Building the models

[Building the models]

Does anyone know where to get a tutorial on building the models, the best size to print it for a newbie, the best kind of paper to use and the best way to fold those tiny little flaps?

Any advice would be helpful.

Thanks

[anklebiter]

I am not sure if there are any instructions anywhere, but I can help you with the questions you said right there.
I have always printed the pictures as they are in the file onto card stock. That is something like twice as thick as normal printer paper.
An easy way to fold those tiny flaps is to take an x-acto knife and carefully cut part way into the paper along the edge of the fold. This makes it eas to fold because it will fold along the line you cut.
When I started out I used super glue, and I would not recomend it Instead I think a good glue to use would be rubber cement. It comes off easily if you make a mistake and you will be very hard pressed to glue your fingers together.

[TonyG2]

See, heres the problem. Ask 100 people and you get 100 answers!

Me?

OK

I print onto 100g weight matt weight coated printer paper. Premium quality. card stock don't work 'cos it absorbs ink and the sharpness of the print is awful.

Coated Mat white works as it gives print register nearly as sharp as a gloss photo paper. Plus its thin enough to fold easily and avoid extensive scoring. The dowside is strength. So I glue card reinforcement INSIDE.

Print on the best printer you can get at the highest setting. Currently I'm getting over 5000dpi. And I'm using a printer with six ink colours.

Cut the parts using a brand new scalpel blade and change blades often as paper dulls blades faster than cutting plastic or flesh

Use a self sealing cutting board and keep it clean. Use a metal ruler as a gude and only use very sharp scissors for small parts and when you really have to.

Use a thicker tyoe of white glue etc to fix the parts - elmers is Ok but I like evostik white wood glue for strength.

Take you time and don't rush.

Consider building a test model first to find out where things go wrong and be prepared to scrap the test model.

Use card from food cartons and corrugated card glued inside to incease strength.

Use coloured artists watercolour pencils to erase fold lines and white cut surfaces to improve the models final appearence.

This works!!

I'm working on a FULL how to build tutorial for this site and Starship Modeller. In the meantime check my gallery entries for the Qwaar Jet, Saarkin Cho etc.



if in doubt look here www.cardfaq.org/faq/

[TheGlove]

just use card paper and an regular glue, print in a size that dont need a twezeer to fold, but stills dont takes all the space in ur room