Would it be cheating...

Experimental Designs

Papercraft Visionary
If I were to use thin steel wires in a card model?

As a purist (in the hobby sense) I find it difficult to do this one particular project without the convenience of nine thin steel wires for this model to spare me a few hours of frustration and hard work to use cardstock for consistency sake.

How often have you had to use "substitutions" for card stock in your models? I'm a hobbyist, not an engineer and I'm at wits end to solve this problem.

I considered using very thin wooden dowels but the results weren't satisfactory.
 

mcusanelli

Well-Known Member
Hey, this is supposed to be fun! Use what ever you need to. I use wire, tooth pics, balsa wood, brass rods, plastic, ect. Think about all the things you have to do in 'real life' to earn a living, pay bills, feed your family....Why add pressure to your hobby. When you sit down to do a model, there is no sense driving yourself crazy, try to make your modeling time as enjoyable as possible! Because in the end, if you're like me, this is something you do for....you!
No worries!
Mike
 

shoki2000

Active Member
Absolutely not cheating :mrgreen:
Most of the commercial card models (ships and planes) have at least several templates of parts to be created from wire of different diameters.
Persoanlly I will use wire, resin, plastic, wood or anything else that I can find and utilize to enhance the model.
 

Rhaven Blaack

!!!THE MAN BEHIND THE CURTAIN!!!
Staff member
Administrator
Moderator
I use wat ever I need (paper clip wire, stick pins, tooth picks, bambo shewers, sheets of plastic and so on) to get the job done.
After it is is painted (if you paint over the part) no one will ever know anyways.

I have seen models with three or four different other materials (other then paper) in it.

So do what you need to do, and do not worry about it.
 
S

sgoti

You would not be cheating...

You would be "making use of all available resources". :mrgreen:
 

Sarteret

New Member
Ahhhh nooooo!!!!!!

Oh you cheater, oh how dare you call yourself a cardmodeller. Naw J/K anything to get you by. I am currently building using popsicle sticks and pieces of clothe line clips and springs for some internal stuff and all sorts of little doo dad. So use away in my opinion.


P.S. Still working on my gun guys, sorry it's taking so long had to put stuff own for a while
 

micahrogers

Moderator "Where am I, and how did I get here?"
Staff member
Moderator
defiantly not cheating, unless the rules of the competition you are building for say otherwise. I build OOB plastic kits for competition and in those cases it's what came in the kit and PAPER details like seat belts and license plates
 
Z

Zathros

There is no cheating, of course, I think wires in those under wire bras are a bit deceptive, but I'm married now, and no longer have to worry about being deceived. Well, unless I am being deceived, but after 27 years, I really couldn't blame her! :)
 

Experimental Designs

Papercraft Visionary
There is no cheating, of course, I think wires in those under wire bras are a bit deceptive, but I'm married now, and no longer have to worry about being deceived. Well, unless I am being deceived, but after 27 years, I really couldn't blame her! :)

Zathros that made my day, lol.

Oh you cheater, oh how dare you call yourself a cardmodeller.

Yep, guilty as charged. Lol


I finally broke down and used some ultra heavy cardboard and carved and cut it into shape. So far it's holding up but I won't hold my breath.
 

Mr Marbles

New Member
I think in the end, the main thing is to make a nice looking model. Paper has it's limitations and there is no shame in using whatever it takes to make your models look good. I almost always reinforce my buildings with cardboard, foamcore or toothpicks and never think twice about it. This is a pastime that's supposed to be enjoyed so just have fun and don't sweat it.
 

subnuke

Banned
Build what you want, when you want, the way you want to build it.

I am still catching up in the card field but I am an avid scratchbuilder in wood, mostly planes. I belong to a forum that makes solid model planes and used to share everything I built with build threads explaining everything I do. My thought was that there was someone lurking who could benefit from seeing my work.

One day a friend and I were discussing using metal on our models. One crabby person told us to get on topic and someone who never posts any of his models, if he even builds any, remarked "This is a solid model forum afterall." My friend thought about leaving the forum but I said let's stay. So now I do not post everything I do on that forum. As far as I am concerned, their loss.

Every model field has purists. They have created that purity in their own minds and artificially created a standard. Create your own standard and have at it. Unless you are violating forum rules and risk the wrath of a moderator, build it and share it. Have fun and share your joy.

Ken
 
Z

Zathros

I can understand the purist thing, but it starts to really get under my nerves after a while. :)
 
Have to agree with Zathros, while some folks seem to be able to turn paper and card into complex assemblies that fool the eye, that ain't me. I will resort to whatever is required to get where I want to go. And as Michael pointed out, the "Template" page or section used in most kits is primarily where other materials are substituted for paper or card to add a bit of strength or longevity to a model.

Jay
treadhead1952
Las Vegas, NV
 

silveroxide

Senior Member
The name of the game, is to enjoy yourself in what you like to do. If you look at some of my builds, you will notice that 90% of them have a mixed media. When I scratch build, I look around for the closest thing to the object I need to build. Do not question your gut feelings, just do it, and have fun while you are it.
 

Vince

Member
I have to agree with Micah. Unless you're building for a competition which forbids supports, go for it. Most helicopter models recommend thin wires embedded in the rotors.
 

fishBait

Member
Golly, I guess that I have to jump in here for my two cents worth and ask the underlying philosophical question behind all this: Do you HAVE to OBEY the RULES in order to be a CARD MODELER? In order to answer that question, we must EXAMINE the RULES DEFINING who and what can be a CARD MODELER. Hummmmm! Can't find the rules!!! Where are they posted?

Simple answer - There are NO RULES! This is a HOBBY and we all set our own standards for what we do. Allow me to share my simple rules:

1. I do this for fun; to enjoy!
2. My harshest critic is myself!
3. I like (like, not required) to share techniques and ideas.
4. If it is enjoyable and fun and if I am satisfied with the results., then it is judged to be within the rules.
5. If I make money from it, then rules 1 and 2 no longer apply and rule 4 becomes "judged by customer satisfaction".
6. If any rule interferes with rules 1, 2 and 4; the rule maker (ME) reserves the right to change the rules until 1, 2, and 4 are satisfied.

Hummm! What about contests, organized clubs, formal groups, etc. Easy, they have there own published rules. If participating and following those rules satisfies rules 1-6 above, have at it.

So decide what your rules are and HAVE FUN!!

fishBait
 

fishBait

Member
And I forgot what is one of the most important rules - rule 7 (I am starting to sound like Gibbs of NCIS).

7. Do not try to impose my rules on others.


fishBait
 
Z

Zathros

Forum rules and modeling rules are different things. I mention this as I have seen some forums that really are strict about the subject matter and a whole host of issues.

@Fishbait, nice to see you around! :)
 

Bomarc

Member
Whatever trips yer trigger....

I think Mr. Fishbait’s seven rules for modeling sum it up rather nicely.

Put me squarely in the “non-purist” category. A quick perusal of my (mostly) paper builds here and elsewhere would reveal a hefty use of wire, wood, paint, superglue, and even (gasp!!) plastic. In fact, I always find it amusing that, when discussing the various modeling materials available out there, some paper "modelers" can’t even bring themselves to write the word “plastic”, usually writing it as “pl****c” or some such, as if it’s a nasty word never to be spoken in public. Please.....

Build the way *you* want, and do it well….

Mike
 

Norjax

New Member
When I served in the Army, I kitbashed what was then conceived as a FST (Future Soviet Tank). Being limited in my resources and techniques, I used cardstock for some of the larger parts. I remember being “embarrassed” that I didn’t use sheet styrene, but most people couldn’t tell the difference. The model used injection-molded plastic, cardstock, balsa wood (for the reactive armor) and a plastic straw for the barrel.

Emboldened by my first, albeit limited, attempt at card modeling; I embarked on a scratch built Chinese Type 63 (YW531) APC in Iraqi service. I built the hull and road wheels, but wasn’t satisfied with the appearance of the road wheels so I scrapped the project. I didn’t know of card modeling back then. Had the public internet existed (late 80’s/early 90’s), I may have found the support on a forum such as Zealot to keep me going and refine my skills. When I discovered card modeling a few years ago, I felt vindicated for my efforts back in the day.

My advice is don’t let anyone’s “rules” limit you hobby or efforts. Feel free to explore and expand your horizons. Unless limited by a competition, feel free to experiment. If I would have kept going in my card modeling techniques, I would have a couple of decades under my belt.
My advice is don’t let anyone’s “rules” limit you hobby or efforts. Feel free to explore and expand your horizons. Unless limited by a competition, feel free to experiment. If I would have kept going in my card modeling techniques, I would have a couple of decades under my belt.
 
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