Articulated Wing Framework

Step 7 The Leather Bits

First leather bit: a strap to keep the wings from opening too far and collapsing. Cut 2 pieces of leather (or similar material) about 6 inches long and an inch wide. Lay each wing out with the dowels up, and open them as far as you want them to go. Using hot glue, attach one end of the leather strip to the bones Y and Z near balsa/balsa hinge 2. You might be tempted to use staples, but don't - the balsa is too soft to hold them, they just pull right out.

Er, if you want to paint the bones, a good time for this is before you glue the leather strap down. I didn't do this and had to paint them with the straps in place, which was annoying.

Second leather bit: a strap that attaches to your arms to make the wings extend! Make the armband by cutting some leather that goes mostly around your arm, and some velcro to make up the difference (with some overlap of course). Sew these together as in the picture.

Then cut a piece of leather about 12 or 15 inches and stitch one end to the armband in the shape of a T. The other end will attach to the wings at balsa/dowel hinge 2, but wait to cut the hole for the screw until you can put the wings on to make sure the length is good.