Card model

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Card models, also sometimes called paper models, are models of real-world objects made usually of heavy paper or card stock as a hobby, or sometimes as a craft for children. They are generally more popular in Europe and Japan than in the United States.

Printed card models became common in magazines in the early part of the 20th century. The popularity of card modeling boomed during World War II, when paper was one of the few items whose use and production was not heavily regulated. Micromodels, designed and published in England from 1941 were very popular with 100 different models of architecture, ships, aircraft... But as plastic model kits became more commonly available, interest in paper decreased. The availability of numerous models on the Internet at little or no cost, which can then be downloaded and printed on inexpensive inkjet printers has caused its popularity to increase worldwide. Home printing also allows models to be scaled up or down easily (for example, in order to make two models from different authors, in different scales, match each other in size), although the paper weight must also be adjusted in the same ratio.

Kits can also be purchased inexpensively, and experienced hobbyists often scratchbuild, either by drawing their models by hand, or, increasingly, with software such as Adobe Illustrator. Software also exists to convert 3D computer models into two-dimensional printable models that can then be cut out and assembled. Because of this, there is no practical limit to the variety of models available. Automobiles, aircraft, spacecraft (both real and fictional), buildings, and animals are common.

Paper model of Mount Vernon from Paperlandmarks
Paper model of Mount Vernon from Paperlandmarks

Sometimes the models can be punched out, but more frequently must be cut out with a hobby knife. Experienced hobbyists recommend cutting models out on a cutting mat and guiding the knife with a cork-backed ruler, scoring any edges to be folded with a blunt instrument such as the non-cutting edge of the hobby knife, and then gluing the pieces together with a thin coat of polyvinyl acetate glue ("white glue" "PVA") applied with a small paint brush. One of the features of this kind of modeling is that the models are usually pre-painted. When you have finished assembling the model, it is displayable, without the need for painting, although many people do customize their models with paint and added detailing.

To combat paper's tendency to warp, card modelers may seal the finished model. Reinforcing corners and long straight edges with pieces of wood is also common practice.

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