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Posted

Hi!  I see the title of this thread has grabbed your attention.  I admit I have a shameless reason for starting this series, and that is to raise the profile of card/paper as a modeling medium here at MSW.  Over the years here and at MSW 1.0 a number of people have expressed an interest in trying their hand at a card model, and that's what I hope you will do after reading this series of posts.  My goal is to describe the building of a simple card ship model in sufficient detail that upon reading it, anyone can say, "Gosh, I can do that!"   And then, perhaps, you will actually go forth and do that:)   Today's installment, Part I, is a very brief description of card models.  As subsequent parts are added, I will edit this post to keep the Table of Contents up-to-date.  So, sit back, enjoy the series, and seriously consider taking a trip to the Dark Side of ship modeling!

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Part I:  What is a card model?

Part II:  Start for FREE!

Part III:  Shopping for Card Models

Part IV:  Tools & Other Supplies

Part V:  Building V108 - The Hull

Part VI:  Building V108 - The Superstructure

Part VII:  Building V108 - Armament

Part VIII:  Building V108 - Miscellaneous Bits

Chris Coyle
Greer, South Carolina

When you have to shoot, shoot. Don't talk.
- Tuco

Current builds: Brigantine Phoenix, TBD

Posted

Lookin' forward to the next issue.

Current Build:

La Nina, Latina - Wood / 1:65

 

On The Shelf:

San Francisco II, Latina - Wood 1/90,     U.S.S. Constitution, Revell - Plastic  / 1:96 (Remake),     H.M.S. Bounty, Latina - Wood / 1:48,     H.M.S. /Mayflower, Latina - Wood / 1:64,     La Pinta, Latina, Latina - Wood / 1:65,     La Santa Maria, Latina - Wood / 1:65,

 

Completed:

San Francisco / Cross Section, Latina - Wood / 1:50,     Coastal Submarine, Revell - Plastic / 1:144,     Cutty Sark Wall Plaque, Revell - Plastic / 1:50,     H.M.S. Victory, Revell - Plastic / 1:146,

H.M.S. Bounty, Constructo - Wood / 1:50,     Oseberg, Billings Boats - Wood / 1:25,     Clipper Ship (Sea Witch), Unknown - Wood / 1:46,     U.S.S. Constitution, Revell - Plastic / 1:96,    

Man Of War, Scientific - Wood / 1:50,     Robert E. Lee, Scientific - Wood / 1:45,     PT-109, Revell - Plastic / 1:72,     U.S.S. Enterprise, Revell - Plastic / 1:720,    

R.M.S. Titanic, Revell - Plastic / 1:720,     Numerous other wooded tall ships and boats from companies named: Ideal, Dumas, Pyro.

Posted

Thank you for developing this series. After having built 8 wooden ships I was looking for something different and started building card models last year and thoroughly enjoy it. The engineering and levels of detail are amazing.  Further, being able to download  files and print them at home is very convenient as well as providing a great means to correct errors. Make a mistake, re-print the part and start over.

 

It was a task to find out information about techniques as well as materials. It will be nice to have that information available in one place.  I look forward to your series.

 

I went to the HMV site and noticed that their ship kits all seem to be in a scale of 1:250.  Is that a standard scale for ships built with card?

 

Paul.

PROWE

 

If someone says something can't be done, it only means they can't do it.

 

Building:Shipyard - HMS Mercury card madel

 

Completed Builds:

Wood Models; AL Bluenose II 1989, Corel Toulonnaise 1995, Corel Flying Fish 2000, AL Scottish Maid 2005,

Sergal President 2010, Mamoli Beagle 2011, Corel Eagle 2013, Mamoli Constitution Cross-section 2014, Victory Cross-section 1/98 by Corel 2015, Occre San Francisco Cable Car 2018, Model Shipways Armed Long Boat 2021

Card Models

Christmas Train by PaperReplika 2012, Yamaha DSC11 Motorcycle 2013, Canon EOS 5D Mark II 2014, WWII Tiger I Tank by Paper-Replika 2014, Wrebbit Mercedes-Benz 500K Roadster 2014, Central Pacific no. 60 Jupiter card model 2015, Mirage III 1/30 converted to 1/33 card model 2017, TKpapercraft 1912 Mercer 2021

 

 
Posted

1/250 seems to be the most common scale in Germany, the UK, and the US, while 1/200 is the usual scale in Eastern Europe.  1/400 and 1/350 are also not unusual (JSC has a substantial line of 1/400 kits), and 1/100 is common for smaller vessels.  Some card modelers prefer to work in a single scale and will scale kits up or down with a scanner (anyone wishing to do this, though, should keep in mind that scanning a model and then selling the original is tantamount to piracy).

Chris Coyle
Greer, South Carolina

When you have to shoot, shoot. Don't talk.
- Tuco

Current builds: Brigantine Phoenix, TBD

  • 2 years later...
Posted

Chris, thanks for the tutorial on card modeling.  I am in the process of building an intro presentation on card modeling for my ship modeling club. My initial model was the "Monitor" from the National Marine Sanctuary and sold through the Maritime Museum at Newport News, VA. I am now working on "Scalescenes.com" Cargo Ship and have downloaded Walden Model Co. "Imperial Russian Yacht "Livadia"". Do you have an updated list of card model vendors? In reading through part III, I noticed that neither Scale Scenes or Walden Models was on your list. Thanks again. .  

Posted

Hi, Feathermerchant.

 

Card model displays at ship modeling clubs can always be expected to draw a lot of interest.  Hope yours does well.  As for a list of vendors, it was never my intent to create an exhaustive list, as there are simply too many vendors out there, and new ones pop up on a regular basis.  I only meant to give readers an idea of what is available.  Of the two you mentioned, I am familiar with Walden Models.  The owner of that site creates some very good designs of unusual subjects, such as Livadia.  I would love to see you do some build logs of your models here at MSW.

 

Cheers!

Chris Coyle
Greer, South Carolina

When you have to shoot, shoot. Don't talk.
- Tuco

Current builds: Brigantine Phoenix, TBD

  • 9 years later...
Posted

Hi Chris,

 

I am going to try my hand at scratch building paper models.  Yesterday I received Ab Hoving's book "Dutch 17th Century Ship Models in Paper", from Seawatch Books. I will start with a small Dutch merchant ship.

In his book, Ab discusses the types of weight of the paper but it is the Dutch kind he uses.  Can't seem to find a conversion table (European to US paper weight).  

 

What do you recommend I use?  Abe mentions 0.5 mm thick, 1mm thick and 2mm thick.

 

Thanks in advance,

Marcus

Current Built: Zeehaen 1639, Dutch Fluit from Dutch explorer Abel J. Tasman

 

Unofficial motto of the VOC: "God is good, but trade is better"

 

Many people believe that Captain J. Cook discovered Australia in 1770. They tend to forget that Dutch mariner Willem Janszoon landed on Australia’s northern coast in 1606. Cook never even sighted the coast of Western Australia).

Posted
  On 12/27/2024 at 1:28 AM, flying_dutchman2 said:

What do you recommend I use?

Expand  

 

Haha! That is one reason why I have avoided scratch building -- the conversions from European paper weights in gsm to US paper weights in pounds always make my head spin. But here's one web site where they've done the work for you: https://www.papersizes.org/us-international-weights.htm

Chris Coyle
Greer, South Carolina

When you have to shoot, shoot. Don't talk.
- Tuco

Current builds: Brigantine Phoenix, TBD

Posted

Cereal boxes are about 0.5mm, as is posterboard.

 

I usually layer up to get heavier thickness.

 

You can get heavier card at most craft stores like Dick Blick’s, Micheal’s or Hobby Lobby.

 

I repurpose card a LOT.  
 

I usually save cereal and snack cake boxes when I’m getting ready to start a new project.  
 

I also buy the eight packs of posterboard from Walmart on a semi-regular basis.

 

Check out Ab Hoving’s scratch building tutorial on this forum too:

 


That tutorial directly resulted in the three scratch builds that I have finished and the models that I have in progress right now.

 

Building:

1:200 Russian Battleship Oryol (Orel card kit)

1:64 HMS Revenge (Victory Models plans)

1:64 Cat Esther (17th Century Dutch Merchant Ships)

Posted
  On 12/27/2024 at 1:43 AM, ccoyle said:

 

Haha! That is one reason why I have avoided scratch building -- the conversions from European paper weights in gsm to US paper weights in pounds always make my head spin. But here's one web site where they've done the work for you: https://www.papersizes.org/us-international-weights.htm

Expand  

Hi Chris,

Thanks for the link.  I am going to check some Dutch sites (I speak it fluently) and plug in the weight of paper/card numbers mentioned in Ab's new book.

Marcus

 

 

  On 12/27/2024 at 4:23 AM, GrandpaPhil said:

Cereal boxes are about 0.5mm, as is posterboard.

I usually layer up to get heavier thickness.

You can get heavier card at most craft stores like Dick Blick’s, Micheal’s or Hobby Lobby.

I repurpose card a LOT.  
I usually save cereal and snack cake boxes when I’m getting ready to start a new project.  
I also buy the eight packs of posterboard from Walmart on a semi-regular basis.

 

Check out Ab Hoving’s scratch building tutorial on this forum too:
That tutorial directly resulted in the three scratch builds that I have finished and the models that I have in progress right now.

 

Expand  

 Thanks Phil, for the information.

Marcus

Current Built: Zeehaen 1639, Dutch Fluit from Dutch explorer Abel J. Tasman

 

Unofficial motto of the VOC: "God is good, but trade is better"

 

Many people believe that Captain J. Cook discovered Australia in 1770. They tend to forget that Dutch mariner Willem Janszoon landed on Australia’s northern coast in 1606. Cook never even sighted the coast of Western Australia).

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