Sunday 19 November 2017

Printable Paper Cars



I'm always interested in finding fairly simple but good paper cars. Here are a few new ones to try out.
This page has five Nascars and they come out just the size of matchbox or Hotwheels cars! Super easy to make. Then you can make a whole set with roads to go along with them. Found this image on a google search, but the main page is listed on the printout and you can click here to see the source which is in French. :\
http://maquettes.hautetfort.com/







Here is a paper craft blog in Russian with lots of great vehicles. Here's a sample of them you can download, and  the link to see all of them 





😀😀😀😀

Friday 22 September 2017

2 Pokemon paper models + simple pokeball

Easy to make Pikachu!! 

This paper model Pikachu is simple and looks good. It worked out really well today for 2nd, 3rd and 4th graders. The only thing is make sure you have a pokeball to go with it!! I'll include one below.
I found this Pikachu link provided by papermau.blogspot 
The downoad link is provided there, or you can save this image below.





 Here is an easy pokeball to go with it
You should be able to save that image and print it right out. I had to experiment with different programs to get it to print on a full page.

                       ****       Bulbasaur     ****


I'm working on this Bulbasaur with 3rd and 4th graders, but it's taking a bit of time because we didn't have the finished photo to work from. This one is more complicated but it looked so good I couldn't help trying it out. The tabs are really small, especially on the bulb portion so getting it to stick is a bit challenging. I wouldn't try this with younger kids.



I found the link for Bulbasaur on papermau.blogspot
The link is provided there, or you can go directly to the template download page here: http://tenpepakura.cocolog-nifty.com/blog/cat36667870/index.html

I will post more Pokemon as I complete them. This blog is intended to help you choose models which are appropriate for you needs (nothing is worse than a model that is frustrating- being either too easy or too difficult) so I try to post them only after I've made them with various age groups.

                                                       ******NEW Update **** 
If you need help with this Bulbasaur here's a really helpful youtube video of the assembly.
Assemble Bulbasaur video 

                                              






Thursday 31 August 2017

Monster Trucks!!

Monster Truck Paper Model 

I'm posting this as it's a favorite! This truck is medium level difficulty and will even roll a bit. You can improve on the design for axles to make it even better if you need to. 



The original paper models were offered by HP but are no longer on their website.
Click on each of these images and 'save image as....' and then you can print them out.


Wednesday 30 August 2017

Puppies and Animals!

Puppies!!! 





I've been wanting to share this really cute paper model for a while now. 



These are fairly simple to make and there's a selection you can choose from! 
The link is from paper-replica.com. Download the template by following the instructions on
 this page





This is a very nice series of animals. These are made up of multiple parts that glue together so it takes a bit of time, but the results are worth it. The page is not in english, but it's fairly straightforward to click on the pdf download for each animal.

http://www.kirin.co.jp/entertainment/kids/papercraft/animal/forest.html 

Have fun!  




Wednesday 9 August 2017

Assembly Instructions for Paper Robots

Assembling the Paper Robot Step by Step in Photos 

If you are wondering if the paper robot template from my last post is for you, these pictures will help  you decide. Here is a sample of how I printed out my robots. I wanted them bigger, so I divided one printout into two pages. Go ahead and print out Blue Steel! (Ignore the parts of pieces that have doubled up- you won't need those portions!)



Although there are multiple ways to put it together, this is how I did it. It takes at least a couple of hours from start to finish. 

You will need:
Printed out template
Scissors
Rubber bands
Glue
Compass or anything sharp for making holes

In the photos below, I actually enlarged the template by dividing it onto two pages instead of one. It is too small if you use just one page. About 4 inches tall. Basically make it bigger somehow! 

I started with the feet and worked my way up. I also only glued the parts closed when I finished putting the rubber bands through. This makes a difficult task just a bit easier. 

 So now the calf is connected to a foot. The upper leg goes on the inside of the calf and the knee pad on the outside, so get the rubber band through the upper leg holes first and then pull them through the calf and knee pad. 
I then connect each upper leg to the torso separately, using a knot on the rubber band on the inside of the torso for each leg. 



Next comes the neck inside the torso, and the chest on the outside of the torso. You can use one rubber band strung through all of this. The shoulder must go with the chest. Then you can tie a knot at the shoulder on each side. The arms will connect to the other holes on the shoulder pieces. 

When you pull the rubber band a bit tight the chest will bend inwards on the dotted lines. 
Next you can connect the upper and lower arms. Again, glue them after you string through the rubber bands. In the pictures I have not added the shoulder pads which are optional. They do look good though, and I added them afterwards. I also didn't use the hips which can be added last with a bit of glue.










Last you glue on the head and you're done!!! All of the robots follow this basic structure with slight differences. This should give you a pretty good idea if this is a project you are interested in. I am in the middle of assembling these with fourth graders and so far it's working out great. They chose to use one of the character templates  Blue Steel . 
Gen 1 Optimus Prime is a favorite, so that's a good one to check out too. 

I hope you enjoyed the post and that it might help anyone who is doing this for the first time!! 

If anyone has questions about models or requests let me know in the comments. 
The best way to enjoy paper modeling is to choose your templates carefully!!! There are lots of not so good robots out there. 









Don't forget about the Transformers!!



Megatron from the old cartoons! Generation 1
Jetfire or 'Skyfire' also from the old cartoons. But this character does show up in the new movies. 

Want these templates? Here is the only working link to the website
http://web.archive.org/web/20150208060336/http://www.paperrobots1999.com:80/model07.html



Don't forget about Spidey!!!
















And whoa....... watch out!!!





Friday 23 June 2017

Paper Model F-15 Airplane



This is a really good model airplane. It's hard to find one that is not too complicated, but also not so simple that it doesn't look good.

This model uses only one page for the pieces.

Thursday 15 June 2017

It's SUMMER!! PAPER ROBOTS

You HAVE to check these out. I did a blog post about the paper robots back in 2012, and since then the website that offers the templates has shut down.

I spent several hours this evening searching for a way to find the templates, and finally found them in a comment from a youtube video of someone making the models.




I cannot tell you how great these are. Every single boy I have ever worked with.......





and it's quite a few....... I volunteer in the art department at a KG through High school -- has LOVED them.

One boy got so into it about seven years ago that he never gave it up. He has just graduated and is going  into paper model design as a career.  It all started with the paper robots.

They actually had to ban these for a while at the school where my son went because he and his friend were just playing (well having battles) with them all day. Yes, it's an alternative school so they could play a lot!!

These are good for ages 6yrs (with some help) to adult !!
 

Cherish this link, and make some or all of them! Let me know how many kids get hooked.

*We made ours bigger by enlarging and printing on several sheets.

http://web.archive.org/web/20150219052809/http://paperrobots1999.com/models.html

All credit goes to the genius behind paperrobots1999 who created these.

Here is the list of characters you will find and can print out:

Blank Robot - design your own character
Birdman
Magnus Prime-
Optimus Prime - these transform into trucks!
Ash
Blue Steel
Spider Man
Black Spider Man
Jetfire - transforms into a jet
Megatron
The Bride




Bluesteel




Jetfire in plane mode