Hello!
This will be my first build post here! The Fitz represented here is a pre-printed model from the publisher JSC. So far fit has been good with a few small problems mostly caused by me because it goes together with a technique I havent used before. Plus I didnt understand one component and folded it wrong. I removed the offending part (it was just support) and the wrinkle will straighten itself out as I build (I think) Here is how she looks so far with a partially completed hull:
I’ve always been impressed by the results paper modelers seem to be able to turn out, and you can certainly get a lot of subjects that aren’t available any other way in paper. Keep plugging away at it!
Thanks! WIllpost updates as I move along 
Say, I might be interested in that myself! I specialize in Great Lakes Ships, the lakers. Whose kit is that- where did you get it?
Hi!
The compan I got it from doesnt have any more in stock. Its a JSC kit though - let me google it quick and see if anyone has a copy off the top!
Unfortunately I cant locate one easily… 
need to keep an eye on ebay for now!
That is going to be one monster model in 1/400, almost 22 inches long1 I have been eying a resin kit of the Fitz for some time in my chosen scale of 1/700. a tad more manageable at 12 1/2 inches.
Very cool. Please give us some details, such as what glue you are using etc. I’ve never done a paper model, but they do seem like they’d be fun.
Fred
Hi!
Hope to see a build thread on that 1:700 kit
I can start a new thread on paper model building to give some basics overview, Might be a good idea!
Thanks
Chris
I’ve always done my lakers in either 1:96 or 1:192 (most plans are in one of those two sizes). No place to display a 1000 footer in 1:192! About a year ago I did the Ryerson in 1:500 scale (and waterline) to go in a diorama I am working on. It was a fun build, and I have decided to do more of the older ships in 1:350, and a thousand footer in 1:700. PE ladders and railings are available in both scales, solving that problem. Going to small scale will allow me to build a lot more without the models crowding me out of my house. I have one more 1:92 (a lakes schooner) on the ways, but when that is finished it is on to the small scale!
The unloading boom will be a challenge for the modern lakers. I need to find a place that does custom PE. PE would be great for the booms.
sounds like a great set of builds!
Don, one thing about 1/700 - as I get older, my eyes … I am going to finish the 1/700 ships in my stash, and then take a long, hard look, figuratively speaking, about whether I can keep doing things in that scale.
The good thing about 1/700 is I can have a whole frickin’ convoy on one bookshelf. The bad thing is, I can fit the entire crew for a merchant ship on the end of my little finger …
One nice thing about vision is that it is one of the aging problems that can be treated. I use reading glasses, cheap ones from discount stores, instead of my normal prescription glasses, these are higher diopter than my bifocal reading lenses, so I can see really close. My eyes ordinarily require different prescriptions for each eye, but at a close enough range they seem to work well enough.
On the other hand, I have some tremors when using tweezers for close work. That problem is much less easily fixed. Vision problems- at least those due to lens getting less flexible and reducing accomodation, can be fixed.
I had also been moving to larger scales, but have changed my mind. First of all, larger models were taking too much display room in house. Second, my new philosophy is use it or lose it. I believe challenging my skills by harder tasks is better for my skills, and will delay deterioration due to aging, rather than encourage it.
I am starting to feel my vision limits a little. I’m pretty near sighted, but as I’m getting older my vision is going the other way. I pretty much rely on the optivisor now for most everything.
I’m currently sticking with smaller scales as well. By the law of squares, every increase in scale seems to mean a four times increase in area to paint, get fingerprints on etc.
I have been interested in trying out paper modeling for awhile. From what I have read, there are common pitfalls when first trying it out, such as not reinforcing the hull properly. Check out the article " First Card Model, HMS Bellona by Shipyard" on www.papermodelers.com/forums/ships-watercraft/9767-first-card-model-hms-bellona-shipyard.html .
Because of the very different modeling techniques used, I would love a seperate thread on building these kits.
Bill Morrison
The last comment was very correct . I found that when you do these paper jewels there is a surprise .You DON,T glue the sided of the ship to the frames !!! You get everything just right and then add the deck .How , well the deck and the inside of the printed rails finish off the hull I don,t know , BUT , it does work . I do one thing different now though , because the models I have are very large 1/200 and such . I take a strip of stiffer paper and glue it to the deck edge just at the rail bottom (deck) line, this gives an upper surface for the sides to glue to . This gives the sides something stronger to adhere to when I cut the paper rails off and replace them with P.E. .Yup , you can go the whole nine yards with them , that,s why I have in the past brought the subject up.There are at last count 794 warships and 255 civilian vessels available . This does NOT count tugs and small workboats or smaller military vessels . TRY IT , YOU,LL LIKE IT !!! tankerbuilder P.S. I don,t know if anyone has replaced Papermodels International up in OREGON
Sorry all - been hectic at work PMI has been purchased by someone but they have not been keeping upon the site really well. Its my understanding that he is doing a LOT of inventory work and will be opening up here at some point.
papermodelers.com is my home away from home. If you have any questions we can answer them! I have started that other thread I mentioned… headed there next!
Thanks!
Chris
Glad to see you posting this thread here, I too am a card cutter, you know me as papercut[:)]
PS: As of my posting, 330 hits for a 2 page thread, thats pretty good and shows there is a interest to boot.
Hey man!!! Glad to see ya here I got some more building done with butting the side on the ship. Went together really well but I didnt get the pics taken yet. Hope to shortly!
Chris