[Lab] CHALLENGE: Paper Airplane Hack

[Jason Cobill]

   So there's this origami jet-fighter that I like making for friends that
looks pretty cool. It only barely flies, but usually I draw all over the
final result and it makes up for it's weaksauce aerodynamics with it's
sharp looks.

   I thought today I'd hack its size!


​
   You can make your own by following these instructions. Like all origami
instructions, there's one step that's super confusing. If you have any
trouble with Step 14 send me a note and I can show you how in a bunch of
photos.
   Also note: the original design calls for A4 european paper - the end
result of using 8.5x11 is that the tail's a bit stubbier and the wings are
a bit narrower... if you're patient you can cut your paper to Euro
proportions before you begin but it's not really necessary.


http://origamiyard.s3-website-us-east-1.amazonaws.com/uploads/origami/diagram/8/f15.pdf

   So - my first test on some newsprint (a Metro) turned out a bit floppy,
so I ran down to the university bookstore and bought some cool black
bristol board.



   It cost me $1.35 because I was too lazy to go to the Dollar store around
the corner. :)



   The first few folds were easy, and I used a handy plastic object to
flatten down the edges. (They shut off the AC early in the summer... I
always have an extra deodorant in my cupboard)
   It already looks like a stealth bomber. :) DONE! :)



   Subsequent folds were getting stiffer. Here parts of the plane are
6-sheets deep and I've switched to a new tool, a PHP reference book. :)



​   Okay, now parts of the plane are 12 sheets deep, and I'm having a
challenging time folding - I take out my BIG PHP book and start hammering
down edges. If I were at home, this is the point I'd bring out wood clamps.


​
   The last few folds are fairly straightforward, but it's really difficult
to get the rounding out of the corners - I found some binder clips that I'm
using to hold the seams until I can really clamp it down later with a vise.


   *Lessons learned:*
   It would have been really helpful to pre-score the sheet - the plane
gets so thick that it feels like bending a phone book. :) I'll run my next
one over with a ruler and a scoring tool.
   Definitely need some clamps at certain stages to make it behave. I'm
going to try making a wooden rig for clamping down between steps.
   A sheet of bristol board doesn't really feel that big once it's folded
down. I had hoped it would be more impressive. Time to call a printing
company to see if I can get a HUGE ream of paper! The final result is
almost 2 feet long, so it's definitely a huge paper plane... I just had
visions of leaping out the window with it and gliding to Rio. ;) Not
today...
   It mysteriously smells like the underarms of an ocean surfer. :) Or at
least a PHP developer who surfs the web. :)

   -Jason Cobill


On Wed, Aug 17, 2016 at 10:45 AM, Jason Cobill <jason.cobill at gmail.com>
wrote:

>
>    *I CHALLENGE YOU!*
>
>    1) Make a paper airplane
>    2) Do something weird to it
>    3) Post your results
>
>    Work in progress shots are encouraged. Anything is allowed.
>    I want to see some lateral thinking! :)
>
>    Before you ask: Yes, you have total flexibility on the definition of
> "paper" and "airplane". :) Plasticine dirigibles and spaghetti helicopters
> - surprise us.
>
>    -Jason Cobill
>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://artengine.ca/pipermail/lab/attachments/20160817/ab9dc055/attachment-0001.html>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: PAP2.jpg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 54309 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://artengine.ca/pipermail/lab/attachments/20160817/ab9dc055/attachment-0006.jpg>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: PAP3.jpg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 51874 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://artengine.ca/pipermail/lab/attachments/20160817/ab9dc055/attachment-0007.jpg>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: PAP4.jpg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 55053 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://artengine.ca/pipermail/lab/attachments/20160817/ab9dc055/attachment-0008.jpg>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: PAP1.jpg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 39213 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://artengine.ca/pipermail/lab/attachments/20160817/ab9dc055/attachment-0009.jpg>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: PAP5.jpg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 45237 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://artengine.ca/pipermail/lab/attachments/20160817/ab9dc055/attachment-0010.jpg>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: PAP_Example.jpg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 18787 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://artengine.ca/pipermail/lab/attachments/20160817/ab9dc055/attachment-0011.jpg>