How to begin a paper model

[Sakrison]

Also check out PaperMau, a blog/portal site to free models. The Ships & Boats section has a mixture of simple paper toys and some fine paper scale models, all free for downloading.
PAPERMAU: boat

[at6]

Welcome. I second Sakrison about Papermau. Mauther has some fine designs of his own and links to so many models that you will be amazed at what's available.

[hetzer]

hi,

its great you try something different paper is very interesting medium, I started building card/paper models around 20 years ago, always out of the kit.

My advice - on the contrary to previous - would be NOT to print out models but get a kit. Why? Because it may be daunting job to get the model ready at first - paper/ink/laser print etc - been there done that, and even after so many years modeling - made mistakes with print (and simply lost my temper and all landed in the bin - numerous faults wiht print out). Hence, if possible buy a kit, see how it looks, how the paper/card is, read (proper not shortened) assembly instructions and generally - just try building it not fighting with the printer.

Then you will have proper picture of how it is, what cardstock manufacturer is using etc etc.

Tools: scissors (for minor 'curved' parts), hobby knife & loads of spare blades (yeah, going to be scrap yard) with ruler (metal) as this is going to be MAJOR cutting tool (no way to cut straight line with scissors!), some cocktail sticks for glue application, cutting mat and thats about it.
Glue: dont know what you have available, I use contact adhesives, one rapid one slower bonding, evosticks Impact & Timbond (gives rather flexible joint after drying out and CAN BE removed when messed on the card after it cured). probably on the contrary again - to others I would not recommend PVA. It is water based glue and may ripple the card after application plus it gives VERY hard join and tends to break in points of tension.

Hope that helps, enjoy the card and.... be patient, card modeling takes time and is building 3d object out of flat material, seems difficult as it requires different skills, but result is well worth it.

Cheers!

[hirondelle]

I agree with hetzer about the issues of printing. Sometimes it can go bad, some printers are horrors. Other times it works out well.
However an inkjet printer (not laser - ink soaks in, toner can flake off when the paper is shaped) is still a good way to get started.

I've had both good & bad from both pre-printed (but containing design errors) & home-printed models (Bad print output.)
I have found the best way to get accurate results is to use specialist image handling software like photoshop - it really takes control of output in a way that other software cannot or having a specialist print shop run off copies from a file.


For what I consider to be the 'simplest' entry to the paper-modeling world you can do worse than Fiddlers Green
3 free models for registering (free) + a freebie for Xmas on the front page.

[Bomber]

Hi,
this is the tools what I used,

[Okar]

I donwload a 'SLC' Siluro a Lenta Corsa in this site, it looks impresive, but I going to check the one you sugest

[Okar]

Thanks, very interesting notes to take account off

[AndreyZarkov]

I have several free models if you want to try something different than ships.
Free models :: CADBest Paper Model Store

[SubhasishSen]

nice keep it up all are starts one day and age is not matter for crafting so great to beginning.