Nürburgring Zeitnehmerhaus 1950 - 1/64 Scale Papercraft by Henning Möller - via Carrera4Fun

This beautiful paper model reproduces the Zeitnehmerhaus, or Timekeeper's House, from the legendary Nürburgring circuit in Germany, as it appeared in 1950.

Created by Henning Möller and available on the Carrera4Fun website, the model is in 1/64 scale, making it especially interesting for die-cast car collectors and for creating historical motorsport dioramas.

For decades, the Zeitnehmerhaus was one of Nürburgring's most characteristic buildings. Located near the start and finish area, it witnessed a large part of the circuit's history and had its appearance modified several times over the years.

Henning chose to reproduce the building as it appeared in 1950. In this configuration, the upper cabin with its characteristic roof was already present, as was the Mercedes star, while some of the extensions that would become part of its appearance in later years had not yet been built.

The model takes up nine sheets, including two intended for cardboard reinforcement. The Carrera4Fun page also provides assembly instructions and an exploded-view drawing to help with construction.

Despite the amount of graphic detail, Henning tried to keep the model accessible to build. From the beginning, the idea was to find a balance between simplicity and authenticity, something that, as you will see below, is directly related to the way he approaches modeling.

When Henning told me that the Zeitnehmerhaus was finally available, he also kindly sent me a text telling a little of the story behind this model.

His account ended up going far beyond the Zeitnehmerhaus itself. Henning told me a little about his history as a modeler, his passion for motorsport, how he met Frank Rehberg of Carrera4Fun, and how that friendship eventually led to a rather ambitious project related to the Nürburgring centenary, which will be celebrated in 2027.

Henning kindly allowed me to share his account here on Papermau. I made only a few small adaptations to the text so that it would flow more naturally within this post, without changing the essence of what he wrote so generously and spontaneously.

In the words of Henning Möller:

My interest in building things goes back to my childhood. LEGO, model kits, or even pieces handmade from wood with a coping saw, over the years I have built a little bit of everything.

My greatest hobby has always been model railroading. On my first layout, I even included a Faller AMS track, and both slot cars and that scale never completely left me. Later I moved from HO scale to N scale, but my second great passion, Formula 1 in particular and motorsport in general, eventually brought me back to slot cars when I reached the age of 50.

At first I returned to HO scale, or more precisely 1/64 scale, and later to Carrera Evolution in 1/32 scale.

But simply laying a track on the carpet seemed a little boring to me. For me, there had to be some atmosphere around it.

The problem is that suitable buildings and accessories are not exactly plentiful, and I also did not want to spend hundreds of euros just to place a few structures around the track.

That was how I began finding various websites dedicated to papercraft on the internet. During one of those searches, I came across Frank Rehberg's website, Carrera4Fun.

I immediately built the Dunlop Tower, followed by the Conti Tower, the pit lane and the gas station. Those buildings had a special charm, and before long I had caught the Nürburgring fever.

But the Zeitnehmerhaus was missing.

Together with the Dunlop Tower, the Shell gas station, the Conti Tower and the pit lane, the Timekeeper's House was certainly one of the most important structures at the Ring during the first seven decades after its opening in 1927.

On a motorsport website, I found a photograph of a model of this building, with Frank Rehberg credited as its creator. So I decided to contact him and ask whether he intended to make it available.

His reply came quickly and was unexpectedly positive. Frank offered to send me the PDF file of the model and asked only that I take photographs of the building process.

That was how a great friendship began.

A few years ago, after we completed the Schleizer Dreieck building for its centenary, Frank and I decided to turn our attention to the Nürburgring centenary.

The project grew to include new models still to be developed, updates to buildings that had already been released and, finally, the idea of recreating a complete pit area representing the first 70 years of the circuit.

After spending some time working with extremely detailed paper models in N scale, at the beginning of this year I decided to concentrate my work on 1/64 scale.

After the Dunlop Tower, it was time for the Zeitnehmerhaus.

I have always been fascinated by classic cars from the 1950s, so I decided to recreate the Nürburgring buildings as they appeared during that period. My goal is to develop models that are relatively easy to build but, at the same time, look as authentic as possible.

I also do not necessarily follow the idea that absolutely everything in a paper model has to be made of paper. Schreiber-Bogen itself, for example, offers photo-etched parts to complement some of its paper ship models. I also like combining papercraft with traditional modeling techniques whenever they can contribute to the final result.

And there is still much more to come.

Not all of the models that Frank and I intend to add to Carrera4Fun have been released yet. It is also important to remember that developing a convincing model is not easy when precise dimensions or original plans are not available.

This means analyzing hundreds of photographs, comparing details, correcting countless errors and building test models. The whole process takes a great deal of time, and for that reason it simply is not possible to present a new project every month.

I also do not use professional software or a high-performance computer. I work with LibreOffice Draw on a Mac Mini 2.

End of Henning's account.

That last observation from Henning particularly caught my attention because my own way of working is quite similar.

I have never used expensive professional programs to create my models either. Until last month, I was still working on an old computer from 2010 running Windows 7, which had been with me for many years. Only now have I moved to a machine running Windows 11.

And I still use simple, free and intuitive tools. Among them are the good old MS Paint, Paint.NET, an old version of SketchUp, version 6, and also a free version of Pepakura.

Perhaps our experiences are a good demonstration that you do not need the newest computer or the most sophisticated software to create something interesting. The tools help, of course, but knowing well what we have at our disposal, finding our own solutions and, above all, enjoying the creative process are still what matter most.

In the message he sent me, Henning ended with words that made me particularly happy. He said that Papermau is an almost daily source of inspiration for his next projects and joked that, because of this, his to-do list just keeps getting longer.

I can only thank Henning for those words, for his generosity in sharing a little of his story and, of course, for all the work and dedication he put into creating this model.

And the Zeitnehmerhaus 1950 is far from the end of this story. Henning and Frank still have other Nürburgring-related projects in development for the circuit's centenary in 2027.

From what Henning has already hinted at, we can expect some very interesting things to come from this partnership.

The Nürburgring Zeitnehmerhaus 1950 in 1/64 scale, together with the assembly instructions, is available at Carrera4Fun at the link below:

Nürburgring Zeitnehmerhaus 1950 - 1/64 Scale Papercraft - by Henning Möller

If you enjoy papercraft buildings created to display miniature cars and bring racing and automotive dioramas to life, take a look at the related models below.

01 - French Workshop Diorama Papercraft For Slot Cars And Miniatures - by Carrera4Fun

02 - Riverside Auto Works Garage Papercraft In 1/64 Scale - by Papermau

03 - Multi-Level Parking Garage Display Shelf Papercraft In 1/64 Scale - by Marco Antonio Checa Funcke

04 - Old Town Garage Papercraft In 1/64 Scale For Diecast Dioramas - by Papermau

Aos amigos de língua portuguesa: Para não deixar este post excessivamente longo, desta vez publiquei aqui a versão completa em inglês. O texto integral em português, acompanhado de todas as fotos, está disponível no meu blog secundário, The Papermau, no link abaixo:

Nürburgring Zeitnehmerhaus 1950 - Papercraft em Escala 1/64 - por Henning Möller - via Carrera4Fun

Outdoor Shooting Range Papercraft Diorama - Work in Progress

While I continue working on a few projects, an idea that started as a simple addition ended up growing and becoming practically a new papercraft model.

This is a small outdoor shooting range that I am creating completely from scratch. The original idea came up while I was working on the new version of the Ammu-Nation, as I wanted to add something to one side of the building and make the whole scene a little more interesting.

That is how I started imagining this shooting range.

Its dimensions were planned so that it can fit perfectly alongside the Ammu-Nation, but as I kept adding pieces and developing the scenery, I realized that it was becoming a model in its own right.

It is important to say that this shooting range does not exist in GTA V and is not based on any specific location from the game. I also did not try to faithfully reproduce a real shooting range. My main concern was to create a small diorama that would be visually interesting, easy to understand when assembled and, above all, fun to build and customize.

The scenery is divided into several clearly defined areas. At the front are the shooting positions, with three large wooden counters. On their tops are printed details representing firearms, ammunition, targets and other small pieces of equipment. This way I can suggest many different objects without turning the model into a collection of tiny and difficult-to-build parts.

I also created four different types of ammunition boxes, each with a different size, shape and markings. Since they are separate pieces, they can be scattered around the scenery, placed near the counters or stacked in different ways.

Just beyond the counters is the firing line, marked directly on the ground and reinforced by small barriers with warnings such as FIRING LINE and DO NOT CROSS.

From this point begins the open area separating the shooters from the targets. I deliberately kept this part relatively empty, using a dry dirt texture with small rocks, tire marks, sparse vegetation and danger warnings painted directly on the ground. This open space also helps create a greater sense of distance between the shooting positions and the targets.

At the far end are several different types of targets. There are traditional circular targets, silhouettes and small metal targets in different shapes. Some of the paper targets are attached to supports positioned over hay bales, adding a more improvised and rustic appearance to the scene.

Closing off the shooting range is a large earth-and-wood backstop. Besides providing a background for the target area, this piece visually defines the end of the scenery and helps give the whole diorama a greater sense of depth.

I also made small safety barricades, signs, sandbags, barriers and other accessories. Many of these pieces are independent, so there is no single correct way to arrange the scenery. Each modeler will be able to position them as desired, use only some of them or create a completely different arrangement from mine.

It was during this process that I realized that what was supposed to be just an addition to the Ammu-Nation had turned into a project of its own.

Although it can still fit perfectly alongside one of the sides of the store, it does not depend on the Ammu-Nation to work. It can be assembled on its own as a complete little shooting range or incorporated into practically any other diorama.

This also opens up another possibility that I find interesting: resizing the model.

Since I am not trying to represent a real location or a structure with a mandatory scale, the modeler will be able to resize it according to the project they have in mind. I can imagine it, for example, adapted for the classic Green Army Men figures of approximately 33 mm, or enlarged to accompany 3.75-inch action figures such as G.I. Joe and similar figures.

Naturally, the larger the chosen scale, the more space will be required to assemble the entire shooting range, but the relatively simple shapes of the structures and accessories should make this kind of adaptation quite easy.

The images illustrating this post were created using SketchUp 6, a 3D modeling program that I have been using for many years to develop and test my papercraft models. SketchUp makes it possible to build objects and scenes in three dimensions in a relatively simple way, apply the textures that will later be used on the paper models and, most importantly, check proportions, fittings and the arrangement of the parts before moving on to the real-world build.

In this case, I virtually assembled the entire shooting range to get a better idea of how the counters, ammunition boxes, barriers, targets and the large backstop at the far end would work together. The project is still under development, so some proportions, positions and graphic details may change before the final version.

For now, I am really enjoying the result. What started as a small idea to enrich the Ammu-Nation scenery has taken on a life of its own and become practically a new papercraft model.

Enquanto continuo trabalhando em alguns projetos, uma ideia que começou como um simples complemento acabou crescendo e se transformando praticamente em um novo modelo de papel.

Este é um pequeno campo de tiro a céu aberto que estou criando totalmente do zero. A ideia inicial surgiu enquanto eu trabalhava na nova versão da Ammu-Nation, pois queria acrescentar alguma coisa a uma das laterais do prédio e tornar o conjunto um pouco mais interessante.

Foi assim que comecei a imaginar este campo de tiro.

As dimensões foram pensadas para que ele possa ser encaixado perfeitamente ao lado da Ammu-Nation, mas, conforme fui acrescentando peças e desenvolvendo o cenário, percebi que ele estava se tornando um modelo por si só.

É importante dizer que este campo de tiro não existe em GTA V e não é baseado em nenhum lugar específico do jogo. Também não tentei reproduzir fielmente um campo de tiro real. Minha preocupação foi muito mais criar um pequeno diorama visualmente interessante, fácil de compreender quando montado e, principalmente, divertido de construir e personalizar.

O cenário é dividido em áreas bem definidas. Na parte da frente ficam as posições dos atiradores, com três grandes balcões de madeira. Sobre os tampos há detalhes impressos representando armas, munições, alvos e outros pequenos equipamentos. Dessa maneira consigo sugerir vários objetos sem transformar o modelo em uma coleção de peças minúsculas e difíceis de montar.

Também criei quatro tipos diferentes de caixas de munição, cada uma com tamanho, formato e inscrições diferentes. Como são peças independentes, elas podem ser espalhadas pelo cenário, colocadas próximas aos balcões ou empilhadas de várias maneiras.

Logo depois dos balcões fica a linha de tiro, marcada no próprio piso e reforçada por pequenas barreiras com avisos como FIRING LINE e DO NOT CROSS.

A partir desse ponto começa a área aberta que separa os atiradores dos alvos. Deixei essa parte propositalmente mais vazia, usando uma textura de terra seca com pequenas pedras, marcas de pneus, vegetação rasteira e inscrições de perigo pintadas diretamente no chão. Esse espaço vazio também ajuda a criar uma sensação maior de distância entre as posições dos atiradores e os alvos.

No fundo estão os diferentes tipos de alvos. Há alvos circulares tradicionais, silhuetas e pequenos alvos metálicos de diferentes formatos. Alguns dos alvos de papel ficam presos a suportes posicionados sobre fardos de feno, acrescentando um aspecto mais improvisado e rústico ao conjunto.

Fechando o campo de tiro há um grande anteparo feito de terra e madeira. Além de servir como fundo para a área dos alvos, essa peça delimita visualmente o cenário e ajuda bastante a dar profundidade ao diorama.

Também fiz pequenos cavaletes de segurança, placas, sacos de areia, barreiras e outros acessórios. Muitas dessas peças são independentes, portanto não existe uma única maneira correta de organizar o cenário. Cada modelista poderá posicioná-las como quiser, usar apenas algumas delas ou criar uma disposição completamente diferente da minha.

Foi justamente durante esse processo que percebi que aquilo que deveria ser apenas um complemento para a Ammu-Nation havia se transformado em um projeto próprio.

Embora continue sendo possível encaixá-lo perfeitamente em uma das laterais da loja, ele não depende dela para funcionar. Pode ser montado sozinho como um pequeno campo de tiro completo ou incorporado a praticamente qualquer outro diorama.

Isso também abre uma possibilidade que considero interessante: redimensionar o modelo.

Como não estou tentando representar um lugar real ou uma construção com uma escala obrigatória, o modelista poderá ajustar o tamanho de acordo com o projeto que tiver em mente. Posso imaginá-lo, por exemplo, adaptado para os clássicos Green Army Men de aproximadamente 33 mm ou ampliado para acompanhar figuras de ação de 3,75 polegadas, como G.I. Joe e similares.

Naturalmente, quanto maior a escala escolhida, maior será o espaço necessário para montar todo o campo de tiro, mas as formas relativamente simples das construções e dos acessórios devem facilitar bastante esse tipo de adaptação.

As imagens que ilustram este post foram criadas no SketchUp 6, programa de modelagem tridimensional que utilizo há muitos anos para desenvolver e testar meus modelos de papel. O SketchUp permite construir objetos e cenários em 3D de maneira relativamente simples, aplicar as texturas que depois serão usadas nos modelos de papel e, principalmente, visualizar proporções, encaixes e a disposição das peças antes de partir para a montagem real.

Neste caso, montei virtualmente todo o campo de tiro para ter uma ideia melhor de como os balcões, caixas de munição, barreiras, alvos e o grande anteparo ao fundo funcionariam juntos. O projeto ainda está em desenvolvimento, portanto algumas proporções, posições e detalhes gráficos poderão mudar até a versão definitiva.

Por enquanto, estou gostando bastante do resultado. O que começou como uma pequena ideia para enriquecer o cenário da Ammu-Nation acabou ganhando vida própria e se tornando praticamente um novo modelo de papel.

Fluttering Butterflies - A Beautiful Papercraft Automata - by Rob Ives via Brother Creative Center

This beautiful papercraft from Brother Creative Center is much more than a simple arrangement of paper butterflies. It is a small paper automaton that uses a clever mechanism to bring the butterflies to life.

The model depicts a decorative vase from which several green stems emerge, each supporting a different butterfly. The butterflies come in a variety of colors and patterns, making the whole arrangement quite attractive even when the mechanism is not being operated.

But the real surprise appears when the mechanism is put into action. By moving the piece at the bottom, the internal system transfers the movement through the stems, causing the butterflies' wings to open and close and creating the illusion that they are fluttering above the vase.

The illustrated instructions reveal some interesting details of this simple mechanism. The stems are assembled separately and incorporate small folded paper parts that transmit the movement, while the butterflies are attached in such a way that their wings remain free to move.

This mechanical simplicity is precisely what makes the project so interesting. There are no motors, batteries or electronic components involved, just paper, folds, glue and an ingenious mechanism capable of transforming a simple manual movement into a small group of fluttering butterflies.

Besides being a beautiful decorative piece, this model is also a great example of how simple mechanisms can be incorporated into papercraft, transforming an otherwise static model into something interactive and full of life.

The model comes with illustrated assembly instructions showing the construction of the stems, moving parts, butterflies and the vase that hides most of the mechanism. Once everything is assembled, the result is the charming moving arrangement shown in the photos.

Este belo papercraft disponibilizado pelo Brother Creative Center é muito mais do que um simples arranjo de borboletas de papel. Trata-se de um pequeno autômato de papel que utiliza um mecanismo engenhoso para dar vida às borboletas.

O modelo representa um vaso decorativo de onde surgem várias hastes verdes, cada uma sustentando uma borboleta diferente. As borboletas apresentam diversas cores e padrões, deixando o conjunto bastante bonito mesmo quando o mecanismo não está sendo acionado.

Mas a verdadeira surpresa aparece quando o mecanismo entra em ação. Ao movimentar a peça localizada na parte inferior, o sistema interno transmite o movimento através das hastes, fazendo com que as asas das borboletas se abram e se fechem e criando a impressão de que elas estão batendo as asas sobre o vaso.

As instruções ilustradas revelam alguns detalhes interessantes desse mecanismo simples. As hastes são montadas separadamente e incorporam pequenas peças dobradas de papel que transmitem o movimento, enquanto as borboletas são fixadas de maneira que suas asas permaneçam livres para se movimentar.

É justamente essa simplicidade mecânica que torna o projeto especialmente interessante. Não há motores, pilhas ou componentes eletrônicos envolvidos, apenas papel, dobras, cola e um mecanismo engenhoso capaz de transformar um simples movimento manual em um pequeno grupo de borboletas batendo as asas.

Além de ser um belo objeto decorativo, este modelo também é um ótimo exemplo de como mecanismos simples podem ser incorporados ao papercraft, transformando um modelo que normalmente seria estático em algo interativo e cheio de vida.

O modelo vem acompanhado de instruções ilustradas de montagem que mostram a construção das hastes, das partes móveis, das borboletas e do vaso que esconde boa parte do mecanismo. Depois de tudo montado, o resultado é o simpático arranjo móvel mostrado nas fotos.

If you would like to bring these colorful paper butterflies to life, you will find the templates and illustrated assembly instructions below.

Fluttering Butterflies - A Beautiful Papercraft Automata - by Rob Ives - via Brother Creative Center

If you enjoy papercrafts that come to life through clever paper mechanisms, take a look at these four other automata projects previously featured here at Papermau.

01: The Tortoise - A Mechanical Or Automata Papercraft - by Brother

02: The Birthday Flower Automata Papercraft - A Tribute to Peter Markey by Paper Pino

03: Gekko Japonicus - Japanese Gecko Automata Paper Model by JT Biohistory Research Hall

04: Guardians Of The Galaxy - Dancing Groot Automata Papercraft - by Richenna King

Iron Age Farmhouse Papercraft Based On A Real Archaeological Site by Mart Scholte Lubberink

This beautiful and unusual papercraft represents an Iron Age farmhouse that existed more than two thousand years ago in the region that today corresponds to the province of Drenthe, in the Netherlands.

The model was created by Dutch archaeologist Mart Scholte Lubberink for RAAP, a Dutch organization specializing in archaeology and cultural heritage. What makes it particularly interesting is that this is not simply an imaginary ancient building created for a paper model. The papercraft is based directly on archaeological evidence.

The house represented here is known as House Plan 101, and its remains were discovered during archaeological excavations at Borger-Daalkampen. It belongs to the so-called Hijken type and has been dated to approximately 150 BC.

As often happens in the archaeology of prehistoric buildings, the house itself disappeared many centuries ago. What remained in the ground were mainly the traces left by the wooden posts that once supported its structure. The positions of these traces allow archaeologists to determine the size and layout of the building and, using this information together with knowledge gained from other archaeological sites, propose what it probably looked like.

At that time, a building like this was not used only as a residence. People and animals shared the same large structure, although they occupied different areas under the same roof. The walls were made from a wooden framework with woven branches covered with clay, while the large roof was covered with reeds or similar plant material.

The small raised building that accompanies the house also had a specific purpose. It is a spieker, a small structure used to store grain and other agricultural products above ground level, helping to protect them from moisture and animals.

There is also a particularly interesting connection between the model and the archaeological research that inspired it. Mart Scholte Lubberink participated in the excavations at Borger-Daalkampen himself and, years later, transformed that discovery into a paper model that anyone can build at home.

The papercraft includes the large farmhouse, the small spieker, the base, figures and other elements that help give scale and life to the scene. The result is almost a small archaeological diorama, especially interesting for anyone who enjoys historical architecture, ancient history and educational models.

RAAP provides the printable files for free, together with assembly instructions. The recommendation is to print the pieces on paper of approximately 170 g/m².

This is a great example of how papercraft can go beyond a simple hobby: here, a few sheets of paper transform traces discovered in the ground into a small reconstruction of what life on a farm in the Netherlands may have looked like more than two thousand years ago.

Este belo e incomum papercraft representa uma fazenda da Idade do Ferro que existiu há mais de dois mil anos na região que hoje corresponde à província de Drenthe, nos Países Baixos.

O modelo foi criado pelo arqueólogo holandês Mart Scholte Lubberink para a RAAP, uma organização dos Países Baixos especializada em arqueologia e patrimônio cultural. O mais interessante é que não estamos diante de uma construção simplesmente imaginada para um modelo de papel. O papercraft é baseado diretamente em evidências arqueológicas.

A casa representada é conhecida como House Plan 101 e seus vestígios foram encontrados durante escavações realizadas em Borger-Daalkampen. Ela pertence ao chamado tipo Hijken e foi datada de aproximadamente 150 a.C.

Como acontece frequentemente na arqueologia de construções pré-históricas, a casa propriamente dita desapareceu há muitos séculos. O que permaneceu no solo foram principalmente as marcas deixadas pelos postes de madeira que sustentavam sua estrutura. A posição dessas marcas permite aos arqueólogos determinar o tamanho e a disposição do edifício e, a partir dessas informações e do conhecimento adquirido em outros sítios arqueológicos, propor como ele provavelmente se parecia.

Naquela época, uma construção como esta não servia apenas como residência. Pessoas e animais compartilhavam o mesmo grande edifício, embora ocupassem áreas diferentes sob o mesmo teto. As paredes eram feitas com uma estrutura de madeira e galhos entrelaçados revestidos com barro, enquanto o grande telhado era coberto com junco ou material vegetal semelhante.

O pequeno edifício elevado que acompanha a casa também tem uma função específica. Trata-se de um spieker, uma pequena construção utilizada para armazenar grãos e outros produtos agrícolas acima do nível do solo, ajudando a protegê-los da umidade e de animais.

Há ainda uma ligação particularmente interessante entre o modelo e a pesquisa arqueológica que o inspirou. Mart Scholte Lubberink participou das próprias escavações em Borger-Daalkampen e, anos depois, transformou aquela descoberta em um modelo de papel que qualquer pessoa pode construir em casa.

O papercraft inclui a grande casa, o pequeno spieker, a base e personagens e elementos que ajudam a dar escala e vida à cena. O resultado é quase um pequeno diorama arqueológico, especialmente interessante para quem gosta de arquitetura histórica, história antiga e modelos educativos.

A RAAP disponibiliza gratuitamente os arquivos para impressão, juntamente com instruções de montagem. A recomendação é imprimir as peças em papel com aproximadamente 170 g/m².

É um ótimo exemplo de como o papercraft pode ir além de um simples passatempo: aqui, algumas folhas de papel transformam vestígios encontrados no solo em uma pequena reconstrução de como poderia ter sido a vida em uma fazenda nos Países Baixos há mais de dois mil anos.

If you would like to bring this fascinating piece of Iron Age history back to life in paper, you will find the templates and assembly instructions below.

Iron Age Farmhouse Papercraft Based On A Real Archaeological Site - by Mart Scholte Lubberink

If you enjoy bringing the distant past back to life through paper, take a look below at four more archaeological and historical papercrafts inspired by ancient European architecture.

01: A Big Papercraft Collection About Ancient European Architecture - by Secanda

02: The Ancient Oven In Pompeii Paper Model - by Papermau

03: Roman Castrum In Romania - Revised Version by Papermau

04: Roman Watchtower Papercraft With Roman Emperor Figure - by Brother Creative Center

Green Hill Zone And Tornado - Two Official Sonic Papercraftsby SEGA

These two papercrafts are not exactly new to Papermau. In fact, both appeared here many years ago, when even their download addresses were probably different. Since they are still officially available at SEGA's Sonic Channel, I thought they deserved to be brought back to the blog.

They are two quite different models. The first recreates the unforgettable Green Hill Zone from the original Sonic the Hedgehog, released for the Mega Drive in 1991, while the second represents the Tornado, the airplane piloted by Tails in Sonic Adventure, originally released in Japan for the Dreamcast on December 23, 1998. The latter marked a huge change for the series, taking Sonic into an action adventure set in fully three-dimensional environments. SEGA itself presents it as the first completely 3D action game in the series.

The Green Hill papercraft is especially interesting because it is not simply a static model. It works as a kind of small paper playset inspired by the very first stage of the original Sonic the Hedgehog.

There are 10 sheets in total, including instructions, terrain and several elements that can be assembled and arranged however you like. There are the traditional palm trees, bridge, totems, signs, checkpoint, spring, item boxes, rings and small paper characters, including several poses of Sonic and some of his enemies.

SEGA itself makes it clear that the image shown in the file is only a suggested arrangement. This means you can change the positions of the trees, boxes and other objects to create your own version of Green Hill Zone. It is precisely this modular quality that makes the model especially interesting for anyone who enjoys small dioramas.

This papercraft also has an interesting history. It was published by Sonic Channel on June 23, 2006, as part of Sonic's 15th anniversary celebrations. Green Hill Zone, despite being only the first stage of the original game, eventually became one of the most recognizable settings in the entire franchise, especially because of its palm trees, tropical environment and distinctive checkerboard terrain.

Even the stage music has an interesting story. It was composed by Masato Nakamura, bassist and composer of the Japanese band Dreams Come True. In an interview published by SEGA, Nakamura said that Green Hill was the first piece of music he completed for the game and that he was working on Sonic's soundtrack at the same time he was recording an album with Dreams Come True.

The second papercraft is the Tornado from Sonic Adventure, the famous red biplane associated with Tails, reproduced here with its yellow wing stripes, cockpit, landing gear and propeller.

This one is considerably more challenging than the Green Hill scenery. The PDF has 6 sheets, combining step-by-step photographic instructions with the parts needed for assembly. The construction uses around twenty numbered main components, several of them formed by joining smaller pieces. As a small bonus, the file also includes Sonic and Tails figures to cut out and assemble.

SEGA itself classifies the model as relatively difficult due to its level of detail and estimates between five and six hours to complete the build. Although the demonstration model was built using ordinary paper, Sonic Channel recommends thicker paper to help prevent deformation.

Sonic Adventure also occupies a special place in the history of the franchise. In addition to the transition to 3D environments, the game featured six different character adventures and helped establish Sonic's more modern and stylized appearance. Expectations surrounding this new era were enormous and, according to SEGA's official retrospective, around 15,000 fans attended the game's presentation event.

So here we have two official papercrafts representing very different moments in Sonic's history: the Green Hill Zone from the 16-bit era and the Tornado from Sonic Adventure, connected to the series' great transition into the 3D world.

Even after all these years, both are still available for free at Sonic Channel, directly from SEGA, and I think that alone is a very good reason to rediscover them.

Estes dois papercrafts não são exatamente novidades no Papermau. Na verdade, ambos já apareceram por aqui há muitos anos, quando provavelmente até os endereços de download eram diferentes. Como continuam disponíveis oficialmente no Sonic Channel, da SEGA, achei que valia a pena trazê-los novamente ao blog.

São dois modelos bastante diferentes entre si. O primeiro recria a inesquecível Green Hill Zone do Sonic the Hedgehog original, lançado para Mega Drive em 1991, enquanto o segundo representa o Tornado, o avião pilotado por Tails em Sonic Adventure, lançado originalmente no Japão para Dreamcast em 23 de dezembro de 1998. Este último marcou uma enorme mudança para a série, levando Sonic para uma aventura de ação em ambientes totalmente tridimensionais. A própria SEGA o apresenta como o primeiro jogo de ação completamente 3D da série.

O papercraft da Green Hill é especialmente interessante porque não se trata apenas de uma maquete estática. Ele funciona como uma espécie de pequeno playset de papel inspirado na primeira fase do primeiro Sonic the Hedgehog.

São 10 folhas no total, incluindo instruções, terreno e diversos elementos que podem ser montados e distribuídos da maneira que você quiser. Há as tradicionais palmeiras, ponte, totens, placas, checkpoint, mola de salto, caixas de itens, anéis e pequenos personagens de papel, incluindo várias poses de Sonic e alguns de seus inimigos.

A própria SEGA deixa claro que a imagem apresentada no arquivo é apenas uma sugestão de montagem. Assim, você pode mudar a posição das árvores, caixas e demais objetos e criar sua própria versão da Green Hill Zone. É justamente essa característica modular que torna o modelo especialmente interessante para quem gosta de pequenos dioramas.

Este papercraft também tem uma história interessante. Ele foi publicado pelo Sonic Channel em 23 de junho de 2006 como parte das comemorações dos 15 anos de Sonic. A Green Hill Zone, apesar de ter sido apenas a primeira fase do jogo original, acabou se tornando um dos cenários mais reconhecíveis de toda a franquia, principalmente por suas palmeiras, seu ambiente tropical e o característico terreno quadriculado.

Até a música da fase tem uma história curiosa. Ela foi composta por Masato Nakamura, baixista e compositor da banda japonesa Dreams Come True. Em uma entrevista publicada pela própria SEGA, Nakamura contou que Green Hill foi a primeira música que terminou para o jogo e que trabalhava na trilha de Sonic ao mesmo tempo em que gravava um álbum do Dreams Come True.

O segundo papercraft é o Tornado de Sonic Adventure, o famoso biplano vermelho associado a Tails, aqui reproduzido com suas faixas amarelas nas asas, cockpit, trem de pouso e hélice.

Este é consideravelmente mais trabalhoso que o cenário da Green Hill. O PDF possui 6 folhas, reunindo instruções fotográficas passo a passo e as peças necessárias para a montagem. A construção utiliza cerca de vinte componentes principais numerados, vários deles formados pela união de peças menores. Como um pequeno bônus, o arquivo ainda traz figuras de Sonic e Tails para recortar e montar.

A própria SEGA classifica o modelo como relativamente difícil devido ao nível de detalhes e estima entre cinco e seis horas para completar a montagem. Embora o modelo de demonstração tenha sido construído com papel comum, o Sonic Channel recomenda papel mais grosso para evitar deformações.

Sonic Adventure também ocupa um lugar especial na história da franquia. Além da passagem para os ambientes 3D, o jogo trouxe seis aventuras protagonizadas por personagens diferentes e ajudou a estabelecer o visual mais moderno e estilizado de Sonic. A expectativa em torno dessa nova fase era enorme e, segundo a retrospectiva oficial da SEGA, cerca de 15 mil fãs compareceram ao evento de apresentação do jogo.

Temos assim dois papercrafts oficiais que representam momentos muito diferentes da história de Sonic: a Green Hill Zone da era dos 16 bits e o Tornado de Sonic Adventure, ligado à grande transição da série para o universo 3D.

Mesmo depois de tantos anos, ambos continuam disponíveis gratuitamente no Sonic Channel, diretamente da SEGA, e acho que isso já é uma ótima razão para redescobri-los.

Rediscover these two classic Sonic papercrafts and build your own little piece of SEGA history using the official links below.

Green Hill Zone And Tornado - Two Official Sonic Papercrafts - by SEGA

And if you enjoy videogame papercrafts, take a look below at four more models inspired by Sonic and other classic SEGA games.

01: Conduit 2 Portal Papercraft - Lost Sega Promotional Model From 2011

02: Sonic The Hedgehog - 25th Anniversary - Classic Sonic Paper Model - by Sabi96 Papercraft Box

03: Sega History - Space Harrier Arcade Miniature Papercraft - by Dorimaga Magazine

04: Sonic 2 Power-Up Boxes Papercraft Collection - by Billybob884

Japanese Type 1 Ho-Ni I Self-Propelled Gun Papercraft In 1/48 Scale by Hakoko

Created by talented Japanese designer Hakoko, from Box Studio, this is a truly impressive paper model of the Type 1 Ho-Ni I, or 一式砲戦車 ホニI, a Japanese self-propelled gun used during World War II.

The model is in 1/48 scale and, once assembled, measures approximately 12.2 cm long, 4.7 cm wide and 5.3 cm high. The templates consist of four pages of parts, plus four additional pages intended for printing on the reverse side. The author also provides a separate assembly manual and a diagram showing the fold lines.

As we have already seen in other works by Hakoko featured here on Papermau, the level of finish is exceptional. Looking at the photos, it is easy to forget for a moment that we are looking at a model made entirely of paper. The result looks very much like a carefully assembled and painted plastic kit, especially because of the textures, realistic weathering effects, and the detailed wheels, suspension and tracks.

This is not a model for beginners. There are many small parts, especially around the running gear and gun, but the construction has been very well planned. In his building diary, Hakoko shows the internal structure of the hull, the application of the outer covering, the assembly of the fighting compartment and gun, and finally the complex suspension and track system. Interestingly, he mentions that he considerably simplified the interior area around the driver's position.

The real vehicle on which this papercraft is based also has an interesting history. The Type 1 Ho-Ni I was developed to provide Imperial Japanese Army armored divisions with a more powerful mobile weapon. Instead of designing an entirely new vehicle, Japanese engineers used the chassis and engine of the well-known Type 97 Chi-Ha medium tank and replaced its turret with a 75 mm Type 90 field gun mounted behind an open fighting compartment.

One interesting fact is precisely this origin: beneath its completely different appearance, much of the Ho-Ni I was essentially still a Type 97 Chi-Ha.

Another interesting detail is that its role was not simply to hunt enemy tanks. The Ho-Ni I was also conceived as self-propelled artillery to accompany armored units, and its gun could be used against targets at considerable distances. Its open fighting compartment, however, left the crew exposed, and the vehicle did not carry a defensive machine gun, a serious disadvantage in close combat.

Finally, the Ho-Ni I was a rare machine. Only about 26 examples of this first version were produced in 1942. Some were sent to the Philippines and took part in the Battle of Luzon in 1945, while many vehicles of the Ho-Ni family remained in Japan to defend the home islands against a possible Allied invasion that never took place.

Hakoko provides the templates, assembly manual and fold-line diagram for free at Box Studio. For anyone interested in Japanese military vehicles and looking for a more detailed project, this is one of those papercrafts that shows just how far you can go with nothing more than paper, patience and a good printer.

Criado pelo talentoso designer japonês Hakoko, do site Box Studio, este é um modelo em papel realmente impressionante do Type 1 Ho-Ni I, ou 一式砲戦車 ホニI, um canhão autopropulsado japonês utilizado durante a Segunda Guerra Mundial.

O modelo está na escala 1/48 e, depois de montado, mede aproximadamente 12,2 cm de comprimento, 4,7 cm de largura e 5,3 cm de altura. Os templates ocupam quatro folhas de peças, com outras quatro páginas destinadas à impressão no verso, e o autor também disponibiliza separadamente um manual de montagem e um diagrama com as linhas de dobra.

Como já vimos em outros trabalhos de Hakoko publicados aqui no Papermau, o nível de acabamento é excepcional. Visto nas fotografias, é fácil esquecer por alguns instantes que estamos olhando para um modelo feito inteiramente de papel. O resultado lembra muito um kit plástico cuidadosamente montado e pintado, principalmente pelas texturas, pelos efeitos de desgaste e envelhecimento, e pelo detalhamento das rodas, suspensão e esteiras.

Não é um modelo para iniciantes. Há muitas peças pequenas, especialmente no conjunto de rodagem e no canhão, mas a construção foi muito bem planejada. No diário de montagem, Hakoko mostra a estrutura interna do casco, a aplicação do revestimento externo, a montagem da área de combate, do canhão e finalmente do complexo conjunto de suspensão e esteiras. Curiosamente, ele comenta que simplificou bastante a região interna próxima ao posto do motorista.

O veículo real no qual este papercraft é baseado também tem uma história interessante. O Type 1 Ho-Ni I surgiu da necessidade do Exército Imperial Japonês de fornecer às suas divisões blindadas uma arma móvel mais poderosa. Em vez de desenvolver um veículo totalmente novo, os engenheiros aproveitaram o chassi e o motor do conhecido tanque médio Type 97 Chi-Ha e substituíram sua torre por um canhão de campanha Type 90 de 75 mm instalado em um compartimento de combate aberto.

Uma primeira curiosidade é justamente essa origem: por baixo da aparência completamente diferente, grande parte do Ho-Ni I continuava sendo essencialmente um Type 97 Chi-Ha.

Outra é que sua função não era simplesmente caçar tanques. O Ho-Ni I foi concebido também como artilharia autopropulsada para acompanhar unidades blindadas, e seu canhão podia ser utilizado contra alvos a grandes distâncias. A configuração aberta, entretanto, deixava a tripulação bastante exposta e o veículo sequer possuía uma metralhadora defensiva, uma séria desvantagem em combate próximo.

Por fim, o Ho-Ni I foi uma máquina rara. Apenas cerca de 26 exemplares dessa primeira versão foram produzidos em 1942. Alguns chegaram às Filipinas e participaram da Batalha de Luzon em 1945, enquanto muitos veículos da família Ho-Ni permaneceram no Japão para a defesa das ilhas contra uma possível invasão aliada que nunca aconteceu.

Hakoko disponibiliza gratuitamente os templates, o manual de montagem e o diagrama das linhas de dobra no Box Studio. Para quem gosta de veículos militares japoneses e procura um projeto mais detalhado, este é daqueles papercrafts que mostram até onde se pode chegar trabalhando apenas com papel, paciência e uma boa impressora.

Build this highly detailed Type 1 Ho-Ni I in 1/48 scale using the free templates available at the link below:

Japanese Type 1 Ho-Ni I Self-Propelled Gun Papercraft In 1/48 Scale - by Hakoko

If you enjoyed this detailed Type 1 Ho-Ni I, take a look below at four more impressive military vehicle papercrafts:

01: Polish 7TP dw Twin-Turret Light Tank Paper Model In 1/48 Scale - by Hakoko

02: Heavy Tank Destroyer Nashorn Paper Model In 1/48 Scale - by Hakoko

03: WW2`s Light Tank M3A1 Paper Model In 1/72 Scale - by Mr. Cube

04: LVT(A)-1 708th Amphibian Tank Battalion Paper Model In 1/72 Scale - by Paper Diorama