[papermate]

I have quite a number of different scales of Murph's/OBP planes posted on different threads on this forum but never a 1/100. This comes into being as Murph has let me beta build his gigantic AN225 that will be some 3 feet long as he has mentioned somewhere.

This happens to be the most challenging project in all my experience as the open and close mechanism of the nose cone is very very hard to do, I mean do it well as far as look and operation is concerned. The nose hinge shaft is the major concern. Murph's design is to cut the shaft after installing it for the nose cone to rotate around it but I have different views (to be discussed later). As the saying goes, there are many ways to Rome and let's see.

I use 80 gsm paper to print out the template in its original scale as Murph has designed and then laminate it on 250 gsm paper since the heavier paper, cardstock actually, can't pass through my Epson printer despite many trials. The good side is that after lamination, the part is much easier to bend, curl and whatever.

There are many ways to install the operating mechanism of the open/close nose cone and what appears in the photos below is the fourth attempt that can be further improved. Enough is enough and I have to move on.

Some points to note is that when building at such a large scale, heavier paper must be used especially in the nose cone section. Murph's models use bitmap pixels and the lines, curve ones especially, are rugged, irregular and thick. This appears more prominent when printed. What I do is that I would try my best to cut within the black outlines as far as possible. Please note that over-cutting will cause joining problems when adhering two parts.

Now back to the assembly line.