Card Models

[J.L.]

Three French models are sitting on my dining room table ready to be viewed by the head librarian of Trent University here in Peterborough. They are being donated to the university Bata Library. If accepted they will find an appropriate home.

Especially the Institute. It was willed two million books many years ago. Perhaps it will reside in a Canadian library.

Many of you will recall that it was the card model of the vertical steam engine that got me interested in model engineering with metal.

Many of the card models are just sitting in boxes downstairs. It is time to find them homes! 

John

[b.lindsey]

They are absolutely beautiful John. They definitely deserve a good home where they will be seen and enjoyed by many.

Bill

[zeeprogrammer]

 

Where did you get them?

[Ye-Ole Steam Dude]

John those look incredible 
Thomas

[J.L.]

Thank you gentlemen.

Carl, the models are made by cutting and assembling paper. You can easily find on the internet publishers of card models; those in France, Germany and The Czech Republic being amongst the leaders. The scale models are either hand drawn by graphic artists or generated by computer.

These pictures will give you the flavour of the hobby...

A large body of my work can be found on a German card modelling site.

 

[zeeprogrammer]

Thanks John.

A large body of my work can be found on a German card modelling site.

Would you mind posting a link? I'd like to visit that.

[J.L.]

Hi Carl,
The site is here:

http://www.die-kartonmodellbauer.de/

You can spend hours looking at models of aircraft, ships, locomotives, whatever. Since I was into architecture, I’ve included some specific threads.

Like our site, this one encourages construction logs as well as gallery pictures of completed models. I wrote construction logs for every model. I realized that many of them would be gone over time, so I put some photos of completed models in the gallery.

The last construction log before buying the lathe and drill/mill and turning to metal was Lipnice Castle in The Czech Republic:

http://www.die-kartonmodellbauer.de/index.php?thread/331-lipnice-castle-richard-vyskovsky-1-250-erko/

 The pictures are only thumbnail size. You have to be a member to click on them and bring them up to their full size. Nevertheless, they explain the flow of the text.

Here are some models from my collection I placed in the Gallery Section.

http://www.die-kartonmodellbauer.de/index.php?thread/235-pardubice-richard-vy%C5%A1kovsk%C3%BD-erkotyp/

http://www.die-kartonmodellbauer.de/index.php?thread/3238-le-puy-cathedral-france/

http://www.die-kartonmodellbauer.de/index.php?thread/2789-chateau-pierrefonds-l-instant-durable-1-250/

Thanks for asking.

John

[zeeprogrammer]

Thanks John!

[kvom]

After seeing these, it's easy to see how the engine dioramas come naturally to you.  Impressive.

[J.L.]

Thank you Kirk. I appreciate your kind words.
John

[gerritv]

Beautiful workmanship.

How do you display your models and keep the dust off? My father used to build plank on frame ship models from drawings, the challenge is still to keep them on display but dust free. Most are in glass/plexi cases but for a 3' tall ship model these get unwieldy.

Gerrit

[J.L.]

Hi Gerrit,

You ask a very good question. From early on, I knew I could not display all the models I was making, so there had to be a way to store them and bring out just a few to display at a time.

I decided to archive the collection in cardboard boxes. But to keep the lids from slipping around and damaging the models, a dedicated rabbet was cut into each base.

The lids were kept on with velcro strips.

Finger holses allowed the lids on larger models to be lifted straight up to avoid damaging such things as spires and towers.

On some cases, a drawer was cut into the base (last picture)

[wagnmkr]

Just gorgeous John. I always meant to ask you ... what did you use for glue on those builds?

Tom

[J.L.]

Hi Tom.  Good to hear from you.

Another good question.

I simply use plain old white glue.It dries clear and will not mess up the printed finish if you are careful gluing with a syringe.

[wagnmkr]

Thanks John ... I'm having another go with the paper.

Tom

[J.L.]

Hi Tom,
I must warn you though. The hobby is quite infectious.

Almost as much as model engineering!

[wagnmkr]

Yes, they do get very addictive. This is what I am currently working on ... it's 6 ft wingspan when done. I have the repaint files for the Canadian version.

Tom

[zeeprogrammer]

Must...look....away.....

Thinking about card models got me thinking about a card model of one of my favorite WWI aircraft. I don't know why that popped up in my mind.
And then I made the mistake of looking to see if they're available.
I really don't need such a distraction now. I've put the idea in my 'someday' folder (which I rarely review for the very fear I mentioned). 

WWI is a fascination for me. The introduction of many terrible weapons of war and horrendous waste and damage but technology too that led to many of the (non-destructive) things we enjoy today.

The aircraft is the Albatross D-Va. One of the most beautiful machines I've seen.

But that's me and my history 

[tvoght]

I feel I should mention Fiddlers Green, which has simple paper models (mostly aircraft) that can be downloaded, printed, and built. The prices are very reasonable.
The models are small, most fitting on an 8.5x11 sheet, but once downloaded, they can be scaled up using something like Photoshop or Gimp. I have scaled up a couple. Add some nose weight for balance, and they may even fly!

As I said, these are simple models, and you won't get results like J.L no matter how hard you try. But it's a great way to get your feet wet and see if you like this kind of modelling..

And Z, they have the Albatross D5a for $4.95.. Print it and build it up in a few hours. Then do it again...

http://www.fiddlersgreen.net/

--Tim

[zeeprogrammer]

I feel I should mention Fiddlers Green, which has simple paper models (mostly aircraft) that can be downloaded, printed, and built. The prices are very reasonable.
The models are small, most fitting on an 8.5x11 sheet, but once downloaded, they can be scaled up using something like Photoshop or Gimp. I have scaled up a couple. Add some nose weight for balance, and they may even fly!

As I said, these are simple models, and you won't get results like J.L no matter how hard you try. But it's a great way to get your feet wet and see if you like this kind of modelling..

And Z, they have the Albatross D5a for $4.95.. Print it and build it up in a few hours. Then do it again...

http://www.fiddlersgreen.net/

--Tim

Ah Tim. You are no help.  That was the first site I hit when I took a gander to see if there were card models of the Albatross.
I must look away. 

[J.L.]

Fellows,

If you are into aircraft card models, have a scroll down through the construction of this aircraft built by a close cyber friend Ricardo. He's perhaps one of the finest card modellers around. He lives in Portugal.

http://www.die-kartonmodellbauer.de/index.php?thread/2648-curtiss-p-40e-halinski-1-33/

Cheers...John

[wagnmkr]

John, he is indeed a master of his craft.

Tom

[Tin Falcon]

Card models can also be made from aluminum beverage cans .
I have a first edition copy of this book very interesting.
https://www.amazon.com/Scale-Models-Soda-Cans-Complete/dp/B00GBMR220