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.