Wot, me worry if China-made toys are full of lead?
Down a cyberspace side passage I found Cláudio from Brazil and his free fold ’em and keep ’em models. They’re now satisfying my Matchbox fetish quite nicely, thank you. And with no nasty side effects.
Stuck on the freeway in pouring rain? With a little forethought and some glue you could be whipping up the Interceptor on your dashboard (below).
Feeling finicky? Try the crazy detail on the Ghostbusters Ecto 1...
Best of all, these cool designs are free! With detailed instructions included, you just print, cut and fold like a loon.
I felt the need to connect – as they say in the US – with this master
autorigamist. So we had a cyberchat…
Q: Cláudio, the detail on your models is incredible. Do you have a basic outline you tweak for each paper car design, or is every new model painstakingly conceived from scratch?
A: When I want to design a new model, I search the internet to find any reference material that could be used. Ortho views, schematics, pictures, and even 3D mesh. If you have something ‘technical’ like views or 3D, it makes easier to design the model. If not, you must be creative to say the least.
The 1966 Batmobile, Mad Max Interceptor and the DeLorean were the only ones I found technical information about. All the others cars were from scratch.
Q: What paper should your designs be printed on for the ideal result? Is there a particular weight and texture you design for?
A: The weight depends on the level of details. As a general rule, I recommend 90-120gsm paper for small parts (folks, that means all your used office paper can be turned into star vehicles, so save it and print Cláudio’s patterns on the back!). I use150-180gsm for bigger ones.
The final look of the car determines the texture. I use glossy paper for shiny cars. The Tumbler, for example, requires matte paper.
Q: What is your favourite paper model to date?
A: Well, it's not a car... It's a robot that transforms into a car: Bumblebee. Speaking of cars, the 1966 Batmobile … it's my first model and it reminds me of my childhood.
Q: Has there been a car that you have tried but not been able to model in paper?
A: No. I've finished all models I've started. Perhaps, I keep a distance from the impossible ones... A friend of mine once asked me to join him in a project, the Nemo's car from The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (see pic below). It's a simple car, however those silver ornate details made me say no to him. I know how to design them, but they'll be very hard to assemble.
Which is saying a lot because the models we can download are pretty complex. Here, for instance, is a page of the pattern for the 1966 Batmobile.
And for the selfless and health-conscious, tot-toting readers,
Cláudio’s site also has models of PowderPuff Girls and Bruce the Shark which you can whip up for the young ’uns safe in the knowledge that they are relatively chew-friendly.