Firefly Serenity Paper Model

[charlie98210]

I'm not certain this should be posted here, but ther doesn't seem to be any
papercraft model in the Paper Props forum.

The model is from a pdf I found on a weblob. I went back to it three days
later and found that it's now gone. It is a copy of the one that comes with
Spanish instructions. Since the pdf was set to do 11x14 and my print can
only handle paper 8.5 inches wide, I printed the pdf pages, scanned them
into my computer, cropped out the borders and rescaled them to standard
size paper.

I then glued the paper onto posterboard to stiffen-it-up. Overall length of the
model is about 14 inches. I didn't make the shuttlecraft because, given the
small scale and my disease which affects the motor control of my fingers, I
just couldn't make the cardboard bend in the tiny shapes that were required.

Here it is, almost completed.





The landing gear in the model is just and simple single tube, which I didn't
like, so I made my own landing gear out of styrene.



Right now I am waiting for the glue to dry on the front landing gear. Then
I'll install the rear legs and the model will be completed.

 

[Chrisisall]

My Son, who is the paper model King in this house, said it's the best paper model work he's ever seen from a non-professional! He said it's even better than HIS best work.
Kudos from us both!thumbsup

 

[MisterInfinity]

Shiny!
anyway you can send me those files?

 

[charlie98210]

My Son, who is the paper model King in this house, said it's the best paper model work he's ever seen from a non-professional! He said it's even better than HIS best work.
Kudos from us both!thumbsup

You're welcome.

When I was a kid, I remember making paper models. Trains, spaceships.
Punch 'em out and bend 'em and slot them all together.

Now that I'm disabled, I find that my interests aren't reflected in the
plastic model market and I've tried paper models.

This one, Serenity, is my fourth papercraft model. The others didn't turn
out as well. The posterboard helps a lot. And, I guess, I developed some
technique doing the first ones.

Tell your son I appreciate the compliment!

 

[charlie98210]

Shiny!
anyway you can send me those files?

sure! I'll send them to you in an email.

Oops. I can't do attachments using this forum's email thing.

Here is a link to the intructions.

http://papercraft.firefly-serenity.de/files/papermodel-serenity-instrucciones.7z

Here's a link to the pdf plans.
http://papercraft.firefly-serenity.de/files/papermodel-serenity-laz-repaint.7z

If these don't work, I have the scans in an album at Photo Sharing. Your Photos Look Better Here. | SmugMug.
Search for charlie98210 and then click on the Serenity album. If you want to
copy the scans, make sure that you are looking at the "original" size so you
don't lose any detail.

Let me know if you have any questions of something doesn't work.

 

[Chrisisall]

sure! I'll send them to you in an email.

My Son downloaded those same files a while ago (yeah, in Spanish), but we haven't tried it yet. We were frankly kind of like, wow, that's a lot of work!
:eek

 

[charlie98210]

My Son downloaded those same files a while ago (yeah, in Spanish), but we haven't tried it yet. We were frankly kind of like, wow, that's a lot of work!
:eek

It is a lot of work. In fact, I almost didn't even try to make it, it seemed so
complicated (the cargo bay has two strengthening bulkheads, for instance).

In the version I got, there aren't any instructions for the solar panels. But
I found that the diagrams were easy enough to follow so the language
wasn't a problem.

If you print it out using 11x14 paper, it will be bigger than mine. Probably
bretween 16 and twenty inches long!

 

[Chrisisall]

In the version I got, there aren't any instructions for the solar panels. But
I found that the diagrams were easy enough to follow so the language
wasn't a problem.

Thanks! We will give it a try sometime soon.

 

[charlie98210]

Thanks! We will give it a try sometime soon.

The only thing I can think of to point out is that the parts of the loopy
thing that goes around the tail/engine seem to be transposed. Make sure
that the curves of the upper and lower pieces match or the whole bottom
half will twist out of shape.

I also used the gel-type superglue. It doesn't soak into the paper/posterboard
as much as the liquid stuff.

 

[MisterInfinity]

Thank you!
I will try to give this a go as soon as I grab some posterboard

 

[wetwarez]

This is beautiful stuff. I hope to give it a try someday.

One trick I use for projects like this is to print images directly onto 110lb. card stock. It's pretty sturdy stuff, and removes the gluing-to-posterboard step, and can really help neaten up the edges. Just be sure to try it out on a single sheet first. Not all printers can handle the stuff.

 

[macdaddy]

I've done some paper models over the years. This is really nice. I think I'll try it.

 

[charlie98210]

Finished the rear landing gear and the pipes which connect the ring to the
beehive part of the engine. I used heat-shrink tubing on copper wire for
that.

 

[MooCriket]

Very IMPRESSIVE work!

 

[sstnickg]

That is beautiful, great job, its hard to believe its just a paper model!

 

[VariablePenguin]

Very shiny.

 

[charlie98210]

Thanks, all of you, for the compliments. I appreciate them more
than I can say.

 

[PaperLaz]

Hi, great to see this model being made still. I have revamped the model for 2012 with a Reaver theme, and you can find the new model at:

Serenity Paper Model - Preserving Jorge A. Garcas Paper model of Serenity

Laz

 

[Too Much Garlic]

I'm speechless. THAT's a paper model? WOW.

 

[McGraph]

I actually have this same model have built on my shelf except I took and scaled it up in Photoshop so it was about twice as big. Good job with it makes me want to drag mine down and finish it up.