Instructions for putting together the mobile

1. Download and save the sheets to your computer.

2. Do a test print to size them to your specific printer. Because so many differences exist it is nearly impossible to tell you what to do. However, there are two general areas to adjust to enable you to print the full page. First check the margins on your printer, and second reduce the size of the image to fit your printing area. If you do adjust the size them make sure to do exactly the same for all the models.

3. Next find some Spray Adhesive. This glue works great for paper since it will not discolor and "leak" through the print. However, it is extremely sticky and once something is at- tached, or sprayed - it WILL stick ! Be extremely careful in using this around kids since you don't want anyone spraying this on another person ! We suggest the teacher do all the spraying.

4. The next step is to get some Cardstock - heavy paper. Many local office supply stores will have both the Spray Adhesive and the Cardstock.

5. Once the plans are attached to the cardstock the next step is to cut the parts out. IT IS SUG- GESTED YOU BEGIN WITH THE SOFIA MODEL FIRST. The reasons are simple. It is the largest of the models and the easiest one to learn on. You may also wish to get a hobby knife for getting into any small areas.

6. Our models were built using a hobby "super glue" commonly referred to as CA. It comes in different speeds for drying. Fast and Medium speeds are suggested. This glue works on the principle that less is better. One way to handle this is to place a small drop on a sheet of foil or wax paper, and then to use a toothpick to apply to parts (except for large parts such as body halves). In this way you can attach the engines, tail parts, etc. cleanly and quickly.

7. The SOFIA model and Lear Jet model both have wings that slip through the body. You will need to cut a slit for the wing to slide through. It should be about the thickness of the wing itself. Too tight and the body will warp and twist. Too loose and you will have other problems.

8. On the Lear Jet and KAO which both had "T" tails, we have designed it so that the bottom part of the tail is attached to the model and folds down forming a support for the top tail part which will be cut out. This gives you a strong and easier way to attach a "T" tail.

9. The Lear Jet Model is perhaps the most difficult because it is tiny. Patience is required to make this one - but it will turn out very well.

Making the Mobile: Just a few suggestions to help this go easier. You will need some fishing line and a straight pin for making the holes which run through the models.

1. In general all of the models will balance just behind the wing. You can best determine where the exact balance point will be by placing the model on the edge of a paper clip and determining how much to move it back and forth. When it just about balances, then that is you location for the pinhole.

2. Make the pinhole as small as possible along the top edge of the model.

3. Run the fishing line through the hole and tie. It you have done things correctly, it should balance. If the model wants to "roll" to one side of the other, you may have to place some thing under one of the wings to balance it in that direction as well.

4. If the model is to have another model suspended underneath it - then make another pin- hole directly below the balance point along the bottom edge.

5. Balance each model individually and then attach others that will suspend below it.

6. You can make the mobile more complex with clouds, stars, planets, and other things - so feel free to use your imagination and let us know how things turn out !

FINALLY, so you want to fly them ?

You can make a glider out of the SOFIA Model with little problems. We left the engines off ours since they would probably get torn off anyway. But with a simple paper clip on the nose the model fly quite well. The KAO Model is another story. Perhaps with a lot of work it may fly. Part of the problem is with the "T" tail which really needs to be more aerodynamic. The model tends to be a bit tail heavy which aggravates the problem. Perhaps it may fly, we just didn't get a chance to try and work with it. As for the Lear Jet, we will offer a prize to anyone who can successfully make this model work. It is probably just too tiny due to the scales we used. But, if you do get one to fly write and tell us how you did it. We will share it with our readers, and send you a token of our apprec- iation !