I did learn a trick for making prop shafts for the C-47, B-24, F4U, P-47, etc. At a local craft store (like Michaels) I bought a package of confectioner's lollypop sticks. They're paper, and they take glue without expanding. The trick was to make a .5" long cone out of spare card with an opening the size of the lollypop stick's diameter. Then I carefully scored a hole in the engine disk for the shaft to go into. I then took a black permanent marker (like a Sharpie, though for future planes I'm going to invest in a few graphic design gray markers) and blackened it up. To cut it, just roll your x-acto knife across the stick, and it scores/cuts a little more with each roll. If you apply a little left of right english, it even rounds the end off. Next, push the prop shaft through the engine disk, then glue the funnel to the back of the engine disk, with the back of the shaft secured at the small end of the funnell. Finish building the engine. After engine in secured to the aircraft, add the propellor disk. I've tried cutting the propellor disk and slipping it over the shaft, but more glue was visible than I wanted, so I went back to creating a small tip and adding it last. See the pictures. Ed Merica (6/03)

I also created a paper hinge for the rear and upper turrets on my B-24.  They also used a bit of lollipop stick. They worked so good I'm waiting eagerly for the B-17 design to come out.