make a hundred of paper airplanes you'll be skilled enough to create your own models, which is the really exciting part.
If you follow the 7 tips here you'll probably start making great models yet after the 5th one. All it takes is some patience and willing to learn.
And where to start? Of course on our paper airplanes page - first read how to make them and then go straight to the specific guides.
Article Source: http://www.EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sandra_De_Charo
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Welcome to Paper Airplane kits your source for paper airplane kit info!
Welcome to this blog on the Paper Airplane Kits. We always enjoyed building paper airplanes and flying them. This Paper Airplane Kits blog will have the best information on building paper airplanes from kits, the best articles on paper airplanes and the best plans and kits for paper airplanes
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