Paper or Plastic?

**GEEDUBBYA** · 01-07-2006

Ok Guys

I am gonna try this one more time. I have been speaking about card (paper) models in the forum recently, I just wanted to show you how much detail can be achieved with paper. But first I want to thank the modelers over at http://www.kartonwork.pl .
You can see more of the models and others below at: http://www.kartonwork.pl/forum/album.php

Here is an example:

And yes, this is a paper model. check the link above for photos of other paper models.

Have a good day,

Greg aka GW

rjwood_uk · 01-07-2006

no image mate!!!

**wonwinglo** · 01-07-2006

Card or paper is probably the oldest form of model building,and yet in certain countries it is also the most maligned,and you know the reason why ? because it is low tech.
We live in an age when virtually everything is near to pre-built and yet if I was stranded on a desert island my request would be in this order 1/One hundred sheets of bristol board 2/Adequate supplies of UHU adhesive 3/A cutting mat 4/Steel rule 5/ Sharp knife with adequate blades 6/A Playmate to scratch my back in the home made bath tub,well perhaps not quite in that order !?
To understand card construction we just need to see how the real thing is made,alloy sheets on aeroplanes,metal cladding on ships etc so why not flat sheets cut and manipulated into our models ? the best way to curve Bristol board is with the use of an ordinary domestic spoon and a few layers of carpet sorbo underlay,stash up the underlay,place the card on top,and rub in a circle with the spoon,just watch the card dish nicely much like a panel beater forms alloy sheet,keep trying the parts for a snug fit and rub pva adhesive on the back just prior to fitting,once dry the pva seals the card and holds it in place.
You can also sand the card and thus bevel the edges so they lie flush.
Patience and care is the answer,take a look at some of the Czech works of art made from paper and card,they are simply stunning.

**GEEDUBBYA** · 01-07-2006

Howdy Guys,

Yes RJ, I realized that the first time I posted it, then I deleted the thread I thought, then when I saw I hadnt, I tried again. So I am going to post the pics as attached images this time. But first, I would like to comment on something Barry said.
"To understand card construction we just need to see how the real thing is made,alloy sheets on aeroplanes,metal cladding on ships etc so why not flat sheets cut and manipulated into our models ?"
I dont think I could have said it better. With card models, you need different skills than with prefabricated plastic parts. This is not to take away anything from plastic kits, they are both great hobbies and a person can do both.
But, like Barry, I think many people outside of "old europe" look down on card models due to the fact they are not "high tech". However, in the short time I have been building card models, I have seen hundreds of newcomers to the hobby in the other forum I often speak of. And with the price of plastic kits ( I just spent $130.29 lastnight on 5 kits online), I believe more and more people will find that card models are a great alternitive not replacement for plastic kits.
Anyway, as promised, here are the photos, notice the detail, and when you look at them, see if you can see why I say "They look almost just like a plastic kit."

Have a good day,

Greg aka GW

ps. REMEMBER, ALL THE PHOTOS BELOW ARE OF PAPER MODELS

rjwood_uk · 01-07-2006

the harrier, apache, first battleship and firetruck you can tell they are paper, but the 2nd battleship is bloody amazing!!!!

**GEEDUBBYA** · 01-07-2006

Howdy RJ,

the first battleship is the same model as the second photo, the second photo is just a close up of the first pic. Its the bismark. If you will go up to my first post on this thread, you will find the link to the albums I got those pics from, there are other ships like the bismarck there as well as vehicles and tons of planes, they also have some plastic kits posted, but I made sure only to show the paper ones in this thread.
What did you think of the P51 mustang? I have a model almost identical to it that I have yet to put together.

have a good day,

Greg aka GW

rjwood_uk · 01-07-2006

it dosnt looks like its made of paper of plastic....it looks real!!!!

**GEEDUBBYA** · 01-07-2006

Well RJ, thats one of the beauty's of card models, you can have "photo quality" details on your models when you build them so you could actually build a "3 dimensional photograph" in the form of a model.
As a matter of fact, there are computer programs like "photo modeler lite" which allow you to take photos of a subject from the same distance all around and then builds a 3d image of it. You could take that image and unfold it with "pepakura unfolder" and viola! a 3d model of a photo.

Have a good day,

Greg aka GW

**Bunkerbarge** · 01-07-2006

I think they all look absolutely stunning and would give any other media a run for its money.

It still amazes me how the complex shapes involved with say a ships hull, can be generated with card but when you look at some of the shapes involved with the Mustang it is mind blowing what can be done.

**GEEDUBBYA** · 01-07-2006

Howdy Bunker,

Well, to borrow a phrase from that other GEEDUBBYA (Geo. Bush), it was the "shock and awe" of how much detail and how much they look like plastic kits or the real thing depending on you point of view or perspective, that got me interested in card modeling.
The models I have shown above are all beautiful in their own right, but I have seen lighted C 130 transport planes made from paper, Armored half tracks with 4 50mm guns that looked just like the real thing, rust, mud and all.
Currently over at http://cardmodels.net/ the photo of the week is a tank that would give a plastic kit a run for its money....speaking of which, I would be willing to bet that this particular card model tank would be a whole lot cheaper than its plastic counterpart.
Anyway, it kinda like they say about crack cocaine, do it one time and you are hooked. Well, I built one and I am hooked.

have a good day ,

Greg aka GW