" Nautical Nook " - Versus " Paper Models " - An Apology for time Wasted

Added link in earlier post... sorry to be so messy!

R. Robert

Rob put a linkie on his other thread. Well worth the trip.

Sorry, that is a 1/24 scale Tigercat... looking at the detailing, it seems larger!

R/ Robert

PS: I found the EDIT function - little pencil at bottom left corner of post.

PSS: Yes, and here it is also!

http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234968810-124-scale-grumman-f7f-tigercat-n7654c/

I had gotten into paper modeling via the thought that paper designs might work as templates for scratch building plastic card models (it's all 'card', or thin sheet material, after all.)  Well, that can indeed be done, but often the paper model is just fine as is.  I like lots of fine detailing, so I tend to add stuff using whatever material can do the job.  Just depends on what your personal modeling 'goals' are as to what you do with the media you're using.

I can say that paper modeling is a real challenge and requires a whole different (though somewhat related) way of thinking about the build.  This fact alone makes attempting a paper model a valuable experience (I say attempting because it may take more than one try before you're happy!)  I've come to believe it doesn't pay to be too pedantic when it comes to materials - as long as it gets you where you want to go.  Sometimes this translates into using the same techniques repeatedly simply because they work!  However, if you find yourself in a rut, opportunities exist to expand your horizons, with paper modeling being one of the most economical & varied in choice.

A perfect example of a 'fusion' project is a F7F Tigercat being built in 1:18 [actually, 1:24] scale & documented on Britmodeller.com Forum.  The model started as a paper model, which was then 'filled' with expanding plastic foam, coated with (essentially) Bondo putty, has had various sections cut out (such as the cockpit) & reconstructed using various materials to a high degree of fidelity, and now is being 'plated' with thin aluminum (not foil, but thin 'plate'.)  It is a wonderful piece of work, very interesting to see - but all based on the paper model's original 'template'.  I recommend checking it out (and wouldn't be surprised to see it in a modeling magazine somewhere....)

Regards, Robert

Perhaps, only better. They're models.

Yes , But !

      You see that is the idea . As long as we have folks to share our ideas and skills with . Plus a stash to back it up we get to thinking , we gotta live to finish these  .Then of course we add the latest item that joggles something within our brains

     Is having a model stash a cousin to women's shoe collections ?

With my overwhelming plastic stash, you'd think that I would shy away from paper. Now I do both. While paint and or glue dries on the plastic, I cut and glue on the paper models. I must have 200+ downloaded paper kits to build. Combine that with my plastic and I will have to live 150 more years to finish since all of my acquisitions  are paper now.

I noticed during my latest visit to Barnes and Noble books store that they have the Darth Vader paper model on clearance sale in some stores for $2 :

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/star-wars-benjamin-harper/1118600841?ean=9781435154360

Might be a good starter................dunno how long the sale will last.

WOW!!! That Arizona is un-freaking-believable!!!!! I might take a poke at paper after I've become more experienced, maybe not though, who knows? I love looking at the paper builds though. The craftsmanship blows my mind

USS Arizona BB-39 kit by Digital Navy enlarged to 1/100th scale: 

http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery/bb/bb-39/100-mt/mt-index.html

Ah Yes ;

   but , you see , I got into paper quite by accident . I lived on a 40 ' house-boat . A real ocean certified boat . Not a retired " Cabin Cruiser " . Not much storage space for a plastic stash ! Surprisingly I had pared down my stash to less than 25 kits .Then fell ill . In the Hospital I asked for a model from recreation and it was a bear to try and build that in a Stryker Bed !

   Enter Paper . A friend saw my difficulties and brought me two pair of scissors , a bottle of Aleen's white glue and a paper model and lots of teensy wooden and plastic clothespins .  Problem solved and I bit like a hungry fish . The rest of the time flew by and I was so relaxed , I responded to the therapy and went home to my ever sweet boat and the water gently lapping at the sides .

   Guess what ? My stash of paper models numbers over 40 .YEP , they're in my bottom desk drawer waiting their turn when I get tired of plastic , or just want a change of pace from plastic and want to sharpen my P.E. skills too .         Tanker - Builder

Fine Scale Modeler published at least one article on building a 1/24 scale paper model airplane:

While sifting through my archives, I found an article from FSM January/February 1984 By Doug Emmons on building a card model by Meta Model of the Vultee P-66 Vanguard. The article contains excellent  drawings of the aircraft including interior details.

People usually build what they are familiar with. If you "cut your teeth" on wood ship model kits and graduate into scratchbuild wood models, the chances of you going into plastic (or other medium) seems a bore. I had a friend who was a fantastic ship (and aircraft) builder, flawless work. He hand painted his stick and tissue planes with Aeroglass and his ships with Floquil. I asked him why he never used his airbrush, his reply was that it would take too long to master the technique and he got great results with brush painting.  I've seen beautiful paper ship models but one must learn a new style of building and the skill needed won't happen overnight. Rather than experiment with a paper project, builders construct a model with the technique they learned long ago. If that's the case, time is a factor (as some of us old timers have a number of projects we plan to build) and experimentation could cut into that precious time. Paper modeling has great promise, but some folk won't (or can't) go "outside the box..."

I am certainly not a worshiper of plastic.  I began building ship models before there were plastic kits, and today if I want to scratch build a model ship I use very little plastic.  And, of course there are still wooden ship model kits for sale.  I used to be put off by the prices of those, but with the prices on the newer plastic ship kits, I can buy a real nice wooden kit for the price of the more expensive wooden kits (at least by the time you buy all the PE and other accessories for these latest plastic kits).  And, I recently bought one of those metal earth kits.  I think multi-media is in, and the days of plastic only are numbered.  Oh, and I recently bought a paper model (that viking ship kit) and it is in my stash.

Perhaps folks aren't uninterested but simply overwhelmed by the size of their plastic kit stashes.

Of course, comments about the  "millennial generation" might be paraphrased and used to describe the  "plastic generation" :  too many other distractions and never grew up making paper models....