Cardboard Modeling

cgutzmer

Well-Known Member
very cool stuff you got there! Given your audience (hopefully) including non card modelers I would suggest some in progress build pics of your models :)

How the heck do you print those plans off? You got some massive large format printer in the basement?? :)
 

A_lan3

New Member
The actual size prints worked out easier than I thought, I went to Walgreens and bought a poster board (white) transfered the templates of the airplane parts with a sharpie to it, then went to the local office Max and they have copiers that can make the larger prints, I found out later the local Reprographic place could make the copies cheaper!
Took colored photo's of every step to build the 18 part assembly plane to illustrate the ease of the build, Step by step directions and finished photo's of various color designs, each mail envelope has 1- actual size print for 24 or 32 inch wing span, 1-photo Illustration and directions for the step by step process, The challenge has been finding interested model builders for the simple but cool planes. I'm finding that kids in the 6-11 year old range are the ones interested in playing with them, 1 set of plans can let you build an unlimited amount of planes, Once I got tired building 35 of the 24" planes I needed to start for the ultimate build, thats when I went to Walmart and found a big box in perfect shape and built the 44" wingspan Red Baron with a lot more detail, I plane on trying even a larger one but I have to wait for the cardboard size to show up, "you know: a refridgerator size or furniture size box!!
My 9 year old ( Andrew) might be able to sit in that one.
Some one asked me if they fly and I said "yes right to the ground" non stop from the roof! Ha Ha
 

cgutzmer

Well-Known Member
Good deal! Cant wait to see it :) go hit best buy or your local appliance store I bet they can hook you up! I bet they would even display one of them with a nice paint job to show people what they can do with the box! Even better for them you could paint it up in their store colors as an advertisement for them to get them to show it off :)
Chris
 

A_lan3

New Member
Liftline,
I don't know the weight of the plane, A large cardboard (box) but I know its heavy with the 3 cans of spray paint on it,, I really didn't plan on trying to fly it but when the kid inside of you comes out "all things are possible, back in the day when we spent weeks putting the rubber band powered balsa and tissue paper planes together it never took more than an afternoon to destoy it! What I like about these planes are they are great builds for my 9 year old Andrew, he's learning how to build along with me, I found myself not giving him time and this brought us together, they're so cheap to build and when he plays with them, he brakes out the plastic soldiers and action figures and fly's through the house imagining he's flying, 3 years ago we built a B-29 (plastic kit) it took 5 week ends and with his attention span it seemed like a life time! the cardboard planes take about 3 hours from start to finish so we built a whole squadron of them and gave them out in the neighborhood to his friends, I did keep the 44"wing span Red Baron and hung it up in the guest bedroom, Now when I build the different models I build 2 of each, 1 for display and 1 for Andrew to enjoy, The train was the last build it took about 7 hours for 2 trains, Cardboard is forgiving, when you make a mistake you cut out a new piece, Keep it simple has been the moto.
We were able to land a spot in the December issue of Fine Scale Modeler on page 18, a small add trying to reach out to the modeling community encouraging next generation model building.
Thanks for letting me bend your ear,
Keep in touch,
Alan
 

MonkeyRum

New Member
Ever thought of turning the larger ones into kites? They would look terrific in the air.

I was thinking the same thing. Nylon instead of cardboard, with re-enforcements.

The one tank in the garge picture is awesome. Make a simple potato gun and build it into the barrel. Pure awesome.
 

A_lan3

New Member
The Plans made available are going well, don't forget to get your holiday order in!
Thanks again for visiting the sight.
Recycle cardboard for fun.
 
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