The first model

When I first decided to try my hand at designing my own paper airplane model, I was presented with an interesting and challenging decision: Which plane should I model?  I had a literally bank sheet before me.  There were a few exceptions in that I didn't want to copy what I had already built from Norman Schmidt's book.  After careful consideration, I finally settled on one: The Lockheed P-38 Lightning.


Why the P-38?

The P-38 offers a few advantages, as well as a few challenges.  As the image above illustrates, it is not what most would consider a normal body configuration.  The twin booms extending from the engines also support the tail structure.  The pilot (and guns) are suspended by the wing, between the engine booms.  There are two vertical tails, and one very large horizontal tail, which also spans the booms.

The Design
Here is where I apologize for not having images for any of this.  I am writing this after-the-fact, and so my design is already implemented.  Don't worry--there are plenty more in store!


All of these parts make the construction process more interesting, and should contribute to a very stable and well-balanced paper model.  Although the tail will be heavy (with the twin tails, plus the large horizontal surface), it should retain enough weight up front by way of the extra cockpit nacelle.

Starting with what I know, the model will consist of standard wings, two standard fuselages, one short fuselage, one standard cockpit canopy, two standard vertical tails, and one extra-wide horizontal tail.  The tail sections are made of doubled-paper, because it gives them extra strength necessary for potential control surfaces.  Because the wings will also be suspending the cockpit, the design includes a "support beam" between the booms.


The biggest hurdle is getting everything scaled correctly.  After reviewing some images of a P-38 with X, Y, and Z-oriented views, I decide the wings should be made from one sheet of paper.  This means they will be at most 11 inches wide.  Using this as a scale, I measure the rest of the body components, and takes notes on what should be how large.

Knowing the method of folding, I "unfold" the parts in my mind, and add length to the part as needed.  I then use the final measurements to create each unfolded part in Sketchup.  Having them in Sketchup allows me lay them out into A4-size sections, and to re-fold the virtual parts to ensure the design will actually look the way I envision it.  In the end, the parts for the entire model fit on two sheets of paper.

Up, up, and away!


I still need to test my design.  I have two options: spend hundreds of dollars on simulation software, or spend a few cents and actually build it.  To the glue!