Some Fun - Some More Fun

Some More Fun With Computer and Printer

That first article on fun with printing things to build using computer and printer left me a bit dissatisfied. It was pretty good and what inspired me to be thinking about the subject at that time. Of course it isn't the first time I have thought about paper models and toys.

I went on a search for more and using a search engine I found a page that I think I had found a while ago while looking for traditional patterns for paper airplanes and sailor caps and the like for the museum I volunteer at.

Paper Toys at papertoys.com has a fairly unpresuming page which links to a large number of paper models and such. They call them "Paper stuff for kids and grown-ups". The models are completely free, though I note a few ads mixed in on the pages, but they are ads that you might find of interest. Its what you call topical advertising, I think, room for a whole other article.

I do wish I had a printer in operation here at the old Gnomestead. I would like to print and try making some of those models. I nearly bought a nice colour laser printer last fall, but it wouldn't have interfaced well with the MacBook I was intending on buying - and indeed have bought - for my primary computer.

Taking a quick look at the models... one of the first is a new one for them, a "Sprinter Van". Upon looking at that page you find a page with a cut out model of a van in full colour. You can email copies of the van as a gift to friends and if you click on the image of the van you can download a PDF file which is a file format that makes for a more predictable printout for you to use to cut out and construct your model from.

...strangely in this case it leads you to a model of the "Capital Building" - and while quite spiffy isn't what it was supposed to be I don't think... LOL and like many things is a bit "Ameri-centric". It's not our Capital Building in Ottawa for us Canadians, nor for the British, nor French, nor... I guess it is acceptable considering it is on a site on an American web server. I do see structures such as the Sydney Opera House, Dubai Clock Tower, and Eiffel Tower and they are willing to make others if they are asked.

The Tyranosaurs Rex (T-Rex) - FREE paper model - PaperToys.com looks interesting and there are options for different colours and an uncoloured one. Looking at the pattern reminds me of a pattern I was creating for a stuffed fabric dolphin I wanted to make. If you don't have a colour printer, or if you don't care for the colours or using a photo editor to edit the image's colour, I might suggest colouring the model with pencil crayons or markers before assembling it. I might be careful not to colour the tabs or where they join in case the glue won't stick. I figure the creative can also figure out how to print it both larger or smaller or edit some details. Paper is pretty cheap for experimenting with.

There seems to be a fair amount of educational value as well. I am looking at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre at the moment and remember someone building a model of it for an english class back in high school. The model of Angkor Wat is interesting though not highly detailed.

On a different subject area, the Harley Davidson motorcycle would be a different sort of project. I note a suggestion that you print only a single page on your printer. You can make it larger by using a photocopier to enlarge it.

For a look at what models look like check out the Photo Gallery. I note that someone is using them for custom Christmas ornaments!

Later!
~ Darrell

Some Fun

Some Fun With Computer and Printer

Today's technology opens up a few new avenues for having fun and making simple toys using the computer. Of course there is simply scanning sketches and doodles and printing them up to glue onto cardboard to make paperdolls of sorts. You could also scan magazines... but I guess you could just cut up the magazines...

Now with artwork you probably won't want to cut it up so scanning is a good option for that. But there are other things a bit more advanced I was really thinking of when I decide to write. I was actually inspired by a website which had some very simple things you could print out to fold and cut and tape together as toys.

This page is called "Fwis - Readymech Series 002". I shall have to search for series 001 while I am at it... They are a bit cubic and I know there are actually some pretty complex paper models out there. These are intended for making in 10-15 minutes.

The sketch I included with this article is actually a character from a game I played in which I sketched up during the game. Nothing really to do with printing up toys.

I think that a person might use a computer and printer to print up house sides with windows and doors to paste on simple little boxes for houses for toy car villiages. You might cut out the doors and windows and print up tile patterns for the roofs which would be little tent-like structures you could settle on your small buildings.

They might not be up to Scale Model Railroad standards but, for a bit of playtime fun could be grand. You might even include small pictures of the kids and cut them out with little crossed paper stands so they stand up in order to have figures for the little village you might create.

Consider the fun scenes you might create like for Christmas? A bit of cotton batten and some houses and a nice little cozy Christmas scene for a table top.

Of course you are the judge as to how sharp a scissors you allow your child to use and know how dexterous they would be with tape or glue and folding small things. An adult might get very creative in their own play!

Later!
~Darrell