I remember reading the World Dream Bank site years ago and he had mentioned the use of a real globe, plaster for landforms, and acrylic paint for colors. I couldn't find the description page when I took a quick glance just now, though.

I suppose I really ought to update the ancient ReprojectImage software ( http://fracterra.com/ReprojectImage.zip ) that I wrote years ago to convert various projections to Equirectangular. If I get around to doing the other half (project from Equirectangular to other projections), then it would make a nice general reprojection thing.

On the Winkel Tripel inverse subject, I suppose that fractional millimeter errors could be considered "great approximations" by some, but they are probably acceptable in practice for most purposes.