Tutorial: scratchbuild ship railings with paper

**Lex** · 03-12-2008, 04:38 PM

The railings on ships had always been a real hassle to deal with on cardmodels. Many go about with using metal wires with superglue, and paper purists would have to go for expensive laser cut parts. But there is a simpler method devised by the Chinese modeler "Vicar" (username "king" on Zealot). that uses thin paper stripes to simulate the effect of railings.

Original thread here:
[Ô*´´] ÈçºÎÓÃÖ½À´×ö½¢´¬µÄÀ¸¸Ë - ³õ¼¶ÈëÃÅÇø(Freshmen's Area) - cardmodel.cn Papermodel¡¢Cardmodel¡¢3Dcard¡¢3DÖ½Ä£¡¢Ö½Ä£ÐÍ - Powered by Discuz!
==============
Credits must be paid to George, who used a similar method in his construction of the Saturn V external stringers, as documented here:
Saturn V Exterior Stringer Detail.....crazy idea?
==============

Take two identical 30 degree knife blades, make sure they are held firmly against each other and insert them into a plastic handle.

Then, use this custom-made knife to cut along a ruler, thin laserprint paper is recommended as inkjet paper delaminates easily. Make sure the ends are not detached from the bulk of the paper.

Then comes the clever part, insert a wooden plank to pull the stripes tight, in order to attach the vertical columns

Attaching the vertical columns are best aided with a ruler to help making the intervals constant, the protruding parts can be trimmed later.

End result:

Comparison with Lasercut rails:

As seen here, the scratchbuilt rails gives a more 3d look, and does not have dark edges like the lasercut ones. --But still, colouring is always an option ^^

Handrails for ladders can be made with the same method, only now cutting curves:

The thickness of the railing can be easily controlled by inserting a thin piece of metal between the blades.

Effect:

David H · 03-12-2008, 04:45 PM

Woooo! Excellent and creative solution. Nice one Lex, I think I will give it a try.

D

**cgutzmer** · 03-12-2008, 05:42 PM

WOW! very great info there

thanks!
Chris

SCEtoAux · 03-12-2008, 07:17 PM

Well now, that is right clever. Thanks.

the4ce · 03-31-2008, 07:11 AM

Great tutorial! Thanks!

bclemens · 03-31-2008, 07:24 AM

Brilliant! Thanks, Lex!

Art Decko · 03-31-2008, 10:05 PM

Very clever!!!

Using a pair of blades - what a great idea! Thank you (and "Vicar") for sharing it!

Afterthought - you could make this even easier if you printed a *template* for the vertical columns and placed it on top of the wood strip, under the railings. Then you wouldn't have to mess with a ruler, the plan would be right there, under the railings.

**Lex** · 04-01-2008, 07:55 AM

Nice thoughts there!!

logicman · 05-04-2008, 02:37 PM

Definitely an Institute for Higher Learning!

Thanks for sharing, Lex!

03-12-2008, 04:38 PM	#1 (permalink)
Lex Dollmaker Card Models Moderator Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Beijing -- 1400m from the Olympic Stadium! Posts: 2,174	Tutorial: scratchbuild ship railings with paper The railings on ships had always been a real hassle to deal with on cardmodels. Many go about with using metal wires with superglue, and paper purists would have to go for expensive laser cut parts. But there is a simpler method devised by the Chinese modeler "Vicar" (username "king" on Zealot). that uses thin paper stripes to simulate the effect of railings. Original thread here: [Ô´´] ÈçºÎÓÃÖ½À´×ö½¢´¬µÄÀ¸¸Ë - ³õ¼¶ÈëÃÅÇø(Freshmen's Area) - cardmodel.cn Papermodel¡¢Cardmodel¡¢3Dcard¡¢3DÖ½Ä£¡¢Ö½Ä£ÐÍ - Powered by Discuz! ============== Credits must be paid to George, who used a similar method in his construction of the Saturn V external stringers, as documented here: Saturn V Exterior Stringer Detail.....crazy idea? ============== Take two identical 30 degree knife blades, make sure they are held firmly against each other and insert them into a plastic handle. Then, use this custom-made knife to cut along a ruler, thin laserprint paper is recommended as inkjet paper delaminates easily. Make sure the ends are not detached from the bulk of the paper. Then comes the clever part, insert a wooden plank to pull the stripes tight, in order to attach the vertical columns Attaching the vertical columns are best aided with a ruler to help making the intervals constant, the protruding parts can be trimmed later. End result: Comparison with Lasercut rails: As seen here, the scratchbuilt rails gives a more 3d look, and does not have dark edges like the lasercut ones. --But still, colouring is always an option ^^ Handrails for ladders can be made with the same method, only now cutting curves: The thickness of the railing can be easily controlled by inserting a thin piece of metal between the blades. Effect: __________________ Model design isn't hard, finding reference is! Recent works: Hanzel/Gretel, De Havilland Comet-4B, F-25, Meirin and the White Knight Last edited by Lex; 03-13-2008 at 06:42 AM.*

03-12-2008, 05:42 PM	#3 (permalink)
cgutzmer Reserves Librarian Card Models Administrator Join Date: May 2006 Location: Sun Prairie WI Posts: 4,635	WOW! very great info there thanks! Chris __________________ Looking for models - try the Zealot WIKI! Click here -> http://wiki.zealot.com/index.php/Free_Models

03-12-2008, 07:17 PM	#4 (permalink)
SCEtoAux Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: USA Posts: 705	Well now, that is right clever. Thanks. __________________ ~Doug~ AC006299 Project Gutenberg

03-31-2008, 07:11 AM	#5 (permalink)
the4ce Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 117	Great tutorial! Thanks! __________________ Current design: - Models: "Hawk", Argon Buster

03-31-2008, 07:24 AM	#6 (permalink)
bclemens Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Springfield, Missouri Posts: 425	Brilliant! Thanks, Lex! __________________ New Embossed Paper for your models available at AvantCard.biz Free 1/33 Tug for your Airplane http://AvantCard.biz Currently designing 1/33rd Yak 15- Thread here: http://forum.zealot.com/t156682-5/

03-12-2008, 04:45 PM	#2 (permalink)
David H Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: I live in North Yorkshire Posts: 433	Woooo! Excellent and creative solution. Nice one Lex, I think I will give it a try. D

03-31-2008, 10:05 PM	#7 (permalink)
Art Decko Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Shanghai, P.R.C. Posts: 344	Very clever!!! Using a pair of blades - what a great idea! Thank you (and "Vicar") for sharing it! Afterthought - you could make this even easier if you printed a template for the vertical columns and placed it on top of the wood strip, under the railings. Then you wouldn't have to mess with a ruler, the plan would be right there, under the railings. Last edited by Art Decko; 03-31-2008 at 10:35 PM.

04-01-2008, 07:55 AM	#8 (permalink)
Lex Dollmaker Card Models Moderator Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Beijing -- 1400m from the Olympic Stadium! Posts: 2,174	Nice thoughts there!! __________________ Model design isn't hard, finding reference is! Recent works: Hanzel/Gretel, De Havilland Comet-4B, F-25, Meirin and the White Knight

05-04-2008, 02:37 PM	#9 (permalink)
logicman Greybeard Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Kent, UK. Posts: 666	Definitely an Institute for Higher Learning! Thanks for sharing, Lex! __________________ Relax, it's just an opinion. Stay safe - get site safety ratings > http://www.mywot.com/ http://www.siteadvisor.com/

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