| As a kid, I spent countless hours building plastic model | | | | feeds and subscribe to them. This way, you'll be up |
| kits and have always loved models and model building. | | | | on many new models that have just been posted. |
| As an adult, my time is more limited, but I've | | | | Formats |
| continued to envy models of all kinds. Some years | | | | Most paper model downloads are available as PDF |
| ago, I stumbled upon a new twist on an old hobby: | | | | files, which can be viewed and printed using the free |
| paper models you can download from the Internet. | | | | Adobe Acrobat Reader or some other reader such |
| You've probably seen those architectural paper | | | | as Foxit Reader (which I like). These usually offer all |
| models in the bookstore that only require cutting out | | | | model files in a single multipage file. Usually, the author |
| and gluing together. This concept has come into the | | | | includes directions, too, though with downloads, |
| computer age. Now, there are countless paper | | | | sometimes you have to do some interpretation. |
| models available on the web as graphic files. You | | | | Otherwise, a model may be a folder of JPG graphic |
| simply download the file and print out the pages on | | | | files, easily printed from any graphic viewer. Rarely, a |
| your color ink jet printer. Then it's just a matter of | | | | model will be offered in the PDO format, which can |
| cutting out the pieces and assembling your model. | | | | only be viewed and printed after installing the |
| Even better, most of these models are free! | | | | Pepakura Viewer. Pepakura is a program used by |
| Why Paper? | | | | some designers to create card models. |
| Don't think these models are like flimsy paper dolls or | | | | Printing |
| unrealistic and boxy. A few are, but most of them | | | | Card models are best printed using a good high |
| are cleverly designed and a joy to behold when | | | | resolution color ink jet printer. Laser printers are not |
| completed. Some will have your friends scratching | | | | very good for model printing because they deposit |
| their heads in disbelief when you tell them their paper. | | | | powdered toner on the page which tends to crumble |
| I like the fact that their light weight makes | | | | when bent. |
| suspending even larger aircraft models from the | | | | Tools |
| ceiling easy. | | | | Building a paper model does not require any special |
| Building a card model has many advantages over | | | | tools. Have a bench or table someplace where you |
| traditional model building I like. I love that they are | | | | can leave an in-progress model out of harms way |
| don't require painting and can be assembled with | | | | during assembly. You can cut out model pieces with |
| common white glue. If you mess up a part, you can | | | | scissors, but it's best to go by the craft shop and |
| replace it easily by just printing out the page again. | | | | pick up one of those plastic cutting mats. a 12 inch |
| What sort of models can you download free from | | | | by 12 inch mat is fine. A good X-Acto knife is best, |
| the web? Because card models go straight from the | | | | too. If you don't want white paper edges showing on |
| designer to the builder, the range of subjects is much | | | | your model, there are a couple of ways to fix that. |
| greater than it is for production models. You can find | | | | You can use a set of colored pencils or markers to |
| card models (as builders call them) depicting all sorts | | | | carefully color just the edge. I prefer watercolors for |
| of vehicles, buildings, and even animals. Movie and TV | | | | this, so I can thin the color to a shade closer to that |
| subjects are among the most popular. You can find | | | | of the printed surface. Any kid's watercolor set will |
| free models of the Disneyland Sleeping Beauty | | | | do, but it helps to pick up a very fine brush for this. |
| Castle, the Graf Zepplin, the starship Enterprise (all | | | | Any white PVA glue will do. I use Alene's Tacky Glue, |
| versions), or a grand sailing ship. | | | | but Elmer's and others work fine. For gluing small |
| Where Do You Find them? | | | | parts, I use toothpicks: the flat sided type. Q-Tips |
| Once you start looking, you will find card models | | | | are good for gluing larger areas. Pick up a metal ruler |
| everywhere. Here are some tips to start: Doing a | | | | for cutting straight line edges. If you've never done |
| Google search of a subject with "paper model" on | | | | this, practice a bit before trying it on your model |
| the line will almost always tell if it's available online. | | | | page. Another good thing to have is a can of |
| There are a few great link sites and some sites full | | | | spray-on fixative or varnish to set the water-based |
| of professionally designed models, such as Canon | | | | inks on the page before assembly. |
| Creative Park. There's a great forum called the Zealot | | | | There are free paper model downloads that can be |
| Hobby Forum ( full of model links, reviews and advice. | | | | assembled in a few minutes and others that can take |
| Another good trick is to use the Google Reader RSS | | | | weeks. Try one. Paper modeling may not replace |
| reader. In Reader, click the "Add a subscription" | | | | plastic modeling, but it can be a fun variation of your |
| button and type in "paper model". Cull through the | | | | model-building routine. |