A simple technique for making raised wing ribs:
from Bob Penikas; photo by Doug Penikas

You'll need:
* A light table or light box (the kind used for viewing slides or photo negatives). You can also use a window, with sunlight behind it.
* A large-nosed ball point pen with point retracted.
* 2 facial tissues for padding
* A straight edge
* Tape to keep the work from moving.

Technique:
Place the two layers of facial tissue on the light table.
Place the wing parts page face down on top of the tissue.
Using the straight edge and pen, score the wing-rib lines.
When you flip the page face-up, the ribs will be raised.

Experiment with different sizes of scribers. A blunt scriber between 2 and 4 mm in width seems to be about right, depending on the scale of the model.

The photograph shows Bob applying the technique to a Fiddler's Green Citabria wing.

A Handy Glue Holder:
I used to use scrap pieces of card to hold dabs of glue, for dipping my toothpicks. The card scraps were messy, soaked up some of the moisture in the glue, and slid around the table or stuck to the toothpick when I tried to pick up glue.

At a recent yard sale I came across a 50-cent solution--an upside-down shot glass. It has a concave bottom to hold the glue, it won't tip or slide around, and it's easy to clean--just scrape off the glue when it's dry. Best of all, when I finish a project, I can flip it right-side-up and celebrate.
-- David Sakrison

Submit your own paper modeling Hints & Tips to sakrison@dotnet.com. Try to keep them reasonably short. Include any photos or diagrams you need, and your name and location (city/state/country).

Hints & Tips Editor David Sakrison (sakrison@dotnet.com) is a paper modeler, model railroader, Private Pilot, and professional writer & editor. He lives near Oshkosh, Wisconsin, USA.