1:250 Scale Paper Model: Fishing Boat "Wuppertal"

[dr_gn]

I've seen a few of these ship models built up in the Hamburg Maritime Museum and at the Telford show, and have always been mighty impressed with the levels of details possible with just paper. I bought this one a few years ago at the museum (10 Euros), and finally made a start.

The models come in the form of a book which contains both the printed parts and the instructions, plus a brief history of the vessel (in German):



I also bought the supplementary laser cut card details set, for things such as railings on other fine components:



First job is to thoroughly read and understand what the instructions mean, then very carefully cut out the appropriate parts:



Then piece the parts together:



The manufactureer (HMV) had a stall at Telford last year, and the guy there recommended UHU as the best adhesive. I'd assumed PVA, but he said it would wrinkle the paper. Anyhow, I tried UHU, but as expected it was hopeless for sticking tiny bits of paper together: Far too 'grabby' and stringy. I reverted to PVA applied by a cocktail stick and had no problems at all:



Some pieces need two or three layers of backing paper to build up the thickness.

The above is about 3 hours work. Strangely therapeutic, especially since there is no painting required, and all the parts so far, have been a perfect fit. The model is about 240mm in length when complete.

[dr_gn]

Got a couple more decks on and the rear bulkhead of the forecastle (if that's what it's called):



This is probably the most demanding bit of modelling I've ever done in terms of the accuracy of assembly required. If something is 0.5mm out, everything after that becomes even further out. Plus everything is a bit wobbly until the glue has set. It's great to see it come together though - respect to whover designed it.

[esuuv]

Good work there.

I like paper models - there are loads online, you can just print yourself - mainly meaning if you mess up a piece you can just replace it.

On a PH theme, there Yamaha have some pretty complex motorbikes

http://global.yamaha-motor.com/yamahastyle/enterta...

and some racing cars.........

http://www.epson.jp/sponsor/nakajima/craft/

One little tip is to buy a big packet of felt tip pens - before you glue pieces together run it round and colour in the edge where you've cut the paper - saves ugly white lines.

I also tend to use superglue - you only ever need a minute amount so no wrinkle problems and it sets on contact.

[dr_gn]

esuuv said:

Good work there.

I like paper models - there are loads online, you can just print yourself - mainly meaning if you mess up a piece you can just replace it.

On a PH theme, there Yamaha have some pretty complex motorbikes

http://global.yamaha-motor.com/yamahastyle/enterta...

and some racing cars.........

http://www.epson.jp/sponsor/nakajima/craft/

One little tip is to buy a big packet of felt tip pens - before you glue pieces together run it round and colour in the edge where you've cut the paper - saves ugly white lines.

I also tend to use superglue - you only ever need a minute amount so no wrinkle problems and it sets on contact.

Thanks, and thanks for the links.

Do you happen to know of any Star Wars paper model sites for free download? My son would love to try one.

I did read about felt pens along the edges, and it's something I'll need to do. The problem is matching the colour andapplying it acccurately enough. I was going to try brushing a bit of graphite dust along the creases.

I wish I'd have scanned the parts first so that I had a copy in case of errors. Next time I'll do that.

Cheers.

[esuuv]

Not quite free - but only a few quid for an X Wing or R2D2, his super cars are pretty good too - am currently building the Ferrari.

http://visualspicer.com/store/

[perdu]

That looks like fun doc, I think I'm going to enjoy this

I built a few of the paper/card railway buildings when P jnr has his train set pash, many years ago

I may even build some of these paper ones like this now you've reawakened the interest


Looks good

[dr_gn]

esuuv said:

Not quite free - but only a few quid for an X Wing or R2D2, his super cars are pretty good too - am currently building the Ferrari.

http://visualspicer.com/store/

Thanks for that, I might have a go. Do you know where there's an AT-AT card model?

[dr_gn]

perdu said:

That looks like fun doc, I think I'm going to enjoy this

I built a few of the paper/card railway buildings when P jnr has his train set pash, many years ago

I may even build some of these paper ones like this now you've reawakened the interest


Looks good

Ta Perdu,

I built a few card buildings a couple of years ago for the railway, but this is a bit more tricky. For a start it's pretty much paper rather than thick card, there are lots of compound curves around the hull, and the levels of detail are much greater.

I'm pretty much starting from zero, so at least I can make mistakes and have an excuse! I think I'll be making more of these. They are fun to build.

This is the Bismarck from the same company:



http://i-am-modelist.com/2012/07/15/bismarck-2/

...which I think is pretty unbelievably good no matter what it's made out of, never mind paper.

[esuuv]

dr_gn said:

Thanks for that, I might have a go. Do you know where there's an AT-AT card model?

Here you go........

http://www7a.biglobe.ne.jp/~sf-papercraft/sifi.htm...

[perdu]

dr_gn said:

Ta Perdu,

I built a few card buildings a couple of years ago for the railway, but this is a bit more tricky. For a start it's pretty much paper rather than thick card, there are lots of compound curves around the hull, and the levels of detail are much greater.

I'm pretty much starting from zero, so at least I can make mistakes and have an excuse! I think I'll be making more of these. They are fun to build.

This is the Bismarck from the same company:



http://i-am-modelist.com/2012/07/15/bismarck-2/

...which I think is pretty unbelievably good no matter what it's made out of, never mind paper.

That's scarily scary

Quietly sits back sighing wow...

On another level, what a shame the Kriegsmarine ensign is missing a significant 'icon'

I suppose I am grateful that the political pressures I live under don't include hiding history

[dr_gn]

Hull sides on now. Very tricky at the stern because it needs cutting and folding to a double profile. It's OK for a first attempt, but I'm not looking forward to the remaining upper hull piece...

[perdu]

That looks quite scary doc

But never let it be said that your ability doesn't match your ambition

We know better

So you will soon have that licked into shape

What a great idea these models are

Impressed? You bet I am

[Yertis]

I used to collect, and make, "Micromodels". They were extremely fiddly but quite fun. Worth a Google.

[dr_gn]

Yertis said:

I used to collect, and make, "Micromodels". They were extremely fiddly but quite fun. Worth a Google.

Wow, those buildings are amazing...

[dr_gn]

Got to the stage of having to correct my inevitable self imposed tolerance stack, which is taking some time...I also took esuuv's advice about the visible cut lines. I found a pretty much exact match with Vallejo acrylic medium grey and applied it with a fine brush. It did make a big difference to the model.

Anyway, first bits of laser-etched card went on this evening - the triangular hull stiffeners. I'm sure there is a proper term for them, but I don't know it yet:



The laser etched card is comparable in fidelity with the photo-etched brass I'm used to using for plastic models:

Edited by dr_gn on Tuesday 26th August 23:49

[MonkeySpanker]

dr_gn said:

Anyway, first bits of laser-etched card went on this evening - the triangular hull stiffeners. I'm sure there is a proper term for them, but I don't know it yet:

Edited by dr_gn on Tuesday 26th August 23:49

Holy biscuits that's amazing, looks far too fiddly for my inept digits. I think the term your looking for is either; gussets, fillets or ribbing.

[dr_gn]

MonkeySpanker said:

I think the term your looking for is either; gussets, fillets or ribbing.

I love it when you talk dirty.

[mcdjl]

Have a look here for models of anything: http://www.papercraftsquare.com/category/aircraft-...

Or pick a TGV http://www.trainweb.org/tgvpages/papermodels.html#...

I'm sure I had more links saved somewhere, but a seach for paper or card models will turn up a lot of things- often japanese oriented so good luck finding out what you're looking at.

[Yertis]

dr_gn said:

MonkeySpanker said:

I think the term your looking for is either; gussets, fillets or ribbing.

I love it when you talk dirty.

I'd have referred to it (probably incorrectly) as a stanchion. Chris W is the man to ask though.

[dr_gn]

Yertis said:

dr_gn said:

MonkeySpanker said:

I think the term your looking for is either; gussets, fillets or ribbing.

I love it when you talk dirty.

I'd have referred to it (probably incorrectly) as a stanchion. Chris W is the man to ask though.

Bulwarks!

Or from what I can find...Bulwark Stanchions?