![[Laser cut and engrave] Hand holding a wooden airplane model crafted with precision](https://image-res.xtool.com/resource/xtool/community/attachment/xtool-community/f5cb4fd6-32fb-4030-82ac-da4ff4925691?x-oss-process=image/resize,w_1200,h_900,limit_0/interlace,1/format,webp/auto-orient,1)
Boeing 777-300 scale model
Instruction
Information
This is a tiny little scale model of the Boeing 777-300 passenger jet. The cover model was made from 1/16" MDF board. It could very easily be made to work in 1/8 MDF or plywood simply by doubling the scale.
Other models in this series drawn to the same scale:
Boeing 737-800
https://www.designfind.com/project/42762
Airbus A-320
https://www.designfind.com/project/42869
Instruction
Step1: Use a jig to register your parts
In order to print the reverse sides accurately, it is very helpful to make a jig from some sheet of scrap that will help you relocate your position. This is as simple as a right-angle held to your base with tape or magnets. Cut it on your laser to get a precise X/Y to butt your stock up against.
Step2: Score front side and cut out parts
There are two card images, a front and a back. Set the Green and Black layers to ignore for this step, and set Blue to Score, Purple to Engrave, and Red and Yellow to Cut. Check the Tabs generation slider for the Red layer to keep the small parts attached to the card for the next step. Set the Yellow layer to cut without tabs.
Step3: set up to Score reverse side
Without moving the original sheet at all, pull out the card and put it back in place upside down. You will use this to preceisely locate the parts that get scored on the opposite side. If you want, you can remove any parts that do not get scored again and set them aside.
Step4: Score reverse side
Set the Blue, Purple, Red and Yellow layers to Ignore, and place the Green/Black card directly on top of the previous image. (Make sure you group the Greeen/Black object together first so you don't accidently shift something or leave a bit behind.)
Enable the Snapping feature to have to computer help you get them precisely and exactly overlapped. Zoom right in and double check.
If you've done all these steps carefully, the image on the reverse side should be perfectly registered. Keep the Black layer on Ignore, and Score the Green layer.
Step5: Add anhedral to wings
The wings of a real jetliner are angled up at the tips. This is called anhedral, and has an important role in making the plane more stable in flight. You can improve the looks of your model with very little extra effort by bending-in some anhedral to your wings instead of leaving them a flat sheet.
The extra scored lines on the bottom side of the wing are there to act as a hinge point. You may wish to use a pair of flat pliers to help you gently bend the wings up at a slight angle. Be careful, and you should have no problem bending without breaking your material. If the bend is really stubborn, run an X-acto blade along the score to deepen the cut a bit and try again.
If the bend won't stay bent, you can rub a little glue into the crack. Once it's dried, you'll be good to go.
Step6: Glue wing and inside layers to center section
There are five layers total to the fuselage. Start by gluing the wing and inside layers to the central section. Use a small amount of white glue and carefully wipe off any squeeze-out before it dries.
Step7: Glue outside layers and tail
Glue the rest of the parts together and check for alignment before the glue dries hard.
Step8: Jet engine nacelles
The big turbofan engines are made from a stack of four layers. Two parts are engraved with fan blades on one side. These are the forward-most layers.
Step9: Final assembly
Glue the engines on and fly the friendly skies!
