If you are tackling such a project and want to create something completely of your own, a good CAD software will help, from which you can then generate a DXF file, for example. 📝
I recommend Sketchup Make because it's free!

• Here you can create more complicated 3D files and first see if this corresponds to your idea. In the first picture you can see the model I created, from which I then take the outline of each individual part and place it in a layer before exporting the whole thing as a DXF file.
• Don't worry, I've already done the work for this project, so all you need to do is open the .XCS file.
• If you still want to make simple changes, such as adjusting the contour of the floor, I'll show you the best way to do it!

Customisation
If you now want to customise the aircraft with the banner, there are a few options 🎁
 

1. You can customise the text in the .XCS file for the child receiving the gift. (Or maybe the recipient is an adult?!)
2. You can customise the bottom contour. Just delete the outer contour of the large base plate and insert your own contour. You can of course also use a shape from XTool Creativ Space, e.g. a heart!
3. Just make sure that the small cut-outs for the aeroplane stand and the two holders for the banner are not deleted and are still inside the new outline!
4. Further adjustments to the aircraft are of course possible: If you want to change individual parts, you can, for example, create an SVG file from the .XCS file and edit it in the software of your choice.
5. You can then make colour adjustments afterwards; I'll show you a simple way to do this in a moment!

Remember to cut the base plate in an extra pass (i.e. delete the outline) if, like me, you want to make the two parts from different materials!

Cutting

Cutting the parts is pretty straight forward:

1. Place the desired material (3mm thick!) in your laser.
2. Measure the height or enter the correct height.
3. Adopt the settings from the .XCS file (see above) or set your laser to the appropriate material.
4. Click on ‘Start’ when all your adjustments are complete!

Before reassembling, you should sand the individual parts, especially the labelled ones, with fine sandpaper to remove all traces of smoke. 🚬
You now also have the option of colouring individual components, for example the propeller, if you don't want the entire aircraft in the same colour.
(However, this also works, e.g. for the wings, after assembly, as I will show you in a moment)

Now comes the exciting part! I hope that you, as aircraft mechanics, don't forget any parts, after all, the aircraft has to take off without any problems! 🔨🔧

1. The first thing you can do is assemble the mounting bracket. This consists of four parts, which are put together as shown in the picture. 
   The good thing is that you can simply remove the aeroplane afterwards and the child can play with it!
2. The wings of the aeroplane are put together first with the main side parts and the wing connectors.
3. Next, the rear cover is attached from behind, along with the rudder and the small wings at the rear.
4. At the front, the individual parts for the propeller are then attached one after the other, as shown in the next picture.
   TIP: Make sure that the last round part, which is to hold the propeller in place, is not fitted completely flush so that the propeller can still turn!
5. Finally, at the bottom (as shown in the penultimate picture), the elongated part with the opening is attached. The airplane can then be attached to the holder.

In the downloads i added assembly instructions if you need an overview with the pictures from above!

In the final step, you can also paint the airplane afterwards! 🪄

1. You can also use spray paint, but it also works great with normal colored pencils or felt-tip pens!
2. I decided on a fire design on the wings because I think it's a good fit for an exciting new stage in life.
3. As described above, the airplane can simply be removed and used for playing.
4. If the long base plate is too big at some point, the holder can simply be made smaller, as shown in the last picture. I have also included a second round base plate with the four cut-outs in the .XCS file, which can then simply be replaced with the long part!

Have fun building and, of course, using this gift!

And that‘s how it might look like 🛩️