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, 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.

You can learn more about creating your own paper models.

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.

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.

External links (alphabetical)

• 3dpapermodel.com - ship and aircraft models
• Canon 3D-Papercraft - dinosaurs, animals, famous buildings, even a railroad.
• Card FAQ - models for gaming, RPG, terrain, castle, village, modern, sci-fi and more.
• Card Model Forum
• Card Model Directory - links to publishers, Internet stores and free models to boot!
• Currell Graphics - includes British airships R100/R101 and the Soviet moon rocket N-1.
• Digital Navy ship models
• Fiddlersgreen - paper models of airplanes
• finalpaper.net - Gundam, starcraft units, other game units, animation characters. (in Korean)
• GPM - paper models from Poland
• Haunted Dimensions - A 3-D tribute to Disney's Haunted Mansions and more!
• Hobby Factory - paper models from around the world
• Paper models of polyhedra lots of free paper models
• Paper Creations - scale and non-scale paper models
• Paperlandmarks - paper models of world famous architectural landmarks
• Paper Models - Paper models architecture for gaming (free Lord of the Rings buidings) + a great new desert village set.
• Paperwarbirds detailed paper models of aircraft
• Papyromania - with hundreds of free e-cards
• The Disney Experience - Original fan-created Disney models (among other things).
• World Works Games - sci-fi, modern, and fantasy card buildings and terrain.
• Yamaha 3D-Papercraft - motorcycles, not for the faint hearted!
• Yee's Job detailed paper models of V8 Engine, V-Twin Engine etc.
• YMjr Paper Models - racing car models from the Czech Republic

Hobbies | Paper products | Scale modeling

Papírový model | Kartonmodellbau | Maquette en carton | 종이모형 | ペーパークラフト