A method of making a wind turbine blade having a first shell half and a second shell half using a molding apparatus having a first mold half and a second mold half, the method comprising: at least partially forming the first shell half in the first mold half, at least partially forming the second shell half in the second mold half, moving the first and second mold halves (52, 54) relative to each other from an opened position, where respective molding surfaces of the first and second mold halves are exposed, to a closed position, where the molding surfaces of the first and second mold halves confront each other, the moving step further comprising: rotating the first and second mold halves (52, 54) relative to each other about a pivot axis, translating the pivot axis in a first direction of translation during movement of the mold halves between the opened and closed positions; and translating the pivot axis in a second direction of translation different from the first direction during movement of the mold halves between the opened and closed positions; and coupling the first shell half and the second shell/half to form the wind turbine blade, characterized in that at least one of the first or second mold halves (52, 54) is supported on a support surface and the pivot axis is located at a height relative to the support surface, wherein translating the pivot axis in the first direction comprises decreasing the height of the pivot axis relative to the support surface and translating the pivot axis in the second direction comprises increasing the height of the pivot axis relative to the support surface. at least partially forming the first shell half in the first mold half, at least partially forming the second shell half in the second mold half, moving the first and second mold halves (52, 54) relative to each other from an opened position, where respective molding surfaces of the first and second mold halves are exposed, to a closed position, where the molding surfaces of the first and second mold halves confront each other, the moving step further comprising: rotating the first and second mold halves (52, 54) relative to each other about a pivot axis, translating the pivot axis in a first direction of translation during movement of the mold halves between the opened and closed positions; and translating the pivot axis in a second direction of translation different from the first direction during movement of the mold halves between the opened and closed positions; and rotating the first and second mold halves (52, 54) relative to each other about a pivot axis, translating the pivot axis in a first direction of translation during movement of the mold halves between the opened and closed positions; and translating the pivot axis in a second direction of translation different from the first direction during movement of the mold halves between the opened and closed positions; and coupling the first shell half and the second shell/half to form the wind turbine blade, characterized in that at least one of the first or second mold halves (52, 54) is supported on a support surface and the pivot axis is located at a height relative to the support surface, wherein translating the pivot axis in the first direction comprises decreasing the height of the pivot axis relative to the support surface and translating the pivot axis in the second direction comprises increasing the height of the pivot axis relative to the support surface.