Card Models

Modeling Subjects Ships
1

I’ve built a few card models in past years, but it doesn’t seem to be an especially popular way of doing things. I think it’s fun and takes a lot of skill and, by the caliber of some of the work I see in this forum, I’ll bet a few of you have some excellent examples on a shelf somewhere.

Right now I’m sitting on a 1-200 scale model of SMS Von der Tann from the Kaiser’s fleet, including some photo-etch parts, but can’t seem to get started on it. I need some inspiration.

So … anybody out here build any ships from card kits? I’d love to see some shots, or at least some good links to finished card ships.

2

I am about to begin a Nimitz class carrier made entirely of paper.

3

MBT70,

I built a card model of a Morane-Saulnier Type N WWI monoplane in 1/144 scale and even rigged it! It looks okay, but nowhere near as good as some card models I’ve seen on the net.

Here’s a thread by a fellew who scratch-built two WWI planes in card. It’s really fantastic work:
http://www.theaerodrome.com/forum/showthread.php?t=21191

Here’s the card modeling FAQ:
http://www.cardfaq.org/faq/

Here’s a card model USS Nimitz:
http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery/cv/cvn-68/120-js/cvn68-main.html

Here’s an HMS Victory in paper card:
http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery/misc/sail/victory-96-cs/cs-index.html

Let us know how your build goes. [:)]

Regards,

4

Lufbery,

My thanks for some great links. I saw the build on Aerodrome a while back (I’m Pfalz Prophet there) and was impressed and amazed at the man’s skill and talent. Everyone, whether they go card or not, should see that amazing build.

I also liked HMS Victory and it had some great card builds by the same gent in Aachen, Deutschland.

Good stuff … 'preciate it!

5

I haven’t tackled card but here’s a couple of shots I took at a show last year…

Michael

6

The info Lufbery gave you is right on the money. Paper Models International is how I built a few airplanes many moons ago. I think PMI handels a line of German kits called Williamshaven? Thay build up like a plank on frame kit. I was at one time toying with the idea of using a paper model as a patern for a plastic ship…but that is another story.Good luck with the build.

7

No problem. I’ve been fascinated by card models for a while. My grandmother got me a kit years and years ago for making a clock out of card. I never built it, because I was too young. Now I’m not sure if I still have it, but I’d like to give it a try.

Meanwhile, the model ships and airplanes I’ve seen look fantastic. They’re very inspiring.

Regards,

8

Wow, ok, this is amazing, and I’m eager to try.

However, I have a major question (and you don’t need to be a (paper)modeler to answer it… how does the B5 ? papersize compare to the European A4 size ?
Can a A4 printer handle B5 ?

The reason I ask is that I have received a sample-file from a fellow modeler, containing the boats from HMS Victory, just to try it out. However, apparantly the orriginal was printed on B5 paper, which of course I can’t find anywhere ever here.

9

see what happens when it prints on your size paper. will either be ok , be big or be small.

10

B5 paper is 176mm x 250mm, hence smaller than A4 (210 x 297). if you print it out on A4 paper it should come out original size.

If printing from a PDF, disable “Fit To Page”.

Michael

11

Or you can print them any size you like, just making sure they are all the same increase/decrease in size. Jeff Herne told me he likes to take a card model and use it as a template to make a significantly larger ship out of styrene or wood. Of course, his skills are well above my own, but I’m eventually going to give it try myself.