paper model ships

Hi,

don't know of any books, but there are lots of builds on this site that include many tips..

www.papermodelers.com/.../ships-watercraft

I don't know if you know it already?

No real suggestions, but I will say they can look very nice.  I got beat out in a contest by a paper cruiser that got first place.  It was very hard to tell it was paper.  Ship subjects seem to be a natural for paper models, especially waterline models- few compound curves above waterline on many ships.

I have built a few, airplanes too.

A lot of them are sold online as it's a natural, just a pdf that you print yourself. So there a lots of good modeling sites, and it's very popular in Europe.

Two pieces of advice:

1. As in all things, start simple rather than complicated. Look at a number of simpler builds, that way you will finish them.

2. There must be a dozen good to great bismark models available in plastic. What makes paper so good is that there are all kinds of subjects available that you can't find in plastic, or even in resin. Lots and lots of merchant subjects, older steel ships etc. It's worth taking advantage of that.

As a result of modeling a few in paper, I have learned to regularly use paper, thin aluminum and styrene sheet in plastic models. It's a great way to get scale thicknesses on things like splinter shields that otherwise are way too thick when cast.

Good luck, they are fun. One of the tricks of the trade is to get a good set of colored pencils like Prismacolors. You spend a lot of time coloring the cut edges.

The papermodelers,com site that cerberusfj referred to is one of the best around, with very friendly, supportive (and hugely talented) folks in the forums, lots of excellent information and inspiration. They also have a wealth of free downloadable models of all sorts available to registered members.

I would also wholeheartedly agree wth GMorrison's suggestion about starting simple. The skillset for paper modeling is in many ways similar to plastic modeling, but tricks like rolling gun barrels and coloring the cut edges of paper parts take practice like anything else. One of the greatest advantages in paper modeling, in this age of home scanners and printers, is that you can scan a parts sheet before starting and print as many parts as you need, either to practice making the more challenging pieces, or to redo pieces that didn't turn out to your liking.

Before buying anything, I would suggest visiting here: http://www.digitalnavy.com/html/downloads.html. They have a number of stunning and beautifully-engineered models (with clear and comprehensive instructions) which may be downloaded completely for free. I would recommend either the Admirable-class minesweeper (in colorful dazzle-type camouflage) or the V-108 WW1 Torpedo Boat as great choices for a first project. Both are challenging enough to keep (and whet) the modeler's interest, but not so difficult as to jack up the frustration levels into the red zone.

WOW,you guy's are great thank's for the quick response!! i knew posting on this site would be of great help!.Ihave learned something from all of you already.

Marie,

Check out www.digitalnavy.com for some free paper models.  On the home page, you can click on the Lilla Weneda or in the second column, the second picture down for some freebies.  When printing, you will have to use a heavier stock of paper which can be found at office supply store.  

cheezhead

Marie,

Check out www.digitalnavy.com for some free paper models.  On the home page, you can click on the Lilla Weneda or in the second column, the second picture down for some freebies.  When printing, you will have to use a heavier stock of paper which can be found at office supply store.  

Wow, great site.  Thanks, Cheezhead.  Am just finishing up the Zvezda Dreadnought, so I downloaded the paper Dreadnought files, to try a paper version.

I also like the large selection of both sailing ships and more modern ships.  I lovethe fact that, in paper models, there is a nice selection of 1/96 scale.

Bill

Here is some models. All from paper. Some not the best ones but not worst either.

www.papermodels.pl/index.php

Here is a great source for paper models of all types.

papel3d.com/.../heritage-models-m-38.html

Bill  

And here are some best ones from paper (not only ships, but anyway):

www.konradus.com/.../read.php

www.kartonwork.pl/.../viewtopic.php

wmc.kvaksiuk.com/viewtopic.php

www.zealot.com/.../showthread.php

www.papermodels.pl/index.php

Marius,

It's good hearing from you again!

Bill

Bill, i'm happy to hear you too! I was wery short on time becouse of job change.

No problem! I'm glad you're back!

Bill

Hello everybody!

I built some paper model ships some time ago, it sure is fun. I photographed one of them just yeterday:

It's USS Belleau Woods, in 1:300, built from a Polish newspaper called "Mały Modelarz" - it's a monthly newspaper, coming out since 1956, very popular not only in Poland, but also in whole Europe. Some copies can still be bought NOS (new, old stock). There are also many other Polish companies selling very nice ship models, like Fly Model, GPM, JSC, Kartonowy Arsenał/Haliński or Model-Shipyard (sailing ships). If I had a choice, between printing a model from a pdf file or buying from them, I'd go for buying, because it's not so easy to choose the right paper to print on (I tried!). Even if you succeed, it's not given the colours will look good. In case of Mały Modelarz issues, with its ancient printing technology, you usually had to overpaint the model to make it look good. The same is true for many printed models. Even with the bast models it's still good to take some paint and redo the edges of parts - it makes the model look so much better. Also of great importance is to take care and get large pieces of good, thick and hard cardboard for the bulheads and especially the keel. The keel should ideally be done out of one piece cardboard (lenghtwise - it's usually divided in top and bottom parts), and then the "skeleton" has to be perfectly straight. If it's not straight or stiff enough, the hull usually ends up "banana like" - twisted in some direction.

Hope it helps - wish you good luck with paper models and have a nice day

Paweł

Paweł, i started modeling in about 8 years from Maly Modelarz...

Need to say, that Maly Modelarz with only few exceptions does'nt produce highest quality models at the moment. You have listed only Polish companies, but there are a Ukrainian, Russian, Lithuanian, German publishers (W.M.C. models, Bumazhnoe modelirovanie, Dom Bumagi, Kartonnaya model, etc). Some of them can compete with Halinski's models (best Polish publisher).

Model-Shipyard is best publisher for sailing ships and i don't know any other publisher, that can beat this company in sailing ships paper models by quality and complexity.

Wojszwillo,

that's right, Mały Modelarz isn't maybe the best you can get, but the older models are relatively cheap and easy to build (the newest ones look like a real pain - for example the Batory) - I'd say perfect for a beginner. And yes, I only listed the companies I know. I've seen some German paper models, they didn't look convincing to me (funny design), but I cannot say anything about all of them. Good to know East Europe is still going strong when it comes to paper models.

Good luck with your projects and have a nice day!

Paweł

Hi,MARIE .

It,s nice to know there,s another paper convert out there.I build mostly "WILHELMSHAVEN " and SCHREIBER" brands when I can get them.Not many warships. I do have a 1/200 DREADNOUGHT and her GERMAN counterpart -the KRONPRINZ, which I have also started in plastic sheet and cardstock using the KRONPRINZ as patterns.

 this works very well.I like the aforementioned companies as their civilian ships are quite varied and no one else does them,at least NOT in plastic.One of my company,s favorites, among my clients is the "CONTI BELGICA" self unloading containership.(this one is not for beginners).It just has so much detail !

 I hope you enjoy your endeavors and try to post some pictures.I haven,t succeeded in that score yet.    TANKER-builder

Wilhelmshavener and Schreiber-Bogen - German publishers, and their models are very simplyficated.